Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia Share Lead After Round Two at THE PLAYERS Championship
PGA Tour
Seoul, Korea – Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia head into the weekend tied at 11 under par, holding a one-shot lead at THE PLAYERS Championship after two rounds at TPC Sawgrass.
Both players fired 6-under 66s on Friday to move to the top of the leaderboard, one stroke ahead of J.J. Spaun (-10), with Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Alex Smalley tied for fourth place at 9 under.
Bhatia Makes History as Youngest 36-Hole Leader
Bhatia (23 years, 1 month, 14 days) became the youngest player to hold a 36-hole lead at THE PLAYERS Championship, surpassing Fred Couples’ 1984 record.
The rising star is seeking his third PGA TOUR victory, having won the 2023 Barracuda Championship and the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
“It’s amazing to be in this position,” said Bhatia. “I’ve worked really hard, and I feel like my game is in a great place. Now, it’s all about staying patient.”
Min Woo Lee Eyes First PGA TOUR Win
For Min Woo Lee, this marks his first career 36-hole lead on the PGA TOUR. The Australian is no stranger to strong performances at Sawgrass, finishing T6 in 2023.
Lee is aiming to become just the third player to win THE PLAYERS as his maiden PGA TOUR victory, following Craig Perks (2002) and Tim Clark (2010).
“This course suits me well,” said Lee. “I played in the final group in 2023, and I learned a lot from that experience. Hopefully, I can take advantage this weekend.”
McIlroy and Morikawa Lurking
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy (-9) is in contention, posting his second-lowest opening 36-hole total at THE PLAYERS (135). The 2019 champion looks to become just the eighth multiple winner of the tournament.
Collin Morikawa (-9) made the biggest move of the day, carding a 7-under 65, his lowest-ever round at TPC Sawgrass.
Justin Thomas’ Historic Turnaround
Justin Thomas (-4, T29) made history with a 10-under 62, matching the lowest-ever round at THE PLAYERS. His 16-stroke improvement from an opening 78 to 62 is the largest first-to-second-round turnaround in tournament history.
Leading Asian Contenders
Si Woo Kim (-3, T36)
Byeong Hun An (-2, T49)
Rico Hoey (-2, T49)
Tom Kim (-1, T65)
C.T. Pan (-1, T65)
Defending Champion Scottie Scheffler in the Hunt
Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler (-6, T16) remains in contention as he looks to become the first three-time winner of THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass.
“It’s a long way to go, but I’m in a decent position,” said Scheffler. “I’ll need to go low this weekend.”
Weekend Set for Thrilling Showdown
With several top names in the mix and rising stars leading the way, the final two rounds at THE PLAYERS Championship promise an exciting finish at TPC Sawgrass.