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THE PLAYERS Third Round Highlights

To be expected, Sunday’s final round of THE PLAYERS Championship is already set up to be another all out battle among the top names in golf. Saturday saw a shake up in the leaderboard as many players took full advantage of moving day. Co-leaders after the second round, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, now find themselves side by side in a tie for second place at 14-under.

One stoke ahead of the dynamic duo is the surging Spaniard Jon Rahm. The 24-year old standout posted the best round of the day with an 8-under 64 to climb to 15-under for the tournament. The top five heading into the final 18 holes is truly an international affair as the top three are joined by Australia’s Jason Day (-12) and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (-11).

Familiar favorites including Dustin Johnson (-10) are still within striking distance but will need to cover a lot of ground early in their final round. The PGA Tour’s unofficial fifth Major will have every competitor looking to turn in their best play Sunday in order to claim victory. Whether in the hunt or bringing up the back of the pack the highlights rained in Saturday around The Stadium Course at the 2019 PLAYERS Championship.

An all out battle on top

With a group of six just one shot back, Rory McIlroy’s first birdie of the day gave him the outright lead at 11-under as he seeks his first PLAYERS Championship.

In order to stay in contention the game’s best have to recover from adversity with poise and control. Tommy Fleetwood did just that after an unfavorable approach shot at the par-4 6th before getting up and down for par.

Despite a rocky start to his round, the Englishman turned it around as he began to make the turn at the par-3 8th hole. After starting 3-over par for his round Fleetwood began his climb back up the leaderboard with his birdie to get to 10-under for the tournament.

Playing alongside Fleetwood, McIlroy worked some magic of his own on the 8th hole of the day following a picturesque 4-iron off the tee. The routine birdie putt dropped to put McIlroy in sole possession of the lead at 13-under.

Taking grasp of the outright lead at the par-3 17th, Rahm continued his Saturday dissection of TPC Sawgrass with a birdie to get to 15-under for THE PLAYERS.

Ending Saturday one off the lead, Fleetwood kept things close with a beautifully tracking tee shot at the island 17th in his third round.

The putts (and drives) are rolling at THE PLAYERS

Currently sitting in sole possession of fourth place, and three strokes off the lead, Jason Day did his best to stay in contention Saturday. The Australian’s quest for his second PLAYERS Championship seemed within reach during his third round when he birdied the 8th hole to move one shot off the lead.

Jhonattan Vegas took full advantage of moving day at THE PLAYERS rising up 20 spots to a tie for 16th thanks in part to this eagle at the par-5 11th.

Tony Finau hasn’t made much noise this week around TPC Sawgrass but Saturday at the par-5 16th the Utah native roared home a lengthy eagle putt.

The 2015 PLAYERS Champion Rickie Fowler knows his way around the par-3 17th. Heading into Sunday eight strokes off the lead Fowler closed the distance Saturday with a birdie on the island.

A couple of breaks were no worry for Vaughn Taylor as he went coast to coast for birdie at the par-3 3rd hole.

Justin Thomas confidently came close to making a coveted par-4 ace at the driveable 12th hole. Ultimately the 2017 Player of the Year had to settle for a two-putt birdie.

Smiles all around Sawgrass

Kevin Na may not have had many reasons to smile on Saturday but after going low for eagle at 16 he followed it up with a birdie at 17. Matching Na’s birdie, and his unique ability to walk down a putt, Tiger Woods matched his playing partner’s score and mannerisms to some light hearted laughs late in the third round.

Highlight of the Day

It seems only fitting that on the eve of Saint Patrick’s Day the shot of the day belonged to an Irish ace by Seamus Power. The third hole in one of the 2019 PLAYERS came at the par-3 3rd hole joining Ryan Moore Thursday at 17 and Sungjae Im Friday at 13.

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Embed from Getty Images

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