Bud Cauley got into The Players Championship as an alternate; now he's one shot off lead

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Bud Cauley was in The Players Championship field.

And then he was out.

Then on Monday, he got the call. Lee Hodges had withdrawn. He was back in.

Now, Cauley, a Palm Beach Gardens resident for the last decade, enters the final round of The Players in second place after shooting a 6-under 66. He is one shot out of the lead held by J.J. Spaun, who held onto the solo 54-hole lead with a 25-foot putt that rolled around the cup before dropping.

Spaun sits at 12-under. Cauley has a two-shot lead over Jupiter's Lucas Glover and Alex Smalley.

The final round has been pushed up and golfers will play in groups of three because of an incoming cold front. Leaders will tee off at 10:01 a.m.

Cauley, who turns 35 Sunday, was in the original Players field released March 7 before Karl Vilips' victory at the Puerto Rico Open last Sunday knocked him out.

As first alternate, he learned Monday he was back in.

Bud Cauley practicing at Jack Nicklaus' Bear's Club when call came

Bud Cauley tees off on the 17th hole during the third round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl. Saturday March 15, 2025. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]

Cauley was practicing at Jack Nicklaus' Bear's Club in Jupiter when he got the call.

"I was kind of hopeful that being one out I might get a chance, but you never know," Cauley said. "But it was nice that it was on Monday, also where I didn't have to sweat it until Wednesday afternoon or something. I was able to come out here Tuesday and Wednesday and have a normal couple days."

Cauley equaled the low round of the day Saturday, but the others — Danny Walker and Jupiter's Corey Connors — played before the winds started whipping to about 20 mph sustained and gusts of 30.

Cauley grew up in the Jacksonville area and played TPC Sawgrass several times as a young golfer. He was asked if he's ever seen the wind this gusty.

"If it was blowing this hard, I probably would have just went home," Cauley said. "Probably not.

"Seemed like every hole was a challenge with the wind and just trying to somehow get it on the fairway and get it on the green and roll in a putt. But it was tough."

Cauley has played three previous Players Championships, missing the cut three times. He has never finished higher than third in 206 PGA Tour events.

Cauley, ranked 251st in the world, was tied for 16th entering the weekend after shooting 68-71. On Saturday, he carded seven birdies, three bogeys and an eagle on No. 9, where he chipped in from 35.6 feet.

"I've been driving the ball pretty well all week and I've also been putting well," Cauley said. "I feel like when I've had those 10-, 12-, 15-footers for birdie, I've been able to make most of them, and that's helped a lot."

Bud Cauley playing last 13 months on major medical extension

Cauley has been playing the last 13 months on a major medical extension. He was in a serious car accident in 2018 in which he broke five ribs, his lower left leg and suffered a collapsed lung.

Although he returned later in 2018, Cauley was missed more than three years starting in 2021 due to complications from the accident.

Cauley had 27 events to retain his PGA Tour card once he returned early in 2024. He played 17 tournaments in 2024 and The Players is his fifth this year. He has two top 30s at the Phoenix Open and Sony Open.

Now, he needs a top 18 to earn enough FedEx Cup points for his card.

"I've tried to just really practice with a purpose and just make little changes and just get a little bit better," he said. "I feel like some things are starting to come together that I've been working on for a while now."

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Bud Cauley seeking PGA Tour card, win at The Players Championship

Topics

Players Championship: Long par putt by J.J. Spaun preserves a one-shot lead over Bud Cauley

J.J. Spaun drained a 25-foot par putt on the final hole Saturday to preserve his one-shot lead in the third round of The Players Championship.
Yahoo Sports - 11h
The Players Championship: J.J. Spaun takes 1-shot lead over Bud Cauley into final round; Rory McIlroy 4 shots back

Windy conditions flustered several players, including defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who let his irritation show several times.
Yahoo Sports - 11h
J.J. Spaun takes the lead at The Players Championship on windy day that wrecked rounds

J.J. Spaun watched his 25-foot putt swirl 360 degrees around the cup and drop for par, a fitting end to a wild, windy, round-wrecking Saturday at The Players Championship that gave him a one-shot ...
Yahoo Sports - 11h
Former TPC Sawgrass resident Bud Cauley shines in return to The Players

Bud Cauley was 5 years old when he attended his first Players Championship and as a professional he’s played the PGA Tour