Ludvig Aberg, ahead of the Players Championship, was a favorite for a number of reasons, but one was among the top.
The course, TPC Sawgrass, was one of his favorites.
In the world, in fact.
“It’s so straightforward and it’s so in front of you, but you’ve still got to hit the shots,” Aberg said Tuesday. “You have to execute. If you don’t, you’re going to get punished real hard. But also, if you do execute the shots, you’re going to get a lot of opportunities.
“So it is one of my — in that way, one of my favorite courses, and had the privilege to be able to play it now for a couple of months, and yeah, it’s cool to be seeing it in all the different winds.”
Aberg wasn’t wrong. You have to hit the shots at Sawgrass. You have to execute.
And if you don’t, you’re going to get punished, which, at least to a degree, Aberg was. During Thursday’s first round, he shot a respectable one-under 71. But Friday, Aberg had three double bogeys, shot a three-over 75 and finished at two-over for his 36 holes. His favorite did not love him back.
He’s also among our surprising players to miss the Players weekend cut, which was set at one-under. Below are 10 more.
Surprising players who missed the cut at the Players Championship
10. Laurie Canter
What he shot: 68-76
Surprising because: At the Players, Canter became the first former LIV pro to play in a PGA Tour event. But zero birdies and four bogeys in his second round did him in.
9. Wyndham Clark
What he shot: 72-WD
Surprising because: Clark’s withdrawal was sudden. He played nine holes on Friday, shooting a four-over 40, then was done; Golf Channel reported during its coverage that Clark was suffering from a neck injury.
8. Max Homa
What he shot: 79-71
Surprising because: It’s surprising — and it’s not. Homa’s one of the game’s best. But he’s in a funk, and it continued this week.
7. Viktor Hovland
What he shot: 80-68
Surprising because: Copy and paste the note used for Homa.
6. Tony Finau
What he shot: 76-76
Surprising because: A player seemingly with the firepower required at Sawgrass, Finau made 10 bogeys and a double over his two rounds.
5. Brian Harman
What he shot: 73-77
Surprising because: Harman’s one of the game’s better ball-strikers. But he played his final eight holes at four-over.
4. Matt Fitzpatrick
What he shot: 78-72
Surprising because: Fitzpatrick’s a major winner. But three double bogeys on his back nine during the first round were too much to overcome.
3. Adam Scott
What he shot: 74-72
Surprising because: Scott won the Players in 2004. Twenty-one years later, he made six birdies — but eight bogeys.
2. Sam Burns
What he shot: 73-72
Surprising because: Burns, like Finau, has serious game. But he made nine bogeys over two rounds.
1. Hideki Matsuyama
What he shot: 74-71
Surprising because: Matsuyama shined in winning the season-opening Sentry event. But a front-nine 41 during his first round was costly.
