Scottie Scheffler heads into the final round of the 50th Players Championship looking to become the first player in history to win back-to-back championships. Despite another solid round of golf on Saturday, he’ll need help to get it done.
Scheffler shot a 4-under 68 and finished tied for 6th place at 12 under. Still, he is five strokes behind Xander Schauffele, who suddenly turned red.
After the round, Scheffler was asked what he could do to erase the deficit and take home the trophy.
“Shoot very low,” he said matter-of-factly.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
In fact, Scheffler will have to drop quite a bit on Sunday if he wants to make history. He went on to admit that it was no easy task.
“I’m definitely looking on the outside looking in, but tomorrow’s hot day could go a long way.”
He has so far recorded all three rounds in the 60’s. But perhaps that won’t be enough on Sunday. Schauffele, Windham Clark, and Brian Herman are all playing too well.
Scheffler will have to pick up where he left off on Sunday.
It was a frustrating round at times, he said, but the world No. 1 took advantage of the easiest hole on the course, the par-5 16th, for a birdie. That took him into double digits, but he needed to scramble to have a realistic chance, and that’s exactly what he achieved.
“Yeah, it was good. I hit some good shots towards the end. It was good to see some high-quality shots. Yeah, I kept fighting until the end…I’m glad I got some birdies at the end,” Scheffler said. said.
He hit a great tee shot on TPC Sawgrass’ famous “island green” and aggressively attacked the pin position in the front left. The rest was just under 7 feet. He ends up making two birdies.
After hitting a picturesque tee shot on the 18th, Scheffler’s approach was 12 feet from the hole. The former Masters champion will continue his improved putting and will finish the day with an outside shot for birdie on Sunday.
Clark will play in the final group behind Schauffele. Herman is at 15 under, with upstarts Maverick McNeely and Matt Fitzpatrick at 13 under.
All of this should culminate in a spectacular finish to The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s unofficial fifth major.
Kendall Capps is the senior editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social media platforms.
