PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — Via two rounds at TPC Sawgrass, The Gamers Championship offered a lovely leaderboard heading into the weekend. Whereas Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have struggled to make the lower, most of the world’s high gamers have managed to outlive a grueling model of this once-a-year cease on the PGA Tour.
The ultimate two rounds of The Gamers ought to be one other blockbuster end, with eight gamers inside six strokes of the lead, together with two-time main champion Xander Schauffele and former Gamers champion Justin Thomas, with Ludwig Oberg main by simply two strokes.
Here is what we’re taking a look at for the remainder of the method:
How far again is it nonetheless being disputed?
Mark Schlabach: With world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler and defending Gamers Champion Rory McIlroy struggling and Collin Morikawa withdrawing with a again harm, the PGA Tour could not have requested for a greater leaderboard on the midway level.
Except he performs like Scheffler in 2024, his restrict might be 4 or 5 strokes. On the Gamers Championship, he trailed Windham Clark by six strokes after 36 holes, however caught up with an 8-under 64 within the remaining spherical to win the TPC Sawgrass for the second yr in a row.
There are various expert golfers within the high 10, so it will likely be troublesome for anybody to cross all of them.
Paul Ughetti: There is not any telling what is going on to occur on the again 9 at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, however I nonetheless do not see any massive names that would terrify the lead over the weekend by greater than 4 strokes. I believe 5 below is simply too sluggish and 6 below could also be a good distance off, principally as a result of I can not think about seeing Aberg, Schauffele and Cam Younger all collapse.
Which participant might be a “shock” candidate on Sunday?
Schlabach: Sepp Straka might not be as broadly often known as Schauffele, Oberg or Thomas, however the 32-year-old has gained 4 races up to now 4 seasons and was twice a part of Europe’s Ryder Cup profitable groups.
Straka’s recreation has been trending this week, sitting at 7 below after 36 holes.
Straka’s ball putting wasn’t spectacular, however he scrambled higher than anybody this week, changing 15 of 15 probabilities. He has improved his placing by about 3 and a half strokes.
Straka averted an enormous mistake. There was just one bogey within the first 36 holes.
After hitting solely 6 of 14 fairways within the first spherical, he spent additional time on the observe vary. He hit 11 of 14 fairways on Friday for a 2-under 70. His iron play wasn’t nearly as good within the second spherical, so if his swing adjusts he might be the favourite to win Sunday.
The Austrian-born golfer moved to South Georgia when he was 14 years outdated. After I was in highschool, I went to the Gamers Championship yearly.
He has completed tied for sixteenth or higher in three of his final 4 begins and is aware of how you can get round TPC Sawgrass. “That is clearly one of many largest golf tournaments on this planet,” Straka stated. “It will be fairly unimaginable (to win). However yeah, it is solely after midday on Friday, so (I am) not attempting to get forward of ourselves right here.”
Object: What in regards to the gamers who’ve already gained massive occasions this season? Jacob Bridgman has been some of the constant gamers this yr, and after profitable final month’s Genesis Invitational, he is again close to the highest in one other prestigious match.
Bridgeman, who has three top-10 finishes this season and has by no means completed exterior the highest 25 in any occasion this yr, shot a 70 on Thursday after which shot a 68 on Friday to enter the weekend at 6 below par.
“I believe I’ve at all times favored this spot as a result of I really feel like you must hit it actually straight and conservative off the tee. There’s not numerous room to be aggressive off the tee,” Bridgeman stated. “You must hit the ball in a delegated spot on the course. I like that model of golf.”
The 26-year-old hasn’t had a very nice ball-striking week to this point (he ranks close to the center of the sector in strokes gained from tee to inexperienced), however his placing has as soon as once more confirmed to be his superpower. Bridgeman has elevated his strokes to five.6 on the inexperienced to this point. He stated Friday that he felt he performed higher Thursday than Friday, regardless of the decrease rating. If I can discover some extra fairways and greens this weekend, I may be again in rivalry with my placing.
Who can end the weekend increased, Scotty or Rory?
Schlabach: For a golfer who wasn’t positive he would have the ability to tee up this week due to a again harm and who by no means performed a observe spherical, McIlroy had an ideal rally to qualify Friday.
