How has Ian Poulter salvaged that? He was criss-crossing his way down the 11th the last time we saw him, but the Englishman makes birdie.

Taking the scenic route.

Jason Dufner has crept up the leaderboard with a rousing back nine at Sawgrass.

Five birdies since the turn for the American as he heads to the 18th - the last a wonderfully weighted putt after clipping into the middle of the island green with his tee shot.

He's six under for the day, nine under for the tournament.

It doesn't take Webb Simpson long to extend his lead.

The American sinks his birdie putt after a superb approach on the first to move to 16 under par.

Charl Schwartzel rolls in for par.

Ian Poulter birdied the 10th, but is in a little bit of trouble at 11. The Englishman has found himself among the pine needles after his tee, and whips out to the fringes. Decent lie, though.

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Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama and Rickie Fowler were the only players from the world's top 10 who failed to make the weekend after falling short of the -1 cut line.

Among the others to miss out were Martin Kaymer, Tyrrell Hatton, Russell Knox, Danny Willett, Phil Mickelson and Li Haotong.

McIlroy's haphazard 74 included four bogeys and a double bogey.

Matsuyama did his best with a 69, but after an opening 79, the Japanese world number nine was always playing catch up.

Webb Simpson cracks his approach to within touching distance of the pin from just over 130 yards. Chance for an early birdie...

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Schwartzel hasn't enjoyed the best of times at Sawgrass, never finishing inside the top 25.

But the South African added a bogey-free 66 to his opening 68 to take a share of second heading into the weekend - and he's on form, having placed third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and made the top 10 at Quail Hollow last week.

"I've even missed this tournament a few times, willingly!" joked the 33-year-old.

"I've been making a bunch of birdies in the last few weeks and making just as many bogeys and the difference this week is obviously making a lot less bogeys.

"It started changing for me on the back nine on Friday at New Orleans. I started playing a lot better and have rolled with it.

"All the swing work that I've done for the last couple of months I'm feeling comfortable with it now and it's paying off."

Simpson is joined today by South African Charl Schwartzel, who follows the American's drive down the first fairway to a back drop of palm trees fluttering in the Florida breeze.

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Webb Simpson has set himself up nicely for the weekend and history, it would appear, is on his side.

On Friday he became the seventh-player to hit a course record nine-under 63 at TPC Sawgrass and in doing so, tied the tournament's 36-hole scoring record at 15 under with Jason Day (2016).

The American's five-shot lead is largest in Players history, eclipsing the four-shot advantage Jason Day had in 2016.

And it is the fourth time the 36-hole leader has led by at least three shots. Each of the first three leaders went on to win - Jason Day (2016), Greg Norman (1984) and Lanny Wadkins (1979).

And Webb Simpson still boasts a five-stroke lead as he heads to the first tee, despite some early movers and shakers lower down the leaderboard trying to mix things up a bit...

The American reaches for his driver, takes a couple of practice swings and then nails one down the fairway.

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What a Friday it was for Webb Simpson.

The American headed into the second round with a six-way share of the lead, but shot a course record-equalling 63 to establish a five-shot halfway lead at 15-under par.

"You start just kind of laughing," said Simpson.

"Everything is going in. You feel like no matter what, you're going to make it. It's rare as a golfer where everything comes together."

Simpson was 11 under for the day when he stepped on to the 17th tee but his pushed tee shot on Sawgrass' signature hole clattered against a railway sleeper and ended up in the water.

"I was in between clubs," he explained. "I tried to smash a sand wedge and blocked it a little bit. It's a bit of a bummer."

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Joining Danny Lee on the tee is Patrick Cantlay.

The American world number 34 is on the hunt for what would only be the second win of his career.

The 26-year-old won the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in November 2017 (actually part of the 2018 PGA Tour season).

He also finished tied for fourth at February's Genesis Open and tied for seventh at the RBC Heritage last month having missed the cut at The Masters.

Cantlay has dropped three shots in 36 holes at TPC Sawgrass this week, two of which were during his first round that also contained eight birdies.

-15 W Simpson

-10 C Schwartzel, P Cantlay, D Lee

-9 C Hadley, C Howell III, A Noren (1)

-8 J Spieth (F), T Woods (F), H Stenson (5), B Horschel (5), D Johnson (4). S Garcia (3), S Stricker (2), X Schauffele (2), J Day (1)

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European number one Tommy Fleetwood is -2 through 11 to improve to -6 overall for a tie for 27th alongside fellow Englishman Ian Poulter.

Poulter is -1 after eight.

Ireland's Shane Lowry (pictured) is back home after a 69 to improve to -4 for a tie for 45th.

He shares that mark with Matthew Fitzpatrick, who is also safely home after second consecutive 70.

Read the latest instalement of Fitzpatrick's player diary.

Scotland's Martin Laird is tied for 54th at -3 overall after a third round 70.

World number five Justin Rose has slipped back down the leaderboard after playing his opening 12 holes in +2.

Ross Fisher is back to level par overall after a second consecutive 73.

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With the leaders preparing to head out for their third rounds, let's have a look at who's played their way into the mix...

It is quite surprising to see the world number 186 from New Zealand featuring at the weekend of a tournament never mind at the business end of the leaderboard.

Of the 12 events he has played in 2018, Danny Lee has only made the cut in four of those. Three of those have been in his last four events - but tied for 51st at the Valero Texas Open is the best the 27-year-old has to show for his efforts.

But this week the former world number 34, who won The Greenbrier Classic in 2015, is in the mix after an eventful second round.

Lee opened with a first-round 68 despite dropping a shot at the 18th, before carding a second round 66 that included an eagle, eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Billy Horschel is enjoying a stellar start to his Saturday at Sawgrass, carding three birdies on the bounce.

The 31-year-old American has pledged $1,000 to to charity for each birdie he makes at the Players Championship this week and $5,000 for every eagle.

He's on nine under par.

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Jordan Spieth played his way up the leaderboard earlier today with a seven-under-par 65 - his best round at a Players Championship.

The American fired nine birdies, only faltering with bogeys at the fourth and 14th.

It still leaves the three-time major winner seven shots off the lead after heading into the weekend at one under par.

He said: "I felt free. I came out feeling good and playing aggressively.

"When you are 14 back on a Saturday morning, there’s not a whole lot of pressure."

John Shaw: The Forest Course at Bramshaw in The New Forest, oldest course in Hampshire 74 off a 15 handicap, net 59.

After Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth made their best rounds at Sawgrass, we want to hear yours...

Sergio Garcia is off the mark early in his third round. The tangerine-topped Spaniard rolls in a birdie putt from eight feet at the par-five second to move to eight under for the day.

Watch this space...