Scottie Scheffler insists he has still had a good week at The Players, despite failing to get into title contention, as Rory McIlroy was left to rue another inconsistent round at TPC Sawgrass.
Scheffler was looking to win the PGA Tour's flagship event for the third time in four years but struggled over the first two days, leaving him in danger of missing a cut at a PGA Tour event for the first time since 2022.
The world No 1 needed a final-hole birdie to salvage a second-round 73 and stutter into the weekend on one over, although he bounced back to card a bogey-free 67 among the early starters during Saturday's third round.
Scheffler registered five birdies to move back under par for the tournament, with the four-time major champion proud of his resistance after seeing improvements in his performance.
"I was a little sharper today than I was the first two days," Scheffler insisted. "I felt like I was swinging it better each day of the tournament. Today hit a few more fairways and was able to give myself a few more looks for birdie.
"I think with the way I hit it the first couple days, to kind of have the attitude that I did and the fight that I did... when I look at tournaments, I'm not thinking about winning, I'm thinking about approaching things the right way.
"I did my best to stay committed and I did a good job I think of keeping the right attitude and keeping my head on straight in order to grind out a couple rounds that were difficult. Then I shot a nice round today as well.
"Overall I think I've been in a good spot with how my attitude and commitment has been to my shots. So, for me, that's a good week."
Scheffler saw an improved display from tee to green and was perfect in scrambling, with the two-time champion also more accurate with the driver as he moved back under-par for the tournament.
On the progress made on the range earlier in the tournament, Scheffler added: "Did I find anything? I think that would imply that I was lost, which is not the case.
"I think I'm always just trying to get a feel for where things are at, and sometimes a little practice helps, and sometimes a little rest helps."
Rory McIlroy was unable to match Scheffler's leaderboard charge as he failed to build any momentum during his third round of his title defence, where a level-par 72 kept him on one over for the tournament.
McIlroy sits last of those who made the cut in strokes gained putting, with the world No 22 needing 33 putts and only making 61 feet of putts during a disappointing third round.
"He's all at sea on the greens this week," said former Ryder Cup player David Howell in commentary for Your Site.
The Masters champion only missed four fairways off the tee but only got up and down once on the four occasions he failed to find the green in regulation, mixing three birdies with as many bogeys in a lacklustre display.
McIlroy finished his round before the final group teed off, with another early start expected on Sunday for what could be his final round on the PGA Tour ahead of his title defence at The Masters next month.
He indicated after making the cut that making it through to the weekend would stop him from adding an extra tournament to his schedule ahead of the opening major of the year, where he looks to become the first back-to-back winner at Augusta National since Tiger Woods.
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