2 years ago
29
ARTICLE AD BOX
Tommy Fleetwood is looking to become the first Englishman to win the Players Championship| -6 T Fleetwood (Eng)*, T Hoge (US)*; -5 J Niemann (Chi)*, K Mitchell (US)*, A Lahiri (Ind)* |
| Selected:-3 B Watson (US), J Thomas (US), J Rahm (Spa)*; -2 D Johnson (US), P Casey (Eng)*, T Hatton (Eng)*; -1 V Hovland (Nor)*; Level R Knox (Sco)*, M Laird (Sco)*; +2 R McIlroy (NI), S Scheffler (US); +4 C Morikawa (US) |
| * denotes yet to start or complete round two |
High winds blew away the storms that have blighted the Players Championship as round two finally got under way on Saturday at TPC Sawgrass in Florida.
However, those winds wreaked havoc on the par-three 17th and its island green with 29 balls hit in the lake, compared to just four on the first two days.
England's Tommy Fleetwood has played three holes of round two and continues to share the lead on six under.
Rory McIlroy, the 2019 champion, is two over after completing two rounds.
The Northern Irishman was among 47 players who had to finish their first rounds when play resumed at 12:00 (17:00 GMT) on Saturday after hope of morning play was wiped out by another thunderstorm.
And he faces a long and anxious wait to discover if he will make the halfway cut after carding two one-over-par 73s.
The top 65 and ties will play the final two rounds and McIlroy is current joint-84th.
Windy conditions make 17th brutal
TPC Sawgrass is celebrating its 40th anniversary as home to the PGA Tour's flagship event. The Stadium Course was purpose-built to host this event and the 136-yard 17th has been the scene of so much drama over the years.
It has been built like an amphitheatre and is flanked on three sides by huge mounds and stands that shelter the players and make judging the wind difficult.
Open champion Collin Morikawa, who was playing with McIlroy, struggled in round one, backing away from his tee shot several times before hitting into the water. He did so again in round two as he followed an opening 73 with a 75 to end on four over.
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka laughed out loud after also dunking balls in both rounds. The hole cost him five shots on Saturday, with a double bogey in round one and a triple in the second. He will be heading home after signing for a nine-over 81.
And spare a thought for Sepp Straka. The Austrian was one off the lead on five under when he walked onto the 17th tee. He walked off the green on one under, two balls in the water and four shots gone.
More to follow.
English (US)