Xander Schauffele fires 65, takes lead at The Players

FLORIDA: Xander Schauffele shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to take the lead from Wyndham Clark after three rounds of action at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Schauffele played a bogey-free round that began with a strong front nine that included birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 9 at TPC Sawgrass. He now sits at 17-under 199 for the tournament, good for a one-stroke lead over Clark (70 on Saturday).

“I only hit two fairways on the back nine,” Schauffele said. “When you make 58-footers, you kind of get up-and-down on holes like 18 from the front rough, it takes a little bit of stress off certain parts of your game. All in all, it was a bit of a grind.”

Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champ, enjoyed a four-shot lead over Schauffele and Canadian Nick Taylor entering play Saturday, but a bogey on the eighth hole and another at No. 17 caused the lead to slip away.

“Yeah, it’s massive,” Clark said of the bogey on 17. “It’s unfortunate on a hole that’s so iconic and has a bunch of trouble to have kind of your worst swing of the day. But yeah, I followed it with a great swing and a great putt. I’m in the final group (Sunday), which is huge.”

Brian Harman carded the low round of the day with a 64 to reach 15 under, two strokes behind Schauffele. Harman is in sole possession of third entering Sunday.

“This is my favorite PGA Tour event of the year,” Harman said. “I love coming here. They treat us like kings when we show up. The golf course is incredible. I’ve been close a couple times. I’m really excited for (Sunday).”

Matt Fitzpatrick (68) of England and Maverick McNealy (68) share fourth place at 13 under, with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (68) -- the defending champion -- and Sahith Theegala (67) both another shot back at 12 under.

“I hit some good shots towards the end,” Scheffler said. “It was good to see some quality shots. Yeah, kept battling until the end. I did my best to stay patient out there, but this place can be fairly frustrating, and it was nice to get some birdies to close.” Nate Lashley is alone in eighth at 11 under following a 67, while Taylor Montgomery and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama each shot a 68 on Saturday and share ninth place with J.T. Poston (69) at 10 under. Taylor struggled to a 76, taking him from a tie for second all the way down to a tie for 29th.