The 2026 Players Championship reached the halfway stage with the top 65 and ties all making it safely through to the weekend.
Among them was leader Ludvig Aberg, who shot a brilliant 63 in the second round to move top of the leaerboard at 12 under, two ahead of a resurgent Xander Schauffele.
Other high-profile players still harboring dreams of victory at TPC Sawgrass and lifting the iconic trophy on Sunday evening include Cameron Young, who is on nine under, and Corey Conners and 2021 champion Justin Thomas, who begin the third round on eight under.
Further down the leaderboard, the likes of defending champion Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler found it a struggle to pull clear of the projected cut line before eventually making it.
Another who flirted with disaster was Brooks Koepka, but he rallied strongly to make it safely into the weekend, too.
In fact, most of the biggest names in the world will be taking part in the final two rounds, including every member of the world’s top 10 except Collin Morikawa, who withdrew because of injury after the first hole of his opening round.
However, the week still ended abruptly for some notable names, as they couldn’t do enough over 36 holes to claim a third-round berth.
Here are the some of the biggest names heading away from TPC Sawgrass after just two rounds of The Players Championship.
Shane Lowry (+5)
The Irishman had appeared settled enough during the first round, and was at two under after 13 holes. Then it started going wrong, first with a bogey at the 14th, then a double at the 15th, before disaster well and truly struck with a quadruple bogey at the 18th to leave him four over.
In the second round, he didn’t have a similar capitulation, but a one-over 73 was never likely to be enough as he finished on five over to miss the cut by three.
Ben Griffin (+4)
Griffin had a brilliant 2025 season, winning three times on the PGA Tour and playing his part for the US Ryder Cup team.
He has struggled to find his best form this year though, which continued at TPC Sawgrass, and it was all down to an error-strewn second round.
Griffin began the day at two under, but by the end of Friday, he was four over after a round that included four bogeys, a double and a triple as he missed the cut by two.
Kurt Kitayama (+5)
The 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational winner has been in excellent form of late, including almost bagging his second Signature Event title before placing T2 behind Jacob Bridgeman at the Genesis Invitational.
While the American has demonstrated his credentials at big events, it didn’t work out for him at The Players, with rounds of 74 and 75 as he missed the cut by three.
Sungjae Im (+3)
The two-time PGA Tour winner didn’t get off to a great start with an opening round of 75 that left him three over, but he battled hard on Friday and seemed well set to make the cut.
That was until the island green 17th, when he almost found the water before making a bogey. That left him back on three over and needing a birdie at the 18th to make the weekend. He couldn’t do it, and he missed out by one.
Jake Knapp (+3)
Knapp has had a brilliant start to the year, with four top-10 finishes from five events before The Players Championship.
Considering he placed T12 at the 2025 edition, hopes were high he would produce another strong performance this week.
However, he found himself three over after the opening round, and that was the score he would finish on after an even-par 72 on Friday to fall one short of the cut line.
Rasmus Hojgaard (+3)
A double bogey at the sixth aside, Hojgaard was generally solid in his first round, heading back to the clubhouse on two under.
However, the 2025 Team Europe Ryder Cup star couldn’t replicate that on Friday, finishing with a five-over 77 in part because of a triple bogey at the 18th.
That means Hojgaard leaves TPC Sawgrass at the halfway stage, just as he did a year ago in his maiden Players Championship appearance.
Gary Woodland (+4)
The 2019 US Open champion made a couple of double bogeys in the first round on his way to a three-over 75.
Though he improved on Friday, another double bogey towards the end of his round didn’t help his cause as he finished with a one-over 73.
That left him on four over, two back of the cut line and unable to make his seventh cut at the tournament.
Lucas Glover (+3)
Glover placed T3 at TPC Sawgrass a year ago, but there will be no repeat of that this year after he missed the cut by one.
Glover began with a two-under 70 despite a double bogey at the sixth, but his second round wasn’t as impressive, with a triple at the 13th and four bogeys ensuring he carded a five-over 77 to head home early.
