Wyndham Clark posted a second consecutive round of 65 and will enter the weekend at TPC Sawgrass with a four-shot lead at the 2024 Players Championship.
Starting his day on the back nine at Sawgrass, the 30-year-old Colorado native got off to what he called a “ho-hum start,” and was sitting even-par through seven holes. The reigning U.S. Open champion, though, picked up the pace, starting with a birdie on the par-3 17th hole to turn on 1-under 35. Clark then shifted into top gear at the turn, reeling off five birdies in a six-hole span (Nos. 1-4 and 6). After a couple of pars on 7 and 8, Clark essentially locked up the 36-hole pole position with a final-hole gain to reach 14-under par.
“I mean, that’s pretty cool. I guess I’ve been breaking some records recently, which is pretty neat,” said Clark, who became the first player in history to open the Players Championship with consecutive rounds of 65 or better.
“More than anything I’m just super excited that kind of had a ho-hum front nine and then turned and really just got into a nice zone and felt really good on the greens and shot an awesome number.”
Xander Schauffele (69), who offset a double bogey on the par-5 11th hole by bookending birdies on 10 and 12, made eagle on the par-5 16th to break 70 and share the second spot with Nick Taylor (68) at 10 under.
Clark will be grouped with Schauffele in Saturday’s final pairing.
“Exactly what you just said,” said Schauffele, when asked about the importance of being paired with Clark. “All you’re trying to do is put some pressure on someone. He’s been playing incredible golf for quite a few months now and he’s got the power and precision and he’s very confident right now.
“So it’s important to be in that final group just to try and put some pressure on him and try and get going.”
One further back was the duo of Maverick McNealy (68) and Matt Fitzgerald (69), who were tied for fourth on 9 under.
Sam Burns matched the low-round 65 shot by Clark to reach 8 under and move into a tie for sixth, alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who posted 69 despite dealing with some neck pain on Friday.
“Yeah, I hit a shot on my second hole today and I felt a little something in my neck, and then I tried to hit my tee shot on 12, and that’s when I could barely get the club back,” said Scheffler. “So I got some treatment, maybe it loosened up a tiny bit, but most of the day I was pretty much laboring to get the club somehow away from me.”
Tom Hoge (69), Corey Conners (68), and Matti Schmid (68) were the others in the T6 logjam.
Brian Harman also posted a low-round 65 to rocket 67 spots up the leaderboard, landing in the 10th position at 7 under, alongside J.T. Poston (68), Sahith Theegala (67) and C.T. Pan (68).
The cut line was -1, which sent home two of the tournament’s top headliners: Justin Thomas (71, 74, +1) and Jordan Spieth (74, 72, +2).
The 2024 PLAYERS Championship
Top-10 Leaders: Halftime
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Wyndham Clark -14 (-7)
2. Nick Taylor -10 (-4)
2. Xander Schauffele -10 (-3)
4. Maverick McNealy -9 (-4)
4. Matt Fitzpatrick -9 (-3)
6. Matti Schmid -8 (-4)
6. Corey Conners -8 (-4)
6. Scottie Scheffler -8 (-3)
6. Tom Hoge -8 (-3)
10. Brian Harman -7 (-7)
10. Sahith Theegala -7 (-5)
10. J.T. Poston -7 (-4)
10. C.T. Pan -7 (-4)
Saturday’s Final Games
All Times – EST
2:00p: Hoge, Poston
2:10p: Scheffler, Conners
2:20p: McNealy, Burns
2:30p: Taylor, Fitzpatrick
2:40p: Clark, Schauffele
Latest Odds To Win
1. Clark (+160)
2. Schauffele (+550)
2. Scheffler (+550)
4. Taylor (+1200)
5. Fitzpatrick (+1400)
