Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg headline tense Players Championship day as fans denied entry after deadly shooting near TPC Sawgrass

Chaos unfolded around The Players Championship on Saturday morning after a fatal shooting near the venue forced officials to delay spectator entry. The incident happened close to TPC Sawgrass, where thousands of fans were expected to watch the third round of one of golf’s biggest events. Authorities from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a shooting took place around 10:30 p.m. Friday night, less than a mile from the course. Two people were killed in the incident at a Walgreens parking lot nearby.

Because of the situation and the overnight police search for the suspect, fans were temporarily blocked from entering the tournament grounds on Saturday morning. Officials worked through the night with the PGA Tour to make sure the event could continue safely. Even though gates opened later than planned, tournament play itself still began on time, allowing the competition to continue while authorities secured the area.

Ludvig Aberg leads while Rory McIlroy and other chase during tense Players Championship morning

The investigation began late Friday night when deputies responded to a shooting at a Walgreens supermarket parking lot close to TPC Sawgrass. According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, two people were killed during the incident. Sheriff Rob Hardwick later confirmed that authorities had already identified the suspect. Police dogs tracked the suspect onto the golf course property during the search.

In a statement shared by the sheriff’s office, Hardwick said the suspect even encountered PGA Tour staff while moving through the area. “The suspect did make contact with PGA Tour employees on the property while fleeing from law enforcement,” the sheriff explained.

Authorities said the suspect drove north in a stolen vehicle while trying to escape. The chase eventually ended in Nassau County when the vehicle crashed. The suspect then ran into nearby woods but was later found and taken into custody.

While the search was underway, the PGA Tour stayed in contact with law enforcement overnight. Officials reviewed the situation before deciding to delay fan entry into the tournament on Saturday. In its official statement, the PGA Tour said,

“Due to operational considerations, gates for today’s third round will now open at 9 am ET (1 pm GMT). We have worked closely with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and appreciate the coordination and partnership from Sheriff Rob Hardwick and his team.”

The statement also confirmed that the tournament schedule itself would not change. “Please note, tee times will remain as previously scheduled, and all on-course hospitality venues will open at 11 am ET (3 pm GMT).” Despite the tense start to the day, play began at 8:15 a.m. ET as planned.

On the course, Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg held the lead at twelve under par heading into the third round. Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young followed closely behind at ten and nine under. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy stayed in contention after making the cut on Friday. Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose also remained in the hunt as the tournament continued under heavy security.





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