The Players Championship: JJ Spaun leads Bud Cauley as Rory McIlroy stays in contention at TPC Sawgrass

15 March 2025, 16:18 | Updated: 16 March 2025, 00:42

JJ Spaun takes a one-shot lead into the final round of The Players, as Rory McIlroy’s late birdie kept him in contention after a day where conditions caused chaos at TPC Sawgrass.

Spaun holed a dramatic 25-foot putt to save par on the final hole of his third-round 70, putting him at 12 under ahead of compatriot Bud Cauley, with Lucas Glover three back in tied-third alongside Alex Smalley and overnight co-leader Akshay Bhatia.

McIlroy was playing alongside Spaun and briefly within one of the lead until three bogeys in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, where strong winds left players struggling, before a closing birdie salvaged a one-over 73 and put him within four of the lead.

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