Harris English (+6)
English may have won five times on the PGA Tour, but he’s never looked like mastering its flagship event, with a best finish of T19 in 11 previous appearances.
Those struggles continued with rounds of 73 and 77, the last of which included a quadruple at his ninth of the day, the 18th.
That meant he finished on six over, four back of the cut line.
Aaron Rai (+4)
The PGA Tour winner was two over after the first round, and carded an identical score of 74 on Friday to finish on four over.
That’s despite the Englishman, who won the 2024 Wyndham Championship, giving himself hope with an eagle on his 11th hole of the second round.
While that gave him something to build on, a double bogey two holes later proved pivotal as he missed the cut by two.
Marco Penge (+7)
The Englishman earned his PGA Tour card in 2025 after three wins on the DP World Tour.
His early career on the US-based circuit has already had a real high point with a T16 at the Genesis Invitational.
However, any hopes he had of an even better performance at TPC Sawgrass failed to materialize with rounds of 75 and 76 to leave him seven over.
The Players Championship Leaderboard
- 1st Ludvig Aberg -12 (63)
- 2nd Xander Schauffele -10 (65)
- 3rd Cameron Young -9 (67)
- T4 Corey Conners -8 (67)
- T4 Justin Thomas -8 (68)
- 6th Sepp Straka -7 (70)
- T7 Lee Hodges -6 (71)
- T7 Jacob Bridgeman -6 (68)
- T7 Maverick McNealy -6 (71)
View full Players Championship leaderboard
Live updates from...
WELCOME!
Welcome to the second round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, where we have some big names scrambling to finish about the cut line.
I'll be here throughout the rest of the day's play with updates on the action and keeping you informed on what's happening in and around the cut line, with only the top 65 and ties making it to the weekend.
RORY ON THE ROCKS
There's a potentially big story developing, with defending champion Rory McIlroy having his work cut out to make it to the weekend.
It was hardly the best preparation for the two-time champion, when he spent until Wednesday nursing a back injury before his arrival at TPC Sawgrass.
He's currently +2 on the 15th, with a projected cut line of +1.
CHANCE SPURNED FOR RORY
McIlroy has a birdie putt at the 15th, but it never looks like dropping, sailing left and beyond the hole.
At the top of the leaderboard, Sepp Straka slips to T3 with a a bogey at the 8th (his 17th of the day).
CAMERON MAKES A MOVE
Cameron Young joins Xander Schauffele and Corey Conners at the top of the leaderboard with his second consecutive birdie at the 15th. The leaders are all on eight under. Lower down the leaderboard, the projected cut line is currently one over.
HEADING HOME EARLY
Some players have already completed their second round, and for a few, their fate is basically sealed, with the likes of Kurt Kitayama, Joel Dahmen and Marco Penge all well below the projected cut line.
WELL PLAYED, SEPP
Just off the green at the ninth (his last of the day), Sepp Straka senses a birdie and a share of the lead. The putt's good and the ball looks like it's cooperating before just about skimming the cup as it rolls beyond.
Coming back, he makes his par and that's a solid two-under 70 for the Austrian.
KEEGAN RALLIES
While defending champion McIlroy scrambles to make the cut, for Keegan Bradley, it's looking increasingly like he'll reach the weekend. The 2025 US Ryder Cup captain was six over at one stage, but now he's even par for the tournament.
With one to play, he just needs to hold his nerve now and he'll have likely done enough.
COREY'S MOMENT OF MAGIC
Corey Conners is one of the co-leaders, and one of the reasons is a brilliant hole-out for eagle on the ninth earlier in the day.
Here's how he did it...
Out in 30 ‼️Corey Conners holes out for eagle on the 9th and takes the lead @THEPLAYERS.📺 PGA TOUR LIVE on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/nPhCIb3ijZMarch 13, 2026
BRILLIANT FROM XANDER
What a putt from Xander Schauffele! At his penultimate hole of the day, the eight, he drains it from 38 feet to move to nine under and take the solo lead!
