Canadian Adam Svensson perfectly completed his second round of the Players Championship, interrupted Friday by the weather, to take the lead alone in the prestigious Florida tournament on Saturday morning. After the abandonment of the world number one, Jon Rahm, sick, Scottie Scheffler, 2nd two strokes behind Svensson, can dream of returning to the planetary throne. Because Rory McIlroy missed the cut!
After a spectacular first day of the Players Championship stopped by the night, we could expect a lively second act. But the second day was in turn put on hold by the weather conditions, without the low playing time allowing the stars of the circuit to offer us many great moments of golf.
Waking up was hard for Christiaan Bezuidenhoutin the lead on Friday evening tied with Adam Svensson after completing 14 holes, against only 11 completed by the Canadian: bogey at 7 and 9 for the South African, for a card of 70 and a drop to 3rd provisional rank, at -6, tied with Ben Griffin, Min Woo Lee et Collin Morikawa.
On the other hand, successful awakening for Svensson, in the lead at -8, on his 11th hole played, when everything stopped on Friday evening, and -9 at the clubhouse on Saturday morning, thanks to two birdies, at 5 and 9, against a single bogey, at 3. It was 67, after a 68 in the 1st round.
Viktor Hovland still in the top 10
Already sparkling the day before with a card of 67, Ben Griffin once again shone by signing a card of 71 to be well ahead at the club house at -6… despite a double-bogey at 18 on Friday. The Norwegian Viktor Hovland curled the correctional at 17 with a ball that obviously had no desire to get wet! The Scandinavian has joined Jason Day in the top 10 (tied 9th) after finishing his second round in 71 strokes.
When it’s your day, it’s your day.
Viktor Hovland’s tee shot on 17 somehow stays dry @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/xeGsxAWzgl
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2023
Leader after the first day, Chad Ramey notably sent two balls into the water at 17 to tumble to 8th place (-4).
No. 17 can change everything in a heartbeat.
Leader Chad Ramey puts back-to-back balls in the water. pic.twitter.com/ZwI0MONcfM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2023
Scheffler alone survivor of the leading trio
Scottie Scheffler, vying for the place of world number one, is more than ever in the game to become world number 1 again because he finished Saturday in 69 and alone in second place. Especially since Rory McIlroy, very struggling with this TPC Sawgrass, stopped the charges on Saturday morning: cut completely missed, at +5, after two disappointing rounds in 76 and 73. After the retirement of Jon Rahmthe number one spot will be for the adopted Texan if he finishes in the top 5 on Sunday.
Not Rory’s day. pic.twitter.com/kBTrLyYssk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2023
The summary of the 2nd round in video (Friday evening):
The ranking at the end of the 2nd round (Saturday morning):
They missed the cut…
Photo : David Cannon / Getty / AFP
