TPC gets tough:
Putting becomes problematical, but Day still leads.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jason Day began the third round of the Players Championship with the tournament’s 36-hole scoring record and without a bogey on his scoreboard.
But on a day when some of the world’s best players called foul and TPC Sawgrass finally flexed its considerable muscle, the world’s No. 1 player made a pair of double bogeys during a three-hole span before he had even made the turn.
A four-putt on the par-four sixth hole was the low point. In the end, though, Day was one of the lucky ones.
Day was able to right the ship and maintain his fourshot lead after carding a oneover-par 73.
“To have two doubles on the front side and then play some nice golf on the back side to really kind of keep that distance was nice,” Day said.
The wheels came off for pretty much everyone else.
Ideal scoring conditions the first two rounds quickly were forgotten as designer Pete Dye’s layout turned diabolical.
“It was crazy tough,” Japan’s 24-year-old Hideki Matsuyama said.
Some players felt the course conditions were crazy unfair.
The putting surfaces were soft and receptive as recently as Saturday morning, when 33 players completed their second rounds because of a twohour weather delay Friday.
By Saturday afternoon, the greens were dry, crusty and lightning fast.
“I’ve never seen putts that quick before,” Billy Horschel said.
Kevin Chappell, who managed to card a two-under 70, described the greens as, “Dead. Balding.”
In light of the conditions, even two-putting became guesswork. When the dust settled, players had combined for a course-record 149 threeputts or worse.
On the par-four fifth hole, Sergio Garcia five-putted from nine feet away — only the seventh five-putt at TPC Sawgrass since 1992. A little later Paul Casey made it eight.
2004 Players champion Adam Scott, a two-time winner this season, questioned whether PGA Tour officials had altered the greens to curtail the scoring barrage during the opening 36 holes.
“It was a massive change,” said Scott, who shot 75. “It wasn’t very subtle.”
Following a 75 that took him out of contention, world No. 3 Rory McIlroy said some of the pin placements were “borderline unfair,” especially given the green speeds.
Head rules official Mark Russell blamed low humidity, high temperatures and 20mph winds for turning TPC Sawgrass from a pushover to a U.S. Open-like test.
By day’s end, 60 of the 76 players who made the cut made at least one double bogey or worse. Justin Rose made three double bogeys through eight holes on his way to a six-over 42 on his opening nine. 2014 Players champion Martin Kaymer carded a quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four 14th hole.
Russell Knox arrived at the island 17th hole eight under for the week, and then hit three balls in the water on his to a sextuple-bogey nine and a round of 80. Knox was among seven golfers with rounds in the 80s.
Meanwhile, Matsuyama was one of only three to shoot in the 60s. The world’s 14thranked player recorded a brilliant five-under 67 to move into a three-way tie for second place at 10-under with 45year-old Alex Cejka and 47year-old Ken Duke.
Duke turned in one of the rounds of the year with a seven-under 65 that included five straight birdies during a sixunder 30 on the front nine.
“What golf course was Ken Duke playing today? Can anyone tell me that?” Day joked.
Day hopes TPC Sawgrass returns to normal Sunday, where the course is difficult but fair, and one of the best fields in golf is not made to look foolish. “That would ruin everything,” Day said.
Either way, the 28-yearoild Aussie said he will be ready for whatever comes his way as he seeks another big win for his growing resume.
“I won’t stop until it’s done,” he said. “I can rest after that.”