South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Canadian Adam Svensson are tied for the lead of the Players Championship after the second round was suspended due to an incoming storm on Friday. Bezuidenhout was four-under-par for his round, through 14 holes leaving him on eight-under for the tournament while Svensson was on the same score but had only completed 11 holes.
American Ben Griffin was the clubhouse leader after completing his round, shooting a one-under 71 to leave him two strokes behind the leaders. World number three Rory McIlroy faced the strong risk of missing the cut, being six-over for the tournament.
The 26-year-old Bezuidenhout, who has collected ten wins internationally but has never won on the PGA Tour, was pleased with the way he coped with windy conditions early in his round.
“The first nine holes was tough. It was so windy out there. But it actually died down over the last hour. I just tried to keep the ball in play. In that wind, it was just trying to hit fairways and give yourself looks at the green,” he said.
Svensson, who won his first PGA Tour event at the RSM Classic in November, started on the back nine and had just hit consecutive birdies after the turn when play was called for the day.
“I was hitting a lot of fairways, a lot of greens, putting well. Just playing safe, playing aggressive when I can,” he said.
American Collin Morikawa and Australian Min Woo Lee sat two strokes behind the leaders in a share of third spot alongside Griffin.
Australian Jason Day, who came into the tournament on the back of four straight top-10 finishes, made a second consecutive 70 to stand at four-under.
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth carded a three-over 75 with double bogeys on the 14th and 5th holes to leave him on even-par. Spieth had a spectator to thank for making the cut after making an eagle on his last hole, the par-5 ninth, to keep him in the tournament.
The Players Championship will resume at 7am local time on Saturday. However, world number two Jon Rahm of Spain had pulled out of the tournament on Friday morning due to illness.
The Players Championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the PGA Tour and Bezuidenhout and Svensson will be looking to make the most of their lead when play resumes. With the windy conditions and strong competition, the tournament is sure to be an exciting one.
