Justin Thomas increased his hopes of becoming the first back-to-back winner of The Players after setting the clubhouse target on another weather-disrupted day at TPC Sawgrass.
The PGA Tour’s flagship event is already confirmed for a Monday finish after “unplayable course conditions” limited the amount of action over the first two days, while further overnight rain and thunderstorms meant the first round could not resume until midday (5pm GMT) on Saturday.
Thomas closed out a level-par 72 before carding a brilliant second-round 69 in strong winds, on a day where over half the field were unable to finish and 27 players did not even get out onto the golf course because of the earlier delays.
The former world No 1 posted three birdies in a bogey-free round to get within three strokes of the lead, with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson also in the group on three under after a round-of-the-day 68.
Tom Hoge remains in a share of the lead without playing a shot, with the American due to start his second round early on Sunday, while Tommy Fleetwood cancelled out a two-putt birdie at the second with a bogey at the third to find himself back on six under when play was suspended due to darkness.
