Excitement Builds as Players Championship Heads to Final Rounds

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The 2025 Players Championship intensifies this Saturday as players gear up for the third round at the renowned TPC Sawgrass. After a gripping second round, Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee stand at the top of the leaderboard, each shooting a 66 to reach 11 under through 36 holes.

Among the contenders chasing them are World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and two-time major champion Justin Thomas, both sitting at 9 under. With a $4.5 million prize awaiting the winner, the stakes are high as competitors aim to secure a strong position heading into the final rounds. “The competition is fierce, and everyone here has the skills to win,” said Bhatia, reflecting on the pressure of the tournament.

Television coverage of the third round will be provided by NBC, airing from 2 to 7 p.m. ET, while early coverage will be available through Peacock and the Golf Channel beginning at 8 a.m. ET. Streaming options are also available through various online platforms for those looking to catch the action from home.

The tournament draws significant attention not only for its massive prize pool but also for its standing as one of the PGA Tour’s premier events. Several top players are competing for their shot at glory on the iconic Stadium Course, which is known for its challenging layout, particularly the infamous 17th hole.

This year’s championship, running from March 13 to March 16, promises to deliver thrilling moments as participants aim to dethrone Scheffler, who has dominated the tour. “Every player wants this title. Winning the Players Championship is a goal for me,” said Scheffler.

Here are the key tee times for Saturday’s third round:

— 8:25 a.m.: Shane Lowry, Danny Walker
— 8:35 a.m.: C.T. Pan, Justin Lower
— 8:45 a.m.: Tom Kim, Mac Meissner
— 8:55 a.m.: Daniel Berger, Xander Schauffele
— 9:05 a.m.: Rico Hoey, Jesper Svensson
— 9:15 a.m.: Aaron Rai, Sungjae Im
— 9:25 a.m.: Russell Henley, Corey Conners
— 9:35 a.m.: Matt Kuchar, Joel Dahmen
— 9:50 a.m.: Austin Eckroat, Keegan Bradley
— 10:00 a.m.: Matthieu Pavon, Camilo Villegas
— 10:10 a.m.: Byeong Hun An, Kurt Kitayama
— 10:20 a.m.: Ryan Fox, Denny McCarthy
— 10:30 a.m.: Hayden Springer, Will Chandler
— 10:40 a.m.: J.T. Poston, Chris Kirk
— 10:50 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Tom Hoge
— 11:00 a.m.: Ryan Gerard, Joe Highsmith
— 11:15 a.m.: Jhonattan Vegas, Trey Mullinax
— 11:25 a.m.: Chandler Phillips, Si Woo Kim
— 11:35 a.m.: Isaiah Salinda, Sami Valimaki
— 11:45 a.m.: Sahith Theegala, Davis Thompson
— 11:55 a.m.: Davis Riley, Justin Thomas
— 12:05 p.m.: Cameron Young, Carson Young
— 12:15 p.m.: Robert MacIntyre, Bud Cauley
— 12:25 p.m.: Matt McCarty, Stephan Jaeger
— 12:40 p.m.: Max McGreevy, Beau Hossler
— 12:50 p.m.: Patrick Cantlay, Sam Ryder
— 1:00 p.m.: Taylor Moore, Rickie Fowler
— 1:10 p.m.: Taylor Pendrith, Scottie Scheffler
— 1:20 p.m.: Sepp Straka, Charley Hoffman
— 1:30 p.m.: Harris English, Billy Horschel
— 1:40 p.m.: Jacob Bridgeman, Emiliano Grillo
— 1:55 p.m.: Tommy Fleetwood, Jake Knapp
— 2:05 p.m.: Lucas Glover, Will Zalatoris
— 2:15 p.m.: Collin Morikawa, Alex Smalley
— 2:25 p.m.: J.J. Spaun, Rory McIlroy
— 2:35 p.m.: Min Woo Lee, Akshay Bhatia

As the tournament progresses into its final rounds, fans and players alike prepare for a showdown that could change the landscape of the PGA Tour.