The defending Gamers Championship winner made a birdie on the par-5 ninth, the ultimate gap of the second spherical, to effortlessly keep under the lower line. Though he reached the inexperienced in two strokes, he narrowly missed the 31-foot eagle putt.
McIlroy stated NBC Sports activities reporter Jim “Bones” McKay requested him about his pre-Masters plans whereas strolling down the ninth fairway.
“I stated, ‘Bones, I am going to let you know when this gap is over. There’s so much occurring with this golf gap,'” McIlroy stated. After all, I might like to be right here on the weekends. ”
McIlroy carded a 1-under 71 and moved to 1-over after 36 holes.
“I want I may have been increased on the leaderboard,” McIlroy stated. “I felt like I performed nicely sufficient in the present day to stand up on the leaderboard, however I simply could not make the putts fall. I really feel like I hit the ball just a little higher in the present day than I did yesterday.”
McIlroy stated he’ll keep away from pre-round coaching this week after tweaking his again throughout warm-ups earlier than the third spherical of final week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He obtained remedy after Friday’s spherical at TPC Sawgrass and was scheduled to take a number of muscle relaxants.
“(The again) feels fairly shut,” McIlroy stated. “I am not fairly there, however I really feel like I am getting just a little higher every day.”
Object: Contemplating McIlroy has been rusty to this point this week with no common preparation week, I might nonetheless lean on Scheffler, even when the No. 1 participant on this planet is coping with his personal struggles.
With an even-par 72 on Thursday, Scheffler went straight to the observe vary and hit balls for some time within the pouring rain. Friday wasn’t significantly better. He missed as many fairways as he did within the first spherical (seven strokes) and the identical variety of greens (six strokes), however misplaced 1.3 strokes on putts, which was practically three strokes worse than within the opening spherical.
Scheffler did not communicate to the media after his spherical, and though he got here out on high by two strokes, he might want to discover his rhythm once more if he’s to maneuver up the leaderboard this weekend.
select a winner
Schlabach: Xander Schauffele is exhibiting indicators of progress once more and is definitely beginning to appear like the golfer who will win two majors in 2024.
Schauffele took the lead within the clubhouse after Friday’s early waves and shot a 7-under 65 to maneuver to 10 below.
He hit all 14 fairways on Friday and located 16 of 18 greens. His iron play has been nice to this point. He led in Strokes Gained: Strategy (11.413) after 36 holes.
“Properly, (I) did not notice all the green hits,” Schauffele stated. “It felt actually good to have the ability to hit the whole lot, particularly right here. I undoubtedly felt in management for essentially the most half and felt like I used to be attacking the golf course as an alternative of taking part in defensively.”
Schauffele hit solely 5 of 14 fairways within the first spherical. He frolicked on the driving vary with swing coach Chris Como and ironed out the problem.
The ten-time PGA Tour winner is not but able to say he is again to his outdated type after lacking the 2025 season with a rib harm.
“I am undoubtedly hitting numerous actually good golf pictures,” Schauffele stated. “I believe I began hitting numerous good golf pictures once more early within the yr. 2024 was a yr stuffed with actually good outcomes. And now I believe I am just a little extra centered on that a part of the method, attempting to verify issues are type of ironed in and out the proper place. Then go play the sport.”
Object: I am sticking with my pre-tournament decide, Ludwig Oberg. After a troublesome begin to the season, the Swede has clearly discovered one thing and has improved as the foremost season approaches.
“I believe my coronary heart is superb when issues are easy, when issues are very straightforward, and that is what I really feel like I have been in a position to do over the previous couple of weeks,” Oberg stated.
He shot 29 on the entrance 9 Friday at TPC Sawgrass, ending with a 63, together with two eagles, and along with his current swing, he regarded like the most effective gamers on this planet. Though he downplayed that benefit, you will need to observe that that is now Oberg’s residence course and the place he practices. It is protected to say that this specific structure fits his recreation very nicely.
“Sawgrass can also be a golf course the place you must hit the pictures. I really like the golf course as a result of it is proper in entrance of me,” Oberg stated. “It is quite simple, however you continue to need to do it. Is there a bonus? Possibly. However you continue to need to take the shot.”
Nobody hits a greater shot than him all two days.
