Ludvig Åberg takes a commanding three-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical of The Gamers, as Cam Younger and Matt Fitzpatrick have been left to rue costly finishes at TPC Sawgrass.
Åberg began the weekend with a two-shot benefit after a surprising second-round 63, together with a record-equalling entrance 9, with the two-time PGA Tour winner by no means leaving prime spot regardless of taking part in his first eight holes in a single over on Saturday.
A birdie and eagle over the subsequent two par-fives gave Åberg management, earlier than a closing bogey noticed him accept a one-under 71, shifting him to 13 beneath and comfortably forward of debutant Michael Thorbjornsen.
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Justin Thomas made a triple-bogey seven throughout his third spherical of The Gamers
Younger held solo second till a final-hole double bogey dropped him to 9 beneath, with Fitzpatrick additionally ending his third-round 69 with a six to slide to tied-fourth with Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas and Corey Conners.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler bounced again from stuttering into the weekend by firing a bogey-free 67, lifting him to 4 beneath, whereas defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled to a level-par 72 to depart him on one over.
How Åberg constructed huge lead at The Gamers
Åberg supplied early hope to the chasing pack with a gradual begin to his third spherical, the place he didn’t make the most of the par-five second after which bogeyed the fourth after having to put up from thick tough.
Thorbjornsen closed inside one after following a front-nine 33 with an eagle on the par-five eleventh, whereas Jacob Bridgeman did the identical as he raced to the flip in 32, just for each to bogey their subsequent holes and see Åberg transfer three clear with a seven-foot birdie on the ninth.
Ludvig Åberg is trying to win The Gamers for the primary time
Fitzpatrick was two again from Åberg when the Swede rolled in a 20-foot eagle on the par-five eleventh, leaping him 4 forward, with Younger claiming outright second after making the most of the identical gap and draining a 45-foot birdie on the thirteenth.
Åberg produced a string of pars alongside the again 9 and noticed his lead enhance when Younger cancelled out an excellent birdie on the par-three seventeenth by discovering water off the tee, resulting in a double-bogey and dropping him again to 9 beneath.
Åberg was taking part in alongside Xander Schauffele within the last group
Thorbjornsen held solo second after cancelling out two bogeys on his again 9 with successive good points from the sixteenth, taking him to 10 beneath, with Åberg’s benefit minimize when he completed his spherical with a three-putt bogey.
“Made a couple of mistakes early, hung in well, it was nice to get off with a birdie on nine,” Åberg informed Sky Sports activities. “Didn’t feel like I had my best stuff today, but overall pleased with getting away with it and getting the ball in the hole.”
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Ludvig Åberg displays on his third spherical at The Gamers, the place he shot a one-under par 71
“Sawgrass is about execution. If you hit the fairways and hit your shots you’ll get a lot of chances, if you don’t you’ll get punished and that’s the kind of golf I really like. I love these big feel tournaments. Tomorrow will be a challenge but looking forward to it.”
Åberg is trying to declare a 3rd PGA Tour title and first for the reason that 2025 Genesis Invitational, with the 26-year-old trying to develop into the primary since McIlroy in 2019 to show a 36-hole lead at The Gamers into victory.
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Rory McIlroy discovered the water twice throughout his third spherical of The Gamers, because the defending champion posted a level-par 72
Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre jumped contained in the top-10 with a round-of-the-day 65, whereas Scheffler moved 25 locations up the leaderboard after posting 5 birdies in a much-improved blemish-free card.
McIlroy was unable to match Scheffler’s leaderboard cost as he didn’t construct any momentum throughout his third spherical of his title defence, the place he combined three birdies with as many bogeys in one other disappointing show.
Who will win The Gamers? Watch the ultimate spherical dwell on Sunday from 1pm on Sky Sports activities Golf, with Featured Teams, Featured Holes and bonus protection on Sky Sports activities+. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract.
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