Ludvig Aberg's Players Championship Chances Dashed with 2 Water Shots

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Ludvig Aberg was cruising at The Players Championship, holding a three-shot lead going into the final round. But the water at TPC Sawgrass came back to haunt him, as he hit two shots into the water on the 11th and 12th holes, leading to a bogey and a double bogey that dropped him out of the lead. Matt Fitzpatrick took advantage and grabbed the lead, putting Aberg's chances of winning his first Players Championship in jeopardy.

Why it matters

The Players Championship is considered one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour, and a win would have been a major accomplishment for the rising star Ludvig Aberg. His collapse on the back nine highlights the unforgiving nature of the TPC Sawgrass course and the intense pressure of competing on golf's biggest stages.

The details

Aberg was cruising on the front nine, but his approach shot on the par-5 11th hole found the water. Then on the 12th hole, he went way right off the tee, leading to another water ball and a double bogey. Those two disastrous holes dropped him out of the lead, which was then seized by Matt Fitzpatrick with birdies on 12 and 13.

• Aberg held a three-shot lead going into the final round on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
• His water balls came on the 11th and 12th holes on the back nine.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The final round of The Players Championship is still ongoing, with Matt Fitzpatrick now holding the lead. It remains to be seen if Ludvig Aberg can mount an unlikely comeback or if Fitzpatrick will hold on to win his first Players title.