Ludvig Aberg is relishing the challenge of the final round at The Players Championship as he holds a three-shot lead heading into Sunday's play.

Aberg held a two-shot advantage at the halfway stage due to a stunning second-round 63, which included a record-equalling front nine.

And he did not vacate top spot on Saturday. Despite playing the first eight holes in one-over, he regained control with a birdie and an eagle, though a closing bogey saw him finish with a one-under 71 that took him to 13-under.

Debutant Michael Thorbjornsen shot 67 to propel himself up to second on the leaderboard at 10-under, one shot ahead of Cameron Young, who struggled.

Young found water off the tee on the 18th and dropped two shots on the last hole to end the day with level-par, while a scruffy finish from Matt Fitzpatrick, who double-bogeyed the final hole, slipped to joint-fourth in the table on eight-under after carding 69.

While Aberg did not provide the same fireworks he did on Friday, he was pleased with how he responded to a poor opening to stay in the lead.

"Made a couple of mistakes early, hung in well, it was nice to get off with a birdie on nine," Aberg told Sky Sports.

"Progressively over the last month or so ... it's just gotten easier, it's gotten clearer for me."

The results show it. #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/gYKNZlo3ey

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 15, 2026

"Didn't feel like I had my best stuff, but overall pleased with getting away with it and getting the ball in the hole.

"Sawgrass is about execution. If you hit the fairways and hit your shots, you'll get a lot of chances; if you don't, you'll get punished, and that's the kind of golf I really like.

"I love these big feel tournaments. [Sunday] will be a challenge, but looking forward to it."

World number one Scottie Scheffler bounced back after a stuttering opening to the tournament by firing a bogey-free 67, lifting him to four under.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, laboured to level par, leaving him on one-over.