Players Championship: Xander Schauffele leads Windham Clark and Matt Fitzpatrick into contention

Xander Schauffele had an impressive bogey-free third round and opened up a one-shot lead heading into Sunday's finale of the 50th Players Championship.

The American carded a 65 with seven birdies to overturn a four-stroke lead from leader Windham Clark and finish at 17 under at Sawgrass.

Clark shot a 70 to finish at 16 under, while British Open champion Brian Harman shot an impressive 64 to finish at 15 under.

Matt Fitzpatrick made six birdies in his final 10 holes to finish at 13 under.

No British player has ever won the PGA Tour's flagship event, but the 2022 US Open winner stayed competitive with a sensational back nine.

“I'm really proud and really happy,” Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports.

His challenge on the front nine seemed to be fading as he dropped two strokes on the par-4 fourth for the second day in a row and bogeyed the sixth to fall to seven under.

But birdies on the ninth and 10th holes set the Yorkshireman on a roll, knocking on four more in the remaining five holes.

“I've been trying to get my attitude right this week, and I knew I was playing well the last two days. I felt like I could turn it around, so that helped me,” he added. Ta.

As for how he would approach the final day, he joked, “If I can play better on the fourth hole, it'll probably be a good start.”

Scottie Scheffler, despite playing through a neck injury, shot a 4-under 68, one stroke behind Fitzpatrick, and entered the game shouting that he would become the first player to win back-to-back Players' titles. are doing.

The world number one, who took the unusual step of undergoing a physio during Friday's second round, played in the third round with tape around his neck and showed signs of discomfort throughout.

“I was proud of the way I fought,” said the American, who finished the round with a hat trick of birdies.

And when asked if he thought this injury would hinder his chances of playing in next month's Masters (the first major of the season), he said: “I don't think so. When something like this happened before, it was usually normal. “I was back,” he answered. In a few days. “

Rory McIlroy, who ranks second in the rankings, also posted a 69 with three consecutive birdies to improve his lead to nine under par.

No one has had more than McIlroy's 21 birdies in the opening three rounds, but McIlroy once again struggled with consistency, suffering a nasty double-bogey on the par-4 14th and halting his birdie streak at the 11th and 12th. Ta.

But like Ryder Cup teammate Ludwig Aberg, who shot a 67 to also reach 9-under, McIlroy will have no chance of building on his 2019 Players victory without the leaders returning. You'll need to come.

Clark, the US Open champion, shot 65s on the second day to reach 14 under par, but Schauffele caught up to him by the 12th hole.

“Today is moving day, so I thought I better get moving,” said Schauffele, who was co-runner-up in 2018.

“There were some close calls towards the end, but I'm really happy.”

He had six birdies in his first 12 holes, tying Clark, who hit his tee shot into the water on the 12th for par. But Schaffele hit a 58-foot ball on the 14th for his seventh birdie.

Clark made a 30-foot birdie on the par-5 16th hole to tie Schauffele at 17 under, but he duffed his shot on the par-3 17th hole and the ball landed in the water in front of the green. He got away with bogey by hitting his third shot to 7 feet.

“I weathered the storm,” said the American, who was ranked outside the world's top 100 this time last year. “I didn’t have the best day, but I’m still in the final group for Sunday.”

The pair will be targeted by Herrmann, who knows how to win big championships after winning last year's Royal Liverpool Open by six strokes.

The left-hander quietly charted his way around the iconic Florida course with accurate irons and solid putting, and rose to third place. And after starting the week at a level par 72, he picked up 15 strokes over the past 36 holes and will feel he has momentum.

Watch live radio and text commentary for Sunday's final round from 17:00 GMT on the BBC Sport website.