AGONIZING FOR RORY!
Moments after Schauffele's brilliance on the eighth green, McIlroy has his own birdie chance. It's so, so close but lips out and he'll remain at two over and, crucially, one shot the wrong side of the cut line.
What can he produce with one hole remaining?
SCHEFFLER IS OFF
Two-time winner and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler gets his second round underway, but he's well right with his tee shot at the first. He was even-par after the first round, so might need to keep an eye on that cut line if he doesn't get a good start.
MCILROY GIVES HIMSELF A CHANCE
At the par-5 ninth, McIlroy has a glorious chance to claim a precious birdie, or even an eagle, and move above the cut line. He makes the green in two, and just when he needs it, he might be about to save his tournament.
BIRDIE AT THE LAST FOR MCILROY
McIlroy lines up his eagle putt at the ninth, draws the club back and watches as it heads closer and closer to the hole, but it's not enough!
That would have brought him back to eagle, but instead, he takes a tap-in birdie to move him back on the projected cut line as he heads to the clubhouse. Will it be enough? We'll have to wait for a few hours to find out.
Moments later, leader Schauffele moves to 10-under with a birdie to finish with a hugely impressive 65.
GREAT START FOR ABERG!
What a start for Ludvig Aberg. He began the day with a birdie at the first, and now he has an eagle at the second to move to six under and move to T5.
SHANE SLUMPS
Another big name we won't be seeing at the weekend is Shane Lowry. The Irishman was going along OK in the first round - until the 18th, when he made a quadruple bogey to finish the day on a sour note. A one over on Friday meant he finishes five over for the tournament, and that's not going to be enough.
STEADY FROM BROOKS
Brooks Koepka is still feeling his way back on the PGA Tour following a four-year sojourn to LIV Golf. He's even par for the tournament so far with plenty of golf to play today. He has begun his round with three pars.
IN THE NICK OF TIME FOR GOTTERUP!
Chris Gotterup, the only player with two PGA Tour wins this year, found himself in trouble at two-over on the ninth (his 18th). So, how about a chip in for eagle? That'll do, and Gotterup moves to one above the projected cut line with his very last shot of the day!
Chip-in to make the cut🤯CLUTCH from @ChrisGotterup 🔥📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/pvhfXSZagsMarch 13, 2026
SPIETH DOING SPIETH THINGS
Some things never change, and one of those is the wild ride all but guaranteed from a round involving Jordan Spieth. The three-time Major winner made seven birdies and a bogey before finishing with a double bogey at the last for a typically erratic 68. The upshot? He's three under and will be safely into the weekend.
LOOK OUT FOR LUDVIG!
Ludvig Aberg's fast start to the second round continues with his third birdie of the day at the fourth. And the other hole? Well, that would be an eagle, moving him to five under for the day and eight under overall. He's now T3 and only two back of leader Schauffele.
5-under thru 4 🔥Ludvig has climbed within two of the lead @THEPLAYERS!📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/BiU5gqsWlHMarch 13, 2026
STRIFE OF BRIAN?
Another notable name who needs a decent round to retain an interest into the second half is 2023 Open champion Brian Harman, who finished T2 here in 2024. He's three over at the moment, albeit with 16 holes of the round to play.
SCOTTIE EASES AWAY FROM CUT LINE
Scottie Scheffler began his second round just one above the projected cut line, but a birdie at the second settles things down and he has breathing space. And if he makes it to the weekend, you simply wouldn't be able to count his chances out.
PAR FOR LUDVIG
Ludvig Aberg's fun of birdies and eagles comes to an end with a par at the fifth, but that's still a very handsome-looking scorecard at five under through five. The Swede holds his own in T3.
PARS ALL THE WAY FOR KOEPKA
Brooks Koepka is one of several players teetering close to the projected cut line. He on even par, and that's all we've seen from him in five holes today. He has a chance to break that sequence with a birdie putt at the six, but it drifts left and it's a sixth consecutive par for the five-time Major winner.
