Ludwig Oberg jumped into the mid-way lead at The Players, but pre-tournament favorites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were wobbly going into this weekend’s TPC Sawgrass.
Oberg ran to the turn with 29 points, tying the lowest front-nine score in tournament history, and the Swede continued his advance with a sensational second-round 63 on Friday afternoon.
The two-time PGA Tour winner had his worst round of the day with two eagles, six birdies and one bogey, moving him to 12 under, two spots behind Xander Schauffele, while Cam Young was one stroke back in third place ahead of Corey Connors and Justin Thomas.
Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, aiming to become the first British players to win The Players, were seven places off the pace, while Scheffler and McIlroy needed a birdie on the final hole to secure a spot for the weekend.
Defending champion McIlroy entered the week without a practice round due to a lower back injury, but needed a late birdie to recover from a 1-under 71 and move up to 1-over, while Scheffler also recovered to shoot a 1-over 73 to tie for the total and secure his 70th consecutive PGA Tour appearance.
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Rory McIlroy birdied the first and last holes of the day to shoot a 1-under 71 and start the weekend on a shaky note.
How Oberg jumped into a half-lead
Oberg shot a bogey-free 69 on the first day and accelerated in calm conditions in the second round, making a close birdie in the first round before hitting a 15-foot eagle on the par-5 second and hole-in from 10 feet on the third.
He made a birdie from off the green on the 4th hole to extend his round to 5 under par, then chipped in right from the 9th green to end his string of pars and jump to 10 under par.
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Ludwig Oberg matched a record on the front nine at TPC Sawgrass, posting an incredible two eagles and three birdies.
Oberg looked like he was threatening Tom Hoge’s course record 62 for the day with a two-putt birdie on the 11th to take him to 8 under, but in his next at-bat he missed a 7-foot birdie chance and hit two into the thick rough on the 15th for bogey.
The world No. 21 carded his first drop shot of the week, rebounding from a setback alongside Schauffele to birdie the par-5 16th and secure a 36-hole lead with the final birdie, the fifth of his PGA Tour career.
Ludwig Oberg heads into the weekend with a two-stroke lead at TPC Sawgrass
“I had a really good start and then I was able to keep it going,” Oberg told Sky Sports. “I struggled a little bit off the tee, but in the middle of the round I managed a little bit, but I was happy to finish the last three holes with some birdies and play some good golf.”
Schauffele had set his first clubhouse goal after finishing the second round with a birdie-birdie 65, while Young had four birdies over a seven-hole stretch on the back nine to move within three of the lead.
Oberg will face Xander Schauffele in the third round on Saturday.
McIlroy and Scheffler limped through.
The world’s top two were both on the brink of shocking early exits at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, with McIlroy birdieing the first hole of the second round but missing the expected cut with five holes remaining.
McIlroy remained 2 over until the final hole of the day, the par-5 ninth, where he finished 30 feet from the flag with a sensational 284-yard 3-wood for a two-putt birdie.
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Rory McIlroy birdied the final hole at TPC Sawgrass to move to 1 under and qualify for The Players.
McIlroy told Sky Sports: “I’m feeling good about the game. I’ve gone five or six days without touching the club or doing anything, so I’m getting my feeling back.” “I don’t know if I’ll be able to fight for the title, but I hope I can get a respectable finish in the next few days.”
Although Scheffler was far from his shining best, he appeared to be able to survive until a bogey on the 14th and a missed par save from within 3 feet on the 16th put him at 2 over, but he made a 10-foot birdie at the last to avoid his first missed cut since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Who will win The Players? Watch live on Sky Sports all weekend. Live coverage will continue on Saturday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf, with featured groups, featured holes and bonus feeds on Sky Sports+. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
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