Scheffler leads with Fleetwood & Rai in contention

Scottie Scheffler leads the Players Championship by two shots after a day of spectacular scoring in the third round at Sawgrass.

American Tom Hoge set a new course record with a 10-under 62.

Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are five off the lead, with Rai’s hole-in-one on the 17th part of a birdie-eagle-birdie finish.

It is the first time anyone has managed that on the final three holes in Players Championship history at Sawgrass.

American Scheffler will return to the world number one spot if he wins the title on Sunday.

Historic day of low scoring

The Players Championship is without some big names for the final two rounds with Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick missing the cut and current world number one Jon Rahm pulling out with a virus.

However, there was plenty to get excited about on Saturday with low numbers throughout the field, most notably Hoge’s historic 62, and the scoring average of 69.57 was the lowest ever at this Florida course in the unofficial ‘fifth major’.

Hoge’s 10 birdies moved him to eight under overall but that is still six back from Scheffler, who swapped and shared the lead with Australian Lee throughout the afternoon.

Masters champion Scheffler, who began two behind second-round leader Adam Svensson, enjoyed a fast start, birdieing the first and chipping in for eagle at the second.

He went out in a five-under 31 and after a run of six pars, ended in style with birdies on the 16th and 18th, the latter set up by a magnificent approach to the green.

Lee, the younger brother of US Women’s Open champion Minjee Lee, also had a spectacular opening, holing his second shot at the first for an eagle and five birdies were added to his card by the time he reached the 13th tee.

The only blemish came at the last when a five-foot par putt rolled around the hole but did not drop.

More to follow.