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Ludvig Åberg Leads The Players Championship by Three Strokes Entering Final Round

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Åberg Leads The Players Championship by Three Shots Heading into Final Round

Ludvig Åberg holds a three-shot lead at The Players Championship, heading into the final round with a total score of 13 under par.

The tournament, held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has seen its field reduced from 122 to 73 players following a 36-hole cut. Michael Thorbjornsen is positioned second at 10 under par, with Cameron Young in third at nine under. The final 18 holes are scheduled to be played on Sunday, concluding the event with a total purse of $25 million.

Tournament Overview

The Players Championship is being contested at The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The tournament began with a field of 122 players, which was subsequently reduced to 73 after the 36-hole cut. The total prize purse for the event is $25 million. The third round commenced on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. ET, with Seamus Power initiating play.

Standings After 36 Holes

Following the first two rounds of play, Ludvig Åberg held the lead. Xander Schauffele was in second place, with a total of 15 golfers positioned within competitive range of the leader.

Players among the top 10 on the leaderboard at this stage included Cameron Young, Justin Thomas (the 2021 Players winner), Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, and Russell Henley, who had been identified as a pre-tournament favorite.

World number one Rory McIlroy and world number two Scottie Scheffler were tied at 51st place, 13 shots behind Åberg. This marked Scheffler's largest deficit from a leader after 36 holes since the 2023 Open Championship.

Ahead of the Final Round

Ludvig Åberg maintained his lead through the third round, carding a one-under-par 71 to bring his tournament total to 13 under par, establishing a three-shot advantage. Åberg had previously recorded a nine-under 63 in the second round.

Michael Thorbjornsen, a 24-year-old American, moved into second place after posting a 67 in the third round, bringing his score to 10 under par. Cameron Young occupied third position at nine under par, after losing two strokes on the 18th hole during the third round.

Tied for fourth place at eight under par were Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Thomas. Fitzpatrick recorded a 69 in the third round, which included birdies on the 16th and 17th holes but concluded with a double-bogey on the 18th. Thomas, the 2021 champion, carded a 72 in the third round, which included a triple-bogey on the sixth hole.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre posted a seven-under 65 in the third round, featuring nine birdies. This was the lowest score of the day and his career at The Players Championship. He finished the day six shots behind the leader. Justin Rose concluded the third round at six under par, with bogeys recorded on the 16th and 18th holes.

World number one Scottie Scheffler posted a bogey-free five-under 67 in the third round, bringing his tournament total to four under par. Defending champion Rory McIlroy finished the round with a 72, placing him at one over par overall.

Final Round Pairings and Tee Times

The final round is scheduled to commence on Sunday.

  • Ludvig Åberg will begin his round at 1:40 p.m. ET, playing alongside Michael Thorbjornsen.
  • Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth: 8:25 a.m. ET.
  • Nico Echavarria and Rory McIlroy: 8:35 a.m. ET.
  • Scottie Scheffler and Maverick McNealy: 11:35 a.m. ET.
  • Xander Schauffele and Robert MacIntyre: 1 p.m. ET.