The black tape extended to above Scottie Scheffler’s neck. Time and time again, as the world number one strolled through TPC Sawgrass on Saturday, he approached him.
Scheffler rubbed, massaged and played with the area of his neck that began to hurt on the second hole of the second round at The Players and has bothered him ever since. Through it all, the tape held firm. Unfortunately, the pain also persisted. And then? Scheffler’s grip on this title loosened.
For much of Saturday afternoon, his hopes of becoming the first consecutive champion of this championship seemed to be over. He had worked hard over the first 15 holes, making two birdies, one bogey and 12 pars.
But then, despite the pain, despite struggling to lift the club past his waist, he climbed back up the rankings. Scheffler finished birdie, birdie, birdie to tie for sixth place, five shots behind Xander Schauffele, who moved ahead of Wyndham Clark after a rollercoaster fight at the top of the leaderboard.
What courage and determination he showed. For much of this penultimate round, Scheffler relied on his hands to spin the club, “hit” it. And yet they couldn’t let go. It hurts if the world number one simply turns his head too far to the left. But this injury will not stop him from looking up.
Scottie Scheffler remains in the hunt at The Players despite suffering a neck injury on Saturday
The world number one’s neck was bandaged and the injury left him struggling to swing the club on Saturday.
“Being on the 16th tee, I’d say I was pretty much out of the tournament,” Scheffler admitted. “To birdie the last three holes… I think I’m still within striking distance.”
And he added: ‘I kept fighting until the end… it was hard. I was struggling a little with my swing today.’
The good news? Her neck was the most painful on Friday. The situation is not getting worse and the world number one has no fear that this will hamper his preparations for next month’s Masters.
“It’s nothing serious… just a little pain in the neck,” Scheffler joked.
He woke up Saturday morning in better shape than when he left the course the night before, after fighting through the pain to shoot a 69 and simply stay in touch.
Somehow Scheffler birdied the last three holes to move within five shots of the lead.
Xander Schauffele leads the field at 17 under par heading into final round at TPC Sawgrass
The world number one saw a physiotherapist mid-round and admitted afterwards that he sometimes wondered if he would be able to make it to this weekend.
All he could do was hold on and stay within reach of the leaders. The difference was six shots Friday night, when Scheffler headed for more treatment.
When moving day came, he was still a little redheaded. He applied a tape designed to lift the skin from the tissue and relieve discomfort. How soon it became clear? He couldn’t eradicate the pain completely.
He could not hide his concern in the opening hole, after the world number one had to leave the heavy. Scheffler felt his neck. He caught up with him again as he came off the second tee and again as he made his way down the fairway.
Not that it was always reflected on the scorecard: the world number one birdied the par-five second. He was one under par for the day at the end of the front nine.
However, the signs were there. As he approached the tee for the third hole, Scheffler briefly closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.
On the fifth hole, just as black clouds gathered overhead, Scheffler let his drive drift toward the bunker and then headed toward the crowd. He left the arena with the fight of someone twice his age.
Again and again he grimaced and felt his neck. Meanwhile, at times in his pursuit, that trademark move morphed into something even more twisted: Scheffler’s right leg cocked in the air and even crossed over his left.
But somehow he held on. And then, somehow, he found another gear as the chaos continued around him.
Overnight leader Wyndham Clark made a costly mistake on the 17th hole, finding the water off the tee.
To think there were fears that Clark would achieve victory. He started the weekend with a four-stroke lead and then extended that lead on the first hole.
In the end, however, the US Open champion was behind Xander Schauffele, the world No. 6 who made seven birdies in a bogey-free 65. He enters Sunday’s final round at 17 under par, one ahead of Clark, whose wobble saw him find the water at both the 12th and 17th.
Brian Harman is one shot further back after an excellent 64 that included nine birdies. He is a man who doesn’t mind being the hunter. Also among the chasing group? Maverick McNealy, Matt Fitzpatrick (both -13), Sahith Theegala (-12) and a defending champion who just won’t let go.
“I wouldn’t say I’m out of the tournament,” Scheffler insisted. “I’m definitely on the outside looking in, but a hot day tomorrow could be a big help.”