Players Championship 2024: Updated Predictions for Top Prize Money for Day 3

Wyndham Clark used Friday at The Players Championship to pull away from the rest of the field.

Clark opened up a four-shot advantage over Xander Schauffele with his second consecutive seven-under 65.

The 2023 U.S. Open winner will be difficult to track down on the leaderboard if he extends his play into Saturday's third round.

Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Scottie Scheffler and others are more than capable of shooting low rounds and contending for the $4.5 million winner's purse, but they also need Clark to slow down at some point of the weekend.

Wyndham Clark Continues to Cruise at Top of Leaderboard

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Wyndham Clark of the United States walks the 14th hole during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 15, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Clark has been the best golfer through two rounds at TPC Sawgrass.

He flawlessly moved through his first 36 holes to create four shots of separation to Schauffele and a six-shot gap to reigning champion Scheffler.

Clark's performance should not be a surprise given his form on the PGA Tour and the recent profile of winners at Sawgrass.

Each of the last five Players champions were major champions. Only Si-Woo Kim in 2017 and Rickie Fowler in 2015 won the tournament in the last decade as non-major winners.

The 30-year-old already has a win and a second-place finish in six PGA Tour starts this season.

His form at the Players is a continuation from his second-place finish at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational.

While he may not put together two more 65s in a row, Clark should shoot well enough to remain at the top of the leaderboard for the rest of the event.

Scottie Scheffler Makes Inevitable Run at the Win

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays a shot on the 16th hole during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 15, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

A six-shot gap might seem like nothing for Scheffler.

The reigning Players champion and winner last week at Bay Hill produced a 67 and 69 to kick off the tournament.

Scheffler is not playing as well as Clark at the moment, but he is one of the few players in the field who can raise himself to a 65-65 level on the weekend.

Scheffler still has to be considered a threat because he has four final-round scores of 65 or 66 on his resume this season. His other final-round score was a 68.

He is poised to make some sort of run at the lead and it would not come as a shock to see him in the final pairing with Clark on Sunday.

Brian Harman Makes Weekend Charge

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Brian Harman of the United States plays a shot on the 11th hole during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 15, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Brian Harman was the only golfer to match Clark's low round on Friday.

The reigning British Open champion produced seven birdies and an eagle to counter balance a trio of bogeys.

Harman's up-and-down scorecard brings up some concerns that he may drop off at some point of the weekend.

However, Harman is one of four players to shoot a 65 through two rounds. Schauffele and Rory McIlroy did so in the first round.

It is also worth noting Harman fits the recent profile of Players winner as a previous major champion.