QUALITY FROM HOVLAND
As well as Aberg, another Scandinavian is going about his business well this afternoon. Viktor Hovland is two under for the round but has a devilish-looking right-to-left to save par at the fifth. It never looks like missing and he remains on five under for the tournament.
CUT WATCH
A few big names out on the course are teetering on or around the cut line. One is Patrick Cantlay, who is one over for the tournament after six.
Another is the man who came so close to winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational before losing to Akshay Bhatia, Daniel Berger.
He's now one right on the number of the projected cut line, which is now at two over, after a bogey at the eighth. Gary Woodland, Lucas Glover and Harris English are all in the same boat.
SETBACK FOR SCOTTIE
Scheffler is back to even for the tournament after his first bogey of the day at the fourth. The good news for the 2023 and 2024 champion is the projected cut line has now moved from one over to two over, so as things stand, he'd be OK.
RORY FEELING CONFIDENT
Rory McIlroy looks increasingly like making the cut. When he finished his second round with a birdie, it moved him to one over for the tournament - right on the number.
However, the projected cut line is now set at two over, and the two-time Players champion sounds confident he's done enough. Here's a snippet of his post-round interview...
"It would've sucked to be going home this afternoon."Defending champion Rory McIlroy birdied his final hole to move one shot inside the projected cut line @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/TwTnnrTXWOMarch 13, 2026
TROUBLE OFF THE TEE FOR SCOTTIE
At the seventh, Scottie Scheffler is even for the day - and the tournament. But not for the first time, his tee shots goes way right, a bit of a theme in recent events.
Another theme of the last few weeks has been his ability to come from far down the leaderboard to challenge late on. Ten behind the leader, there's no real sign of that things clicking for him yet though.
In fact, he's probably more concerned about just making the cut at the moment.
NICELY DONE FROM SCHEFFLER
Following his errant tee shot at the seventh, Scottie is contemplating his second shot from behind a tree. So, how does he get on? Not bad at all, digging it out of the pinestraw and safely onto the fairway.
Soon after Brooks Koepka picks up his second consecutive birdie at the eighth to move to T26 and, importantly, four above the projected cut line.
PROJECTED CUT LINE BACK TO +1
For half an hour or so there, the projected cut line teased the players just above it by moving to two over, but it's back at one over now, leaving the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy looking over their shoulder.
In Scheffler's case, he can do something about it as he's out on the course, but it's in the lap of the gods for McIlroy, whose day is done following a round of 71.
SCHEFFLER ON THE NUMBER
Scheffler's difficulty off the tee at the seventh ultimately results in a bogey to move him to one over - right on the cut line. He's bound to rally, isn't he? Let's wait and see...
WELL DONE JT
Fair play to Justin Thomas. He had a woeful return to action after four months out at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but the 2021 Players champion is doing the business this week. His first birdie of the day at the eighth moves him to five under for the tournament, the same number of shots behind leader Xander Schauffele.
ABERG INTO A SHARE OF THE LEAD!
After setting off like a train with an eagle and three birdies in his first four holes, a run of pars saw Ludvig Aberg settle in at two back of leader Xander Schauffele, but he closes out the front nine with a chip-in eagle to move to 10 under and into a share of the lead! Stunning stuff from the Swede.
Chip-in eagle to tie the nine-hole TPC Sawgrass record 🤯Ludvig with a front-nine 29 @THEPLAYERS to tie the lead!📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/CeLsO82cLOMarch 13, 2026
ON THE CUT LINE
A number of notable names currently languish beneath the projected cut line, but there are plenty who don't have any breathing space right on it. Patrick Cantlay, Daniel Berger, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are all on the number at one over.
Will they make it? We'll have our answer in a few hours.
NOT QUITE FOR SCOTTIE
At the ninth, Scottie Scheffler sees a chance to put daylight between him and the projected cut line with a long birdie putt. The ball has other ideas, though, teasingly thinking about dropping in before skipping over the hole, and he'll remain on one over.
