Spieth & Kaymer Share Lead in Players Championship


Martin Kaymer now has company atop the leaderboard in the Players Championship. After carding an even-par 72 Saturday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the 29-year-old German was joined at 12-under 204 by Jordan Spieth.

Spieth notched his third straight bogey-free round this week, posting a birdie - on the par-5 11th hole - and 17 pars for a 71.

Kaymer followed up his course-record-tying 63 on Thursday and had a 69 in the second round. On a blustery Saturday that dried out the Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course at Sawgrass, Kaymer had two birdies and a pair of bogeys.

Kaymer could have maintained the one-stroke edge that he had at the beginning of the third round, but bogeyed the last. "I think I put myself in position (to win)," Kaymer said in a TV interview. "Today was a little bit gusty and it was hard to get close to the pins."

The 2010 PGA champion and former No. 1 is seeking his first victory since the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2011.

Spieth admitted later that his swing on Saturday was loose, especially on the back nine. But a stellar short game saved the round. "I was all over the place," the 20-year-old from Dallas said during a televised interview.

"In order to win the golf tournament tomorrow, I have to play a lot better," added Spieth, currently ranked seventh in the world. "Made a lot of 3- and 4-footers. Hope to gain some confidence (Sunday) and make some more birdies."

Three strokes back are Australian John Senden, who had a 68, and Spain's Sergio Garcia (69). Four behind the co-leaders are Aussie Matt Jones and Americans George McNeill, who both had 69s, and Kansas native Gary Woodland (70).

Five behind are Italy's Francesco Molinari, who matched Saturday's low round of 5-under 67, Canadian David Heran (68) and England's Lee Westwood (71).

Yanks Stewart Cink (70) and Jim Furyk (72) are tied for 11th at 6-under 210, and another stroke back in 13th are the other two players firing 67s - Ryan Moore and Brandt Snedeker, along with their fellow Americans Matt Kuchar (69), Daniel Summerhays (69), Bo Van Pelt (70), Morgan Hoffman (70), Bubba Watson (70), Justin Leonard (70) and Bill Haas (72), Sweden's Henrik Stenson (70) and England's Justin Rose (73).

Two players in contention after 36 holes - Aussie Geoff Ogilvy and South African Charl Schwartzel - slipped down the leaderboard after carding 76 and 77, respectively.

Also taking big falls were The Netherlands' Joost Luiten, who recorded a 10-over 82, and Jeff Overton, who had an 83.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-players-championship/leaderboard.html.