New Headline: Champions Golfing Champ Navigates the Course with a Three-Stroke Edge
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg grabbed a three-stroke lead after the third round of the US PGA Players Championship (DAVID CANNON) Ludvig Aberg grinded through a difficult day for a one-under-par 71 and stretched his lead to three strokes after Saturday's third round of the US PGA Players Championship. The 26-year-old Swede, third last week at Bay Hill, made an eagle, birdie and two bogeys to stand on 13-under 203 after 54 holes at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. "Overall I didn't play my best golf today but felt like I kind of hung in there, which was nice," Aberg said.
"Started the day with a two-shot lead and now we've got a three-shot lead, so I guess that's a good thing. " American Michael Thorbjornsen shot 67 to grab second on 206 with compatriot Cameron Young third on 207. "I don't think I have to change too much," Thorbjornsen said.
"If you play some really steady golf you'll run into some birdies... slow and steady wins the race and we're just going to play some solid golf. " Aberg missed a birdie putt from just inside 60 feet at the par-five 16th and missed eight-foot putts for birdie at the par-three 17th island hole and for par at the 18th.
"Would have loved to have had maybe a couple of those putts on 16 and 17 and obviously the one on 18 as well," Aberg said. Even with his stumble at the last, Aberg owned the largest 54-hole lead at the Players since 2018 when Webb Simpson was ahead by seven on his way to victory. "It will be fun.
It's a challenge for sure," Aberg said of his lead entering Sunday's final round. "I slept on the lead last night and it's fun. That's why we play tournaments.