Adam Svensson Leads The PLAYERS Championship at Halftime

0
Adam Svensson Leads The 2023 PLAYERS Championship
Adam Svensson plays his shot from the 6th tee during the continuation of the weather delayed second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 11, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins via Getty Images)

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Adam Svensson chased a day-one 68 with a 5-under 67 and will enter the weekend at TPC Sawgrass with a two-shot lead at The Players Championship.

The 29-year-old Canadian got off to a somewhat sluggish start but picked up the pace around the turn, reeling off three birdies in a five-hole span, and then closed with a gain on his final hole to reach 9-under par.

“Kind of everything, hitting fairways and making some putts, even from off the green, and overall stay really calm and patient,” said Svensson, when asked about the key to his round.

Reigning Masters champion Scottie Scheffler rode a hat trick of birdies around the turn (Nos. 9-11) to post 69 and sit solo second on 7-under par.

“Pretty solid,” said Scheffler, when asked about his round. “I think it was playing pretty challenging when we started out with the high winds and the greens were getting really firm. I did a good job of staying patient.”

Scottie Scheffler 2023 The Players
Scottie Scheffler in action during the completion of the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 10, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Photo by Ben Jared for the PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Scheffler will be paired with Svensson and Ben Griffin (71), who was tied for third on 6-under par.

Others in the T3 group included Min Woo Lee (70), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (70) and Collin Morikawa, who struggled to a 73.

Cam Davis (70) and Chad Ramey (75) were one further back on 5 under, one clear of Jason Day (70) and Viktor Hovland (71) who headlined an eight-player logjam at T9.

Justin Thomas 2023 The Players
Justin Thomas talks with caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay on the 9th hole on Mar 10, 2023 during the second round of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Photo by Brian Spurlock for Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The cut line was expected to be +1 but moved to +2 at the last moment, which kept the likes of Justin Thomas (73), Shane Lowry (69) and Tom Kim (72) around for the weekend.

The biggest name to miss the cut was Rory McIlroy, who finished +5 after rounds of 76 and 73. World No. 1 Jon Rahm withdrew early on Friday, citing a stomach illness.


The 2023 PLAYERS Championship

2023 The Players Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa plays his third shot on the 15th hole during the completion of the weather delayed second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Mar 11, 2023 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Photo by David Cannon via Getty Images)

Top-10 Leaders: Round 2

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Adam Svensson -9 (-5)
2. Scottie Scheffler -7 (-3)
3. Min Woo Lee -6 (-2)
3. Christiaan Bezuidenhout -6 (-2)
3. Ben Griffin -6 (-1)
3. Collin Morikawa -6 (+2)
7. Cam Davis -5 (-2)
7. Chad Ramey -5 (+3)
9. Will Gordon -4 (-5)
9. David Lingmerth -4 (-4)
9. Brendon Todd -4 (-3)
9. Jason Day -4 (-2)
9. Viktor Hovland -4 (-1)
9. Nate Lashley -4 (-1)
9. Denny McCarthy -4 (E)
9. Taylor Pendrith -4 (+1)


Saturday’s Final Games

All Times – EST
11:58a: Pendrith, Todd, Lashley
12:09p: Day, Hovland, McCarthy
12:20p: Davis, Ramey, Gordon
12:31p: Lee, Bezuidenhout, Morikawa
12:42p: Svensson, Scheffler, Griffin


Latest Odds To Win

1. Scottie Scheffler (+200)
2. Colin Morikawa (+600)
3. Adam Svensson (+700)
4. Jason Day (+1400)
4. Viktor Hovland (+1400)

Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your name here