PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The good news is Scottie Scheffler will play the third round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday after feeling neck and shoulder pain during Friday’s second round that nearly forced him to withdraw. That’s what I played.
The bad news is that Scheffler is unlikely to defend the Players title he won a year ago.
Not only because he heads into Sunday’s final round with a five-stroke lead over 54-hole leader Xander Schauffele, but also because no one ever wins consecutive Players Championships.
This week, the tournament celebrates its 50th anniversary, but its 48-year history speaks for itself.
Tiger Woods has won The Players Championship twice, once in 2001 and once in 2013. In 2002, Woods couldn’t break 70 in any of the four rounds and tied for 14th.
Woods missed the 2014 Players due to injury and finished tied for 69th in 2015.
Jack Nicklaus won The Players three times. All that was until the tournament was moved to his TPC Sawgrass in 1982 after Pete Dye built the stadium course.
And he never defended any of those three wins.
Many of the best players in the game have tried and failed. In recent years, Justin Thomas won in 2021, tied for 33rd in 2022, Rory McIlroy won in 2019, and missed the cut on a defensive try in 2021 (the 2020 tournament was held due to COVID-19). Jason Day won the championship in 2016. He is the No. 1 ranked player in the world and finished tied for 60th in 2017.
Nick Price’s tie for fifth in 1994 was the best finish by a returning champion.
Scheffler, who wore KT tape on the back of his neck to alleviate pain, shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday to reach 12 under for the tournament.
“I can’t say I’m out of the tournament,” Scheffler said. “I’m definitely looking in from the outside and it’s a hot day.” [Sunday] You might be able to go far. ”
Scheffler finished with birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th. I can tell you that I was way out of the tournament when he stood on the 16th tee. [Now], There’s still a chance. I think he’s still within shooting range. ”
Asked before the tournament why no player has ever won back-to-back titles at The Players, Scheffler replied, “I think it’s because of the nature of the course. I don’t think it really suits certain types of players.” That’s why I think this is one of the best places we play on tour. ”
Maverick McNeely is making the most of his opportunities this week.
He will undergo a significant recuperation period after taking time off from competition from June 2023 to November 2023 to receive treatment for a left shoulder injury.
This gives him a free exemption this season, and as of Sunday’s final round of The Players, he is tied for fourth place at 13 under, four strokes behind leader Xander Schauffele.
McNeely, who shot a 4-under 68 for the second straight year on Saturday, started 2024 with a 10-game starting spot and earned 20.886 FedEx Cup points to complete a significant medical extension.
So the rest of the season is gravy.
“I’m definitely very grateful,” McNeely said of the medical extension. “I’m really grateful to be able to come back and be ready this year and be able to play in this tournament. But I think the most fun part is being out here hitting the ball and playing.
“We’ve been able to see the place in practice rounds and tournaments over the last few years, but now it’s so much fun to see the place from the middle of the fairway. can do.”