NICE FROM HARRIS ENGLISH AT THE 17TH
Harris English, who was in the US Ryder Cup team, is one of the notable names beneath the projected cut line at two over.
How are you nerves, Harris? Well, let's find out as he approaches the 17th (his eighth of the day).
His shot sails over the water and straight into the middle of the green. Pretty good, then, as it turns out.
HOPE FOR HOJGAARD AT THE 11TH
European Ryder Cup player Rasmus Hojgaard appears to be heading out of The Players Championship, languishing on five over on the 11th green... until he makes an eagle to reduce the gap to the cut line to just two. Hope for the talented Dane.
ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHEFFLER
Scottie Scheffler with a birdie chance at the 10th from five and a half feet - and once again it doesn't drop. He'll remain on one over and walking a tightrope with the cut line.
BROOKS ON THE MOVE
Five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka's reputation as a big-time player was well earned, but it took a bit of a battering in the last year or so with some failures in the biggest events.
He's giving it a good go at The Players, though, and is currently four under for the tournament after 11 of his second round.
That puts him six back of leader Xander Schauffele and into 12th.
BRIAN HARMAN MOTORING
One player who was in trouble at the start of the day was Brian Harman, who was three over, but he's rallied brilliantly on Friday, with five birdies in 11 holes to move to two under.
LUDVIG INTO THE SOLO LEAD
Remember when Ludvig Aberg turned professional a few years ago and was immediately brilliant? Well, turns out he still is.
The Swede goes eight under for the day at the 11th the go into the solo lead at 11 under. There's no stopping him in this form.
BREATHING SPACE FOR SCOTTIE
Scottie Scheffler has a long eagle chance at the 11th. It's not so much the direction that lets him down, though it's not on line, it's the speed, as the ball powers past the hole. Can he make birdie coming back? Yes, he can, and he's back to even for the tournament and one clear of the projected cut line.
PAR FOR ABERG
At the 12th, Ludvig Aberg's birdie putt is tracking towards the hole, and looks set to drop... but it doesn't, and now he has a few feet coming back. He pops it in and remains leading by one.
EAGLE FOR THOMAS
Justin Thomas is now fifth thanks to an eagle at the 11th. What a performance from the 2021 champion in just his second start since a four-month lay off.
Short game magic from Justin Thomas 🪄The 2021 @THEPLAYERS champion is T5 after an eagle at the par-5 11th. 📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/aASF9T9nn7March 13, 2026
SETBACK FOR KOEPKA AT THE 13TH
A setback for Koepka at the 13th, who follows up a bogey at the 12th with a double. That puts him back to one under, but as things stand, still two clear of the projected cut line.
PROJECTED CUT LINE MOVES TO +2
The projected cut line has moved back to two over, giving the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy a little more breathing space as things stand.
The likes of Lucas Glover, Sungjae Im and Seamus Power are right on the number.
CUT WATCH
Among the players who unlikely to be heading to the weekend are Erik van Rooyen, Ben Griffin, Kurt Kitayama and Shane Lowry. They've all finished their rounds and are currently at least two shots beneath it.
Among those beneath the projected cut line but still playing are Rasmus Hojgaard, Jake Knapp and Aldrich Potgieter.
Some hovering above it are Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay.
DOUBLE BOGEY FOR BROOKS
It's all going wrong for Brooks Koepka. After a bogey at the 12th and a double at the 13th, the 14th isn't treating him any better, and he walks away with another double.
Not long ago, he was at four under and looking up. Now he's flirting with the cut line at one over.
SO CLOSE FOR REITAN
The narrow margins of professional golf. Kristoffer Reitan is on the 16th and comes desperately close to a hole-out eagle, but it just bounces left and trickles past. That would have got him to one under, one above the projected cut line. As it is, he still has a chance to clamber to two over with a birdie and head to the final two holes with his head just above water.
