J J Spaun sets sail towards 1 shot lead at The Players

PONTE VEDRA BEACH – It was a case of damage limitation in difficult, wind-swept conditions on March 15 at golf’s The Players Championship, where J.J. Spaun emerged with a one-shot lead after the third round.

The 34-year-old, who earned his first PGA Tour win at the 2022 Valero Texas Open after 147 career starts, hung tough to card a two-under 70 at TPC Sawgrass in Florida for a 12-under total of 204.

Bud Cauley, who earned a spot in the PGA Tour’s flagship event after Lee Hodges withdrew, was alone in second at 205 after firing a sparkling 66, while two more Americans Lucas Glover (71) and Alex Smalley (72) were at 207.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy stayed in the title hunt with a 73 that included three birdies and four bogeys. The Northern Irishman was joint-fifth at 208 with Akshay Bhatia (75) and Canada’s Corey Conners (66).

Spaun, who has two top-three placings in eight PGA Tour starts in 2025, was very happy with his position heading into the final round after mixing five birdies with three bogeys.

“I’ve been playing really well this year, so I can’t say I’m particularly too surprised, but I’m definitely glad to be in a position to have a chance to win the golf tournament,” he said.

“I was hitting really good quality golf shots from tee to green and just giving myself looks and not really being in stressful situations. Keeping the ball in front of me, keeping it in the short grass for the most part. I drove it well.”

But scoring was not at all easy for the late starters as winds strengthened from 24-32kmh in the afternoon, with gusts up to nearly 55kmh. The scoreboard fluctuated wildly, and six golfers held at least a share of the lead.