Play-off will take place on Monday from 13:00 GMT
Leaders: -12 McIlroy (68), Spaun (72)
Selected: -10 Hoge (66), Bhatia (70), Glover (71); -9 Walker (70), Conners (71), Cauley (74); -8 MacIntyre (69)
-7 Morikawa (69); -6 Cantlay (73); -5 Rai (69), Fleetwood (71)
We've already said they've brought the play forward and the above graphic shows why.
Not only will the wind be howling but the storms that have been sweeping across southern USA are on their way to Florida.
It's already proving treacherous to judge the conditions - it'll get dangerous if they stay out too late today.
Image source, Getty ImagesCollin Morikawa's cracking start has got us thinking.
With the weather worsening, what score will it take to lift the trophy later?
Thumbs up for -12 or better, thumbs down for -11 or worse.
Morikawa -7 (5)
Collin Morikawa came close to winning the Arnold Palmer last week, and although he started the day eight shots off the lead he's still fighting as if he's in with a shout of winning.
He's picked up three birdies in a row on holes three, four and five to get to seven under and with the weather coming in you can't write him off just yet.
He's on the sixth hole now so he's well ahead of the leaders in terms of time and if that storm comes in as expected and he's safe in the clubhouse on around 10 under this could get very interesting.
McIlroy -8 (13:50 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesFour shots back may seem a decent distance but that can evaporate quickly around TPC Sawgrass. Just ask Will Zalatoris who dropped nine shots in five holes yesterday to disappear from contention.
There are few better chasers than McIlroy - 15 of his career wins have come when starting the final round behind the leaders, more than any other player since 2010.
His shadow will loom large on the leaderboard, provided he eliminates mistakes, as he looks to become just the eighth player to win multiple Players Championship titles.
Spaun -12 (14:01 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesJJ Spaun cut an impressive figure yesterday, retaining his composure as most around him wilted in the winds. Afterwards, he said he "knew what it takes" to win on the PGA Tour and that ought to help him today.
That is true - the 34 year old's solitary title came in Texas in 2022 - but he has held four 54-hole leads in his career and only closed out once.
One of those occasions was earlier this year at the Sony Open but his decent final round of 68 was pipped by Canada's Nick Taylor.
And this tournament is a whole different level.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe signature hole on the Stadium Course got tougher and tougher as the day progressed and weather worsened yesterday. It'll be a similar story today with the weather - this will be some test for the leaders later on!
Saturday stats
(US unless stated)
Scheffler -5 (2)
Scottie Scheffler misses his birdie putt but does tidy up coming back to ensure par.
Steady start for the world number one.
Scheffler -5 (1)
The par-five second has been pretty amenable this week - relatively speaking at least - and Scottie Scheffler winds up his second shot to hit the heart of the green.
Only it's not got the spin he wants and flies left into the thick rough surrounding the putting surface.
Eagle chance gone and his chip out leaves 20 feet for birdie.
Spieth +3 (6)
Jordan Spieth started today 10 shots off the lead, so well out of it but you never know, a fast start and he could maybe at least push for a big finish and...
Oh - he's started bogey-bogey-bogey-double bogey and that five-over start after four holes means he's now three over and in danger of making a huge score today.
Zalatoris -2 (78)
A dreaded eight - a snowman - is something no golfer wants to put on their card, not even your average hacker, so Will Zalatoris will have been bitterly disappointed with his on Saturday.
As you can see from the video on social media, Sawgrass made him look bang average - and he's a brilliant player...
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Spaun -12 (14:01)
Image source, Getty ImagesJJ Spaun's mother Dollie was a keen golfer, even playing until she was eight months pregnant, so it's obvious that the Players Championship leader has the game in his blood.
“People would always tell me that my son was going to be a golfer when he grew up," said Dollie.
A young JJ Spaun was therefore well into his golf even as a child, as he recalls telling his mum: "Mom, I don't want to watch cartoons. I want to watch Golf Channel."
McIlroy -8 (13:50 GMT)
Image source, Getty ImagesThe bad news for Rory McIlroy is that he starts the final round four shots off the lead - the good news is that he feels he's playing well despite some big mistakes on Saturday.
"I feel like I played better than I scored," said McIlroy. "All the bogeys I made were really soft.
"Yeah, most of the dropped shots were from around-the-green mistakes rather than tee to green. I felt like I hit the ball pretty well, controlled my flight. It was nice to make a birdie on 18 at least and see one putt go in.
"Not out of it by any means, it was nice to birdie that just to get one closer to J.J. on the last."
Image source, Getty ImagesLast year, Scottie Scheffler shot -20 to win The Players, but that was the best score in a decade.
Given the expected conditions, I wouldn't imagine that kind of mark will be needed today.
JJ Spaun is there to be shot at with his lead at -12. If he can stick around that, he'll probably be in with a shout.
(US unless stated)
Scheffler -5 (1)
As for how he's started?
A straightforward par at the first and Scottie Scheffler's challenge is under way.
Scheffler -5
Image source, Getty ImagesThe usually cool, calm and collected Scottie Scheffler was clearly rattled by conditions at TPC Sawgrass yesterday, and was throwing clubs and chuntering to himself for most of the back nine.
"Well, I think you need to let off a little bit of steam at times," he said after his round - and he certainly did that.
He shot 64 to come from five back and win last year, can he do even better and win from seven behind today?
"You never know. Maybe do something crazy. You've got guys shooting some pretty low numbers this week. So going into tomorrow, just try and get off to a good start and go from there."
We've already said they've brought the play forward and the above graphic shows why.
Not only will the wind be howling but the storms that have been sweeping across southern USA are on their way to Florida.
It's already proving treacherous to judge the conditions - it'll get dangerous if they stay out too late today.
Image source, Getty ImagesToday's final round tee times have been brought well forward today and they'll play in three balls with a two-tee start in a bid to beat some expected bad weather arriving in the area later on Sunday afternoon.
Severe storms and strong winds are expected between 14:00-16:00 ET in the United States, so it will be a race against time to get the Players Championship completed.
“We’ve been reviewing this weather for three or four days and unfortunately it’s held its pattern and it looks like this line of storms are going to be quite intense,” said vice president of rules and tournament administration Stephen Cox.
TPC Sawgrass definitely won on Saturday with plenty of players being made to look very ordinary as windy conditions combined with an already tough course led to some big errors at the Players Championship.
We'll likely see a few more of these today...
Allow X content?
This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
