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.”
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.
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
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)