The world’s best golfers are converging for Round 3 of the 2025 PLAYERS Championship, with anticipation building for some high-stakes action on the green. The most-watched man of the hour, Scottie Scheffler, is still in the mix for a potential hat-trick at the championship. As the world’s number one golfer, Scheffler stands at 5 under par, just six strokes away from the lead. However, he won’t have it easy, with formidable opponents like Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia hot on his heels, both poised at an impressive 11 under par.
The leaderboard is brimming with talent, including the likes of JJ Spaun, Rory McIlroy, Alex Smalley, and Collin Morikawa. These golfers are among the elite 72 who’ve made the cut by scoring at least 1 under par. Notably, Xander Schauffele has managed to maintain his cut-making streak, stretching it to a commendable 59 times. He remains a considerable distance from the legendary Tiger Woods’ record of 142, but it’s noteworthy that Schauffele has the longest streak since Woods’ own ended in 2005.
With the players all set to compete, attention now turns to the tee times for Saturday’s play at the TPC Sawgrass. The action will commence from Tee No.1, with all times given in Eastern Standard Time. From Shane Lowry and Danny Walker at 8:25 AM to Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia at 2:35 PM, the schedule is packed with some of golf’s most promising and established names.
However, the tournament has also seen its share of disappointments, with some big names failing to make the cut at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida. The most surprising exit was perhaps that of Ludvig Aberg, who finished 2 over par across two days, a disheartening 3 strokes above the cutline. The world No.5 had a particularly challenging Friday, posting three double bogeys, despite a promising start with a 1 under par on Day 1.
Other surprising exits include Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Rose, both of whom narrowly missed the cut by a single stroke. Matsuyama had a rough start with a 2 over par on the first day, while Rose had a disappointing second day, ending with a 1 over par. Max Homa and Viktor Hovland also struggled to recover from poor first-day performances, falling short by 7 and 5 shots respectively.
Despite these setbacks, the championship continues to promise thrilling competition. Big names like Schauffele, Scheffler, and McIlroy are still vying for the prestigious title and a chance at the $4.5 million winner’s purse. As the golfing world watches with bated breath, who will rise to the occasion and emerge as the champion of the 2025 PLAYERS Championship? Only time will tell.
