Ponte Vedra Beach (USA), Mar 16 (PTI) J.J. Spaun shot 2-under 70 as his 25-foot putt went 360 degrees around the cup and dropped for par to give him a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Players Championship.

The par gave Spaun a 2-under 70, the lowest score among the final 10 groups that teed off in a strong, steady wind with gusts up to 25 mph on a course that can be intimidating even in calm conditions.

Also Read | Liverpool vs Newcastle United, Carabao Cup 2024-25 Final Live Streaming Online: How To Watch English League Cup Match Live Telecast on TV & Football Score Updates in IST?.

Bud Cauley teed off two hours earlier and still faced a bulk of the wind. He finished with three birdies on his last four holes for a 66 to be in the final group.

Lucas Glover had a 71 and finished with a double bogey on the 15th, an eagle by chipping in on the par-5 16th, and a double bogey with a tee shot that didn't reach the island on the notorious par-3 17th.

Also Read | Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 2024-25 Free Live Streaming Online: How To Watch EPL Match Live Telecast on TV & Football Score Updates in IST?.

Spaun was at 12-under 204, a stroke ahead of Cauley and three ahead of Glover and Alex Smalley.

Akshay Bhatia (75) put up a good fight after a miserable start, going from a birdie on the opening hole to a bogey-bogey-double bogey stretch that sent him spiralling down the leaderboard.

He still wound up with a chance and was tied-fifth at 8-under and four behind leader Spaun.

Rory McIlroy made birdie on the final hole to salvage a 73 and perhaps his chances, leaving him only four shots behind at 8-under.

Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler wasn't so fortunate. He had a 72. Scheffler was 7-under and T-16.

Collin Morikawa had more of a slow bleed with eight bogeys that sent him to 77, leaving him eight shots behind.

The group at 7-under 209 included Patrick Cantlay and Danny Walker, who left Friday evening after a three-putt that looked as though it would cost him the cut. But he made it on the number, teed off first before the wind arrived and posted a 66.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)