PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Xander Schauffele isn’t afraid.
He’s not afraid to voice his opinion off the golf course. “We’ve got a long way to go,” Monahan said, as evidenced by his forceful remarks about the sport’s split with LIV Golf and the questionable work of PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. It’s about trust from the players. ”
Schauffele is fearless and dangerous on the golf course, too, and will be difficult to follow in Sunday’s final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass’ historic Stadium Course.
Schauffele started Saturday’s third round — a travel day — with a four-shot lead over leader Windham Clark after 36 holes, then took aim and shot a 7-under 65, finishing with a 2-under 70. He took a one-shot lead over Clark, who hit the ball.
This puts the 30-year-old Californian on the verge of the most important victory of a career that already has seven wins under his belt.
Schauffele leads reigning U.S. Open champion Clark by one stroke, and reigning British Open champion Brian Harman, who shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday, by two strokes.
Maverick McNeely, winless in 121 PGA Tour appearances, is four shots behind 2022 U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick at 13 under par.
World No. 1 and defending Players champion Scottie Scheffler is five shots back at 12 under after shooting a 68 on Saturday. He was tied with Sahit Segala who hit 67.
Indeed, it’s a decorated leaderboard, and with mild and windless weather this week, Sunday’s final round looks set to be an all-out shootout.
“If you look at the scores, this is not your average Players Championship,” Herman said. Herman was tied for 75th at the end of the first round, but was 10th after 36 holes and third entering Sunday. “But it still feels like a fifth major.”
It will be interesting to see how Schauffele, who has never won a major, handles Sunday. He said after his round on Saturday that he was most proud of the way he “held up” in a cauldron of pressure.
“I really stayed in my lane because I could hear the roar all over the property,” he said.
He said Sunday’s approach would “probably be quite similar” to Saturday’s. He knows it’s coming to an end.
“I know the people here are good.” [and] No one is going to lie here and play dead,” Schauffele said. “It may be low. [score required] “That’s tomorrow, but for the most part I’m just going to enjoy myself and try to stay in my lane,” he said. “I want to get to the 18th hole with a six or seven-stroke lead and smiling at my caddy and the crowd.
“I think that’s what we all want when we close our eyes at night and go to sleep, but that’s not always the case.”
Schauffele caught Clark on the 12th hole, with Clark making birdie and Clark making par, with both players tied at 16 under.
He birdied the 14th to take a one-shot lead over Clark.
The day then took a dramatic turn as Clark and Schauffele played the final pair of holes, the 16th and 17th. Clark birdied the par-5 16th hole and tied for the lead at 17 under, while Schauffele settled for par.
Then Clark inexplicably washed out his tee shot on the par-3 17th hole, leaving the ball about 20 yards short of the famous island green.
Schauffele re-teeted and hit a clutch bogey 4 to minimize the damage, but Schauffele ended up heading to the 18th tee with a one-stroke lead.
Clark called the swing on No. 17 a “significant” mistake, adding, “But I followed it up with a great swing and a great putt.” Tomorrow we will be in the final group, which will be amazing.
I hope that’s a big point in the tournament and that after tomorrow I can look back and look at that hole and say, “That shot and putt might have meant everything.” ”
Clark, who called Schauffele a friend, said she was looking forward to spending a “fun” Sunday with him.
“He’s got his upper leg now, and we’re hoping he can bring it in tomorrow and have some fireworks and play some great golf,” Clark said. “He’s been very consistent, and you could see that by seeing him make a lot of putts today. Tomorrow I hope he doesn’t make as many putts and I can make some putts. I really respect Xander’s game. He’s very consistent. He doesn’t really have any flaws.”
he’s not scary
