We heard it “March is going to be big.” We heard Brian Rolapp. We saw hundreds of shots on an island — and more than a few in the water around it. But now we are down to Players Championship last day, so let’s talk about what we’ve seen and what we’re going to see TPC Sawgrasswhere Ludvig Aberg leads with three. Reviewing and previewing the action are writers Josh Schrock, Dylan Dethier and Nick Piastowski.
Nick Piastowski: Hey, Josh. Hey, Dylan. I think together we watched or read somewhere around 30 hours of The Players Championship golf on Saturday, so what’s a few more minutes here? First question: Pretend someone didn’t watch for a second. What do you say to them?
Josh Schrock: Despite some scrappy moments, Ludvig Aberg took command of this tournament as the other contenders desperately tried to keep their hands on the wheel. As seems to happen every year, TPC Sawgrass fought back at the end to cut Ludvig’s lead to three, but the day was all about his ability to navigate an unstable course as Xander, JT and others not named Michael Thorbjornsen made critical mistakes. The bigger picture is that the Players continue to deliver year after year. The course is the perfect test as long as the weather cooperates in March and always delivers the drama. Sunday will be a lot of fun.
Dylan Dethier: I guess I’d start here: The Players rocks and you should check it out tomorrow! It’s funny, I think the “big five” talk once again took us away from a great golf tournament. Complete test. Birdies, bogeys, others, drama. Today was big action – big moves and stalling too. Ludwig is ahead. A bunch of flushers are in slumber, ready to follow him. Sunday should be fun.
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Piastowski: In one word? Hitting ball. In another word? Cold. You need both to win at Sawgrass, and at the top of the leaderboard is a pair of excellent ball forwards and cool customers in Aberg and Thornbjornsen. Sunday should be extremely fun. OK, what’s your defining moment from Aberg on Saturday?
Schrock: The defining moment for me was Ludwig’s six-foot putt for No. 7. He was sliding all over the place early and was in danger of falling out of the lead. He poured it into the center and his lead was four a few holes later. A few recommendations: The first is that when he’s in full flight, as he has been for most of the week, Ludvig is fascinating to watch. The putt he hit on 18 was as clean as could be drawn at that point. He struggled last year after his T7 at the Masters, but the slight change he made at Pebble paid off, and when he’s playing like this, he’s really, really hard to beat. The second achievement is simply that the Players are set up to deliver a career-changing win for someone for the first time since Cam Smith in 2022. Scottie and Rory have dominated this event of late, but on Sunday, we’ll either get a “hello, world” win for Ludvig, a career lifter for Matt Fitzpatrick, or for You, CamerT Schaung, Juve, Camerugh, for Michael’s winner. Thorbjornsen. That’s the good thing.
Dethier: His eagle on No. 11 looked so… easy. That’s the joy of watching Aberg: At his best he makes it all look polished, effortless, elegant. This is how the 235 meter bars end.
Piastowski: Yes, that eagle at 11 was sensational, as was the putt at 7, and the kill at 18, and I think that’s what amazes people about Aberg – he might be able to do that consistently over a period of five or six years and win who knows how many major titles. Shoot, maybe the run starts on Sunday. How is Aberg doing it all? What part of his game impresses you the most?
Schrock: He is third in strokes gained: off the tee and fourth in approach. He hits it a mile and straight as an arrow. You can hit a lot of flags at TPC Sawgrass from the short grass, but being out of position is where the big numbers come into play. He’s avoided the big loss with effortless power and precision, which is what always draws me to Ludwig.
Dethier: This is a cop out, but … all. The fact that he can hit it as far and as fast as he does while still getting hits in every facet of the game makes him a true unicorn.
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Piastowski: As he teed up 18 after hitting his tee Saturday, NBC cameras caught Aberg along with caddy Joe Skovron and course analyst Jim “Bones” Mackay — and Aberg was laughing. Laughing in the face of all that danger around him? impressive. Dylan, you had a nice line in our Slack channel this afternoon – that Michael Thorbjornsen is ‘Aberg-lite’. Can you expand on that? Josh, do you agree or not?
Schrock: I think it’s a great comparison. They both crack it up with ease and have similar personalities. Also, we can’t forget the two stars of TGL.
Dethier: Both tall, strong, straight, athletic, still short. They have played in similar circles since college, where they had an occasional friendly rivalry. Now they both live in the greater Ponte Vedra area, play part-time out of TPC Sawgrass and will share tomorrow’s tee time. It’s not a bad time to be one, to be honest.
Piastowski: Both have “process-ism”, if I may coin a word. I’m not sure they’re completely without nerves – you’ll definitely see some on Sunday. But man, it really seems like they get locked back into what got them to where they are. They are good guys too. I think we would also like to see a Thor-Aberg next September in Ireland. OK, who among these two makes a move on Sunday?
Schrock: I have to think JT will make a run, given his history in this field and the way he was able to survive today’s round after the 7th. 6. This course suits his eye and we know he’ll try to play gas pedal golf tomorrow. Honorable mention to Viktor Hovland, who is quietly in that pack at eight-under.
Dethier: Xander Schauffele. He hit it so well on Friday but struggled with his swing on Saturday – I think he breaks free and shoots on Sunday. But wow, there are some fun potential contenders. Hovland, Thomas, Young… this could be a lot of fun.
Piastowski: Let’s have fun. Scottie, outside earlier, shoots a 62 year old and sits back and watches everyone follow him while eating Chipotle. A few squirrel shots here and there on Saturday, as you’d expect at Sawgrass. What surprised you the most?
Schrock: I was very surprised that Cameron Young hit his tee shot on 18 into the water after putting it into his feet on 17. He was close to being on the last par with Ludvig before he dropped two shots on 18. Thought he would close it out in style, but the 18th hole, especially with the wind from the right, gives these guys fits.
Dethier: The guys seem to have a hard time committing to hitting the ball on No. 12, which is definitely a tough hole, but 10 bogeys from 38 players in the last wave on an almost drivable par-4 is more than I expected.
Piastowski: Justin Thomas could very well be in the bottom group if not for a pair of water polo shots. But this is Sawgrass. Okay, well I’ll ask: Is this a big deal? Worthy major? What do you want to call it?
Schrock: It’s not a big one and that’s perfectly fine. It’s the PGA Tour’s premier event on a great course that almost always delivers. It sounds at the beginning of the major season, but it is not itself a major. And that’s okay!
Dethier: No. It’s the players. And that’s actually great!
Piastowski: Yes, I love all of this. However, everyone’s test balloon was very interesting to watch. Okay, who wins this thing? (Bonus, if you want, from the selection Sunday – who wins that thing?)
Schrock: I think Ludwig walks towards him. This is a suitable championship for him to win and I think he will put this in order tomorrow. As for Mars Mars Mars, let me eat more chalk and get the Duke. Really going out on a limb to shut us down.
Dethier: Ludwig. And Michigan.
Piastowski: Cam Young. In a playoff. And Iowa State.
;)
