Sawt Falasteen - Spaun clings to one-stroke Players lead with McIlroy four back

The 34-year-old American, seeking his second PGA Tour triumph, battled through brutal winds to fire a two-under par 70 to stand on 12-under 204 after 54 holes at TPC Sawgrass.

"It was a definite grind today with these conditions around an already difficult course," Spaun said. "I knew I just didn't want to let my mental game get the best of me and I knew I had to stay patient.

"I knew I had to take my chances when they came and it paid off."

After sinking a 29-foot putt from off the green to birdie the par-5 16th, Spaun made bogey at the par-3 17th island hole and appeared set to close with back-to-back bogeys.

But his long par effort at the 18th rolled around the edge of the hole and fell in to leave him ahead of compatriot Bud Cauley.

"Huge," Spaun said. "It was a tough little wedge shot in there. I had a good line. All I had to do was get the speed right. Kind of hooked in there. It was nice."

Cauley, seeking his first PGA title, fired a 66 with seven birdies and an eagle to stand on 205.

"It was tough," Cauley said. "Seemed like every hole was a challenge with the wind and just trying to somehow get it on the fairway and get it on the green and roll in a putt."

Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open champion, and fellow American Alex Smalley shared third on 207 with second-ranked Rory McIlroy, Canada's Corey Conners sixth and American Akshay Bhatia sharing fifth on 208.

"They slowed the greens down today for obvious reasons and I didn't adjust very well to that," McIlroy said. "I feel like every bogey was really soft. I could have shot something in the 60s.

"I have to at least be encouraged by how I hit it and how I controlled myself around there. I just need to chip and putt better tomorrow."

Whipping winds played havoc with the field, with an average score of 74, while a stormy forecast prompted organizers to schedule Sunday's last round in threesomes off the first and 10th holes with morning tee times.

World number 57 Spaun, whose only PGA title came at the 2022 Texas Open, was a runner-up two weeks ago at the PGA Cognizant Classic.

Spaun sank a four-foot birdie putt at the par-5 second hole and rolled in a 27-foot birdie putt at the par-3 third before missing the green with his approach on his way to a bogey at the fourth.

Spaun two-putted for birdie from 39 feet at the par-5 ninth to grab the solo lead at 12-under, then added a six-foot birdie putt at the par-4 12th to seize a two-stroke edge.

After finding left trees off the tee for a bogey at 15, Spaun answered with dramatic birdies on two of the last three holes.

"Just playing in a lot of events recently that have been really tough conditions kind of mentally and technically prepared me for what today was bringing," Spaun said.

"Relied on those past experiences to carry me through the day."

- 'Would be amazing' -

On the eve of his 35th birthday, Cauley sank a 15-foot birdie putt at 17. He also had a 27-foot birdie putt at 15 and a 35-foot eagle chip-in at the par-5 ninth.

Cauley, ranked 251st, has attended the event since he was a child.

"That would be amazing," Cauley said. "I came to this tournament every year growing up and dreamed about playing in it, let alone winning it."

Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler, the world number one and reigning Masters champion, fired a 72 to stand on 211.

"It was whipping pretty good most of the day," Scheffler said. "It was definitely very challenging. It was just really tough out there."

Two-time major winner Justin Thomas, who tied the course record with a 62 on Friday, shot 73 to stand on 213.

X.Habash--SF-PST