Spaun holds 1-shot lead heading to final round at The Players
A clutch par save on the challenging 18th at TPC Sawgrass ensured that J.J. Spaun will take a one-shot lead to Sunday at The Players Championship.
Spaun's 25-footer went all the way around the cup before dropping to finish off an impressive 2-under 70 in extremely gusty winds to sit 12-under for the championship. That is one clear of Bud Cauley - who took advantage of much tamer conditions earlier in the day with a sizzling 6-under 66 to vault up the leaderboard.
Lucas Glover sits tied for third at 9-under alongside Alex Smalley after chipping in a whopping three times Saturday. That's one ahead of Rory McIlroy, Corey Conners and Akshay Bhatia at 8-under for the event.
| PLACE | PLAYER | ROUND 3 SCORE | TOTAL TO PAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | J.J. Spaun | 70 | -12 |
| 2 | Bud Cauley | 66 | -11 |
| T-3 | Lucas Glover | 71 | -9 |
| T-3 | Alex Smalley | 72 | -9 |
| T-5 | Rory McIlroy | 73 | -8 |
| T-5 | Corey Conners | 66 | -8 |
| T-5 | Akshay Bhatia | 75 | -8 |
| T-8 | Stephan Jaeger | 70 | -7 |
| T-8 | Danny Walker | 66 | -7 |
| T-8 | Max McGreevy | 70 | -7 |
| T-8 | Patrick Cantlay | 70 | -7 |
| T-8 | Sepp Straka | 71 | -7 |
| T-8 | Jake Knapp | 72 | -7 |
Cauley - who wasn't even in the field until Monday - teed off more than two hours before the final group and went to work starting on the 6th hole. The former Alabama standout made six birdies and an eagle over his final 13 holes to get to 11-under for the event.
He likely didn't expect his total of 11-under to be just one off the lead at the end of the day. However, the winds only got stronger and conditions worsened down the stretch.
Spaun was the one man in the final groups who shone brightest with his 70 the lowest round after Cauley finished. Spaun was excellent tee to green Saturday and made countless putts when pressed, including one from off the green for birdie on the 16th.
"I was hitting really good quality golf shots from tee to green and just giving myself looks and not really being in stressful situations," he told ASAP Sports when asked how he negotiated the tough conditions. "Keeping the ball in front of me, keeping it in the short grass for the most part. I drove it well. I was just trying to hit it close to pins but only when we knew we had the right club and the right wind to do so. And if not, then we were just going to hit it to 30 feet and try to make one."
While Spaun holding the lead is a surprise, it's Cauley who is the most shocking name among the top five. According to Justin Ray of the Twenty First Group, this marks the first time in nearly 13 years that he enters the final round of a PGA TOUR event within one shot of the lead.
A win would have extra significance for Cauley with it doubling as his hometown event given his north Florida roots.
"It would be amazing," he acknowledged afterwards. "It's always been my favorite tournament every year. Even though I haven't played my best when I've come here, just growing up and all the memories I have of being here, it's always my favorite week, so it would mean a lot."
Smalley, Glover, McIlroy and the rest of the chasers should have plenty of optimism heading into Sunday. As noted by Ray, the past nine players to hold a one-shot lead after 54 holes at TPC Sawgrass all failed to win the event.
With tee times moved up to the morning because of forecasted storms, the players will be heading out in the teeth of the wind with gusts expected to be the same as Saturday.