Lahiri surprise leader at The Players Championship

India’s Anirban Lahiri who is ranked 322 in the world is the surprise leader of The Players Championship at Sawgrass. Five birdies in his first nine of his curtailed third round saw Lahiri top the leaderboard a shot clear of Americans Harold Varner III and Tom Hoge.

Lahiri has won twice on the DP World Tour and has had multiple wins on the Asian Tour but a win at Sawgrass would be a different level.
“It will definitely be a career highlight. That goes without saying,” said Lahiri.
“This is the next thing to winning a major I would say. Who doesn't want to win The Players Championship?”
England's Paul Casey sits just two back from the leader on seven-under after a run of 42 bogey-free holes from the 13th tee, his fourth hole, on Thursday.
Casey's second round 69 included a birdie at the famous 17th where he drained his putt from some fifty feet.

However, Shane Lowry had the loudest cheer of the day at the signature hole 17th hole when he made a hole-in-one. The ace helped move the Irishman up to five-under, within striking distance of the leaders.
“Special things happen sometimes,” said Lowry. “It's pretty cool to do it there, one of the most iconic holes in golf."

Sebastian Munoz was another player to make a move in round three. Carding six birdies in the 14 holes he completed the Colombian lept up the leaderboard into a share of fourth alongside Casey and American Sam Burns on seven-under.
Italian Francesco Molinari sits one back in a group on six-under after completing 15 holes of his third round in five-under-par. Early leader Tommy Fleetwood is a shot back at five-under with nine holes remaining of his third round.
Defending champion, Justin Thomas still has a chance of defending his title despite faltering on the opening nine dropping three strokes at the 7th and 8th holes. the American sits at four-under with seven holes still to play of his third round.
Thomas is joined on the four-under mark by fellow American Patrick Reed, Spain's Sergio Garcia, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Scotland's Russell Knox.