The Players: Ludvig Åberg leads Xander Schauffele as Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler survive cut at TPC Sawgrass

Ludvig Åberg raced into the halfway lead at The Players, as pre-tournament favourites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy stuttered into the weekend at TPC Sawgrass.

Åberg equalled the lowest front-nine score in tournament history as he raced to the turn in 29, with the Swede continuing to push forward during a sensational second-round 63 on Friday afternoon.

The two-time PGA Tour winner carded two eagles, six birdies and a lone bogey to post the lowest round of the day and move to 12 under, two clear of Xander Schauffele, with Cam Young a further shot back in third ahead of Corey Conners and Justin Thomas.

Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick are seven off the pace as they both look to become the first Englishman to win The Players, while Scheffler and McIlroy both needed final-hole birdies to guarantee their weekend spots.