KOEPKA HITS BACK
Brooks Koepka arrest a worrying slide towards the cut line with a beautiful birdie butt at the 15th to move back to even. That should settle things down ahead of the challenges of the closing holes.
BOGEY FOR SCHEFFLER
A testing putt for par for Scheffler at the 14th. This to keep him two above the dreaded cut line. He misses and he's back to one over.
ABERG LOSES SOLO LEAD
Ludvig Aberg moves the ball on mere inches from the rough of the 15th green. His second try does better to reach the green, but this will be a bogey at best.
In it goes and he's back to 10 under alongside Schauffele.
The last man in the field to add a square to his scorecard.Ludvig Åberg bogeys the 15th but remains tied for the lead @THEPLAYERS.📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/5d4KFuVhYPMarch 13, 2026
WALKER RELIEF
At the 17th, Danny Walker, who placed T6 las year makes a birdie to move to two over. Sighs of relief for him as that draws him level with the cut line with a hole to play.
KOEPKA EASES AWAY FROM CUT LINE
Brooks Koepka makes a birdie at the 16th and he's back to one under. What a rollercoaster back nine he's putting us, and himself through!
FINAU COMES A CROPPER AT THE 17TH
At the 17th, Tony Finau's tee shot is in a nice line. Sadly, though, it lacks distance and meets a watery end. He's on two under so should make the cut, but we know what the 17th is like for destroying confidence, so let's see what happens.
He takes his third from the drop zone and this time, it lands on the green. The trouble is, it then spins back wildly, almost finding the water again before stopping just short.
In the midst of all that, Ludvig Aberg birdies the 16th to regain the solo lead.
NOT ENOUGH FOR RASMUS
A par at the 18th for a 72 doesn't look like being enough for Rasmus Hojgaard, who is three over, one out of reach of the cut line.
FINAU BACK TO EVEN
Finau's fourth from the fringe at the 17th is OK, coming up a few feet short, but he's looking at a double bogey at best now. And he makes it to move back to even.
MISJUDGEMENT FROM KIM
Si Woo Kim won the event in 2017, but his chances of repeating that have taken a dive, literally. At one under, he finds the water at the 17th.
He finds the green from the drop zone and damage limitation is the order of the day.
He two-putts for double bogey and is back to one over with one to play. One above the cut line!
SCHEFFLER STILL IN THE THICK OF IT
Can Scottie Scheffler finally pull clear of the cut line once and for all? He has a reasonable birdie chance at 16, but his putt never looks like doing the necessary and rolls right. Assuming he comes back for par, that'll leave him at one over, one clear of the cut line. Not ideal with the 17th looming.
So, does he make par? No! My goodness. It's a straightforward enough putt from maybe two feet. It thinks about it but lips out and he's now right on the number with two to play.
BROOKS FINISHES STRONGLY
After an topsy-turvy round, Brooks Koepka finishes strongly with a birdie to get to two under. We'll see him at the weekend.
LUDVIG FINISHES WITH A BIRDIE
Ludvig Aberg finishes with another birdie for a 63 to move to 12 under, two clear of Xander Schauffele. If he can keep that form up, it's going to take some performance to beat him.
JOB DONE AT THE 17TH FOR SCHEFFLER
First job done for Scottie - he finds the island green rather than the water. He gets his second within reason and gets out of there with a par to move to the 18th right on the number.
CAN SCHEFFLER MAKE THE WEEKEND?
Well, this is a rarity - seeing Scottie Scheffler tee off at 18th for the chance to play in the weekend. His shot shape is a bit scary, apparently on a mission towards the water for a second or two, but it finds the fairway and that should set him up for a relatively undramatic finish. But we shall see.
BRILLIANT FROM SCHEFFLER
Scheffler has surely saved his tournament with a brilliant second to get within a few feet of the pin. He only needs a par and he'll likely finish with a birdie.
SCHEFFLER GETS HOME WITH A BIRDIE
Scheffler does indeed finish with a birdie and he will begin the third round on one over.
