The Players: Scottie Scheffler two ahead of Min Woo Lee and closing on world No 1 at TPC Sawgrass | Golf News

Scottie Scheffler holds the lead heading into the final round of The Players

Scottie Scheffler moved a big step closer to returning to the top of the world rankings after taking a two-shot lead into the final round of The Players.

Scheffler, who needs a top-five finish to return to world No. 1 after Jon Rahm’s mid-tournament withdrawal and Rory McIlroy’s missed cut, mixed the eagle with six birdies and a single bogey in a seven-under 65 at TPC Sawgrass.

The world No. 2 entered the final day at 14 under and in pole position to claim his second PGA Tour title in as many months, following his WM Phoenix Open defence, with Scheffler’s closest challenge coming from Min Woo Lee.

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Scottie Scheffler made a stunning chip-in eagle early in the third round at TPC Sawgrass

Lee led at various points when the score was low but finished with a third-round 66 with a bogey to drop back to 12 under, with compatriot Cam Davis two strokes back in third ahead of Aaron Rai, Tommy Fleetwood, Chad Ramey and Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Rai shot a hole-in-one on the par-three 17th to produce the first birdie-ace-birdie finish in tournament history, while Tom Hoge set a new course record after posting 10 birdies in an impressive bogey-free 62.

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What a moment when England’s Aaron Rai made his second hole-in-one of the week on the superb 17th hole at The Players

How Lee and Scheffler battled for the Sawgrass lead

Scheffler was two shots into the half, but hit his approach to three feet on the first and then came out of the rough on the next par-five, before birdieing the fifth but missing an opportunity from inside five feet for another on the sixth. .

Lee jumped into one of the leads after he followed the eagle hole-out in the first with birdies over four and six, with the Australian moving along Scheffler when the Masters champion bogeyed the seventh after finding water from the t.

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Min Woo Lee made a great start to the third round when he went out for an eagle from 112 yards!

Scheffler responded with a birdie at the next and joined his nearest challenger – playing in the group at the front – by taking advantage of the par-five ninth to reach the turn one in front, with Lee starting the back nine by hitting a 15-footer to save par to stay at 11 in.

Lee went ahead when he made a 20-foot birdie on the 11th and added another from close range on the next driveable, with the 24-year-old still in the highest position until Scheffler left himself a tap-in birdie on the par-five. the 16th time.

Scheffler threw in a glorious birdie display from eight feet on the par-three 17th but jumped in front when Lee lipped out with a par-saving effort at the end, with the 26-year-old then entering the round with a birdie for double. the advantage of going to the final round on Sunday.

A birdie-birdie finish from Davis saw the Australian post a five-under 67 and jump into solo third, while Rai’s ace was second of the week on the par-three 17th and followed by Hayden Buckley’s efforts during the opening round.

Who will win The Players? Watch the final round live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the Stars group, feature holes and bonus groups start behind the red button, with full coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 2pm.