There had been many fewer dramas for Aberg and McIlroy’s enjoying companion Schauffele.
Aberg, who lives regionally and has Sawgrass as his residence course, had an eagle and three birdies in his opening 4 holes to leap up the leaderboard and a second chip-in eagle, on the par-five ninth, noticed him full the entrance 9 in 29 photographs.
A fluffed wedge shot from the tough price him his first bogey of the match on the fifteenth, however he responded with birdies on the lengthy sixteenth and difficult 18th to shut out a sensational spherical.
“I’ve seen the golf course in probably every wind possible, which I know this week we’re going to have some different winds,” mentioned the 26-year-old, who added that he had not performed the course earlier than this week this yr.
“Is there an advantage to it? Maybe. But you still have to hit the shots.
“I really like the course as a result of it is proper in entrance of you. It’s very easy, however you continue to need to do it.”
Two-time major winner Schauffele was equally impressive, hitting every fairway in a terrific display of ball-striking as he posted eight birdies and one bogey.
“I used to be attacking the golf course versus enjoying defensive,” said the American, who has twice finished runner-up at this tournament.
“It’s at all times simple to be aggressive from the golf green and reap the benefits of the greens being only a hair softer. But I feel they’re slowly firming up.”
Schauffele’s fellow American Cameron Young is on nine under after a 67.
Canadian Corey Conners holed a 102-yard wedge for an eagle three on the ninth, as he also carded a 67 that lifted him to eight under.
Conners was joined on that number late on by 2021 Players champion Justin Thomas, who birdied the last for a second round of 68.
His good friend Jordan Spieth also made a positive move up the leaderboard with a run of five successive birdies midway through his round.
But he said his finish “stinks” after posting a double-bogey for the second day running. He called golf a “bizarre sport” after signing for a 68 that left him at three under.
Finally, spare a thought for Tom Hoge – the joint course record holder after shooting a 62 in 2023 – who hacked his way down the par-four seventh in the manner of a high-handicap club golfer as he slipped from one under to four over.
The American hit his tee shot into the water, topped his third shot, shanked the following, thrashed round within the tough, splashed out of a bunker and missed a five-foot putt as he registered a quintuple-bogey 9.
