The grills in the hospitality area left of TPC Sawgrass’ ninth hole had yet to fire up Saturday morning by the time Adam Svensson came through just before 9 a.m.
Good thing.
The 29-year-old Canadian, trying to get his second round in the clubhouse and clinging to a one-shot lead at The Players Championship, fanned his second shot at the par-5 right and into the tent. Svensson and his caddie, A.J. Montecinos, spent the new few minutes searching for Svensson’s ball – between grills, gas and water tanks, presumably a few dozen packages of hamburger buns; Montecinos even got a lift to look on top of a portable generator.
A man in a Jamba Juice sweater searches for his sports equipment among temporary ovens and propane tanks while the man in charge of his equipment is on the shoulders of another man trying to locate it. The Jamba Juice man leads an event that would pay him $4.5M.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) March 11, 2023
Golf forever. pic.twitter.com/4K5vV1mmfK
Eventually, they found the ball.
“It was on top of a generator,” Svensson said.
Svensson was granted free TIO relief and he went on to birdie the hole, rolling in a 5-footer to shoot 5-under 67 and grab the first 36-hole lead of his PGA Tour career.
Clubhouse leader @AdamSvensson59's approach shot found the hospitality tent on No. 9.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2023
He birdied the hole to finish his with a 2-shot lead @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/RFaNbQ5VQr
At 9 under, Svensson, who last fall won his first Tour title at the RSM Classic, is two shots clear of Scottie Scheffler heading into the third round, which was set to start later Saturday morning after rain pushed Friday’s second round into a new day. Those who were unable to complete 36 holes by late Friday afternoon when play was suspended were greeted Saturday morning with cooler temperatures, yet less wind and softer conditions.
“The ball was going a lot shorter, a little bit softer,” Svensson said, “but I mean, still a tough golf course.”
Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Min Woo Lee and Christiaan Bezuidenhout are all tied for third at 6 under.
Rory McIlroy was among the notables to miss the cut at 5 over, and he was joined by names such as Matt Fitzpatrick, Keegan Bradley and Billy Horschel in exiting early. Jon Rahm also won’t be around for the weekend after withdrawing with illness on Friday.