The pouring rain may have disappeared at TPC Sawgrass, but swirling winds created arguably the most difficult playing atmosphere in the history of The Players Championship on Saturday as golfers finally completed Round 1 with Round 2 getting underway. The day ended the way it started with Tommy Fleetwood and Tom Hoge as the co-leaders at 6 under. Hoge has yet to start his second round, while Fleetwood is three holes into his second set of 18.
The winds affected TPC Sawgrass so drastically that the scoring average ballooned massively compared to the first two days of action. The course played 79 under par across Thursday and Friday only to jump to an astounding 282 over par on Saturday.
As for those who completed their second rounds, only four scored under par across their second set of 18 holes: Bubba Watson (-4), Justin Thomas (-3), Billy Horschel (-2) and Keegan Bradley (-1). Watson and Thomas sit T15 at 3 under for the tournament.
Only 48 of the 142 golfers in the field (34%) have completed 36 holes after the third day of action.
Brooks Koepka and Ryan Brehm were hit hardest out of the field on Saturday, each shooting 9-over 81s, the highest rounds of The Players thus far. Koepka went 7 over across his final 10 holes with two double bogeys and a triple in his second round.
Play will resume at 8:15 a.m. ET on Sunday with a cut expected to be established in the late morning or early afternoon. Winds in the 10-20 mph range are expected once again. The third round will be completed on Monday with hope that the final 18 holes can also be finished before sunset.
CBS Sports will have additional details from the third day of the 2022 Players Championship added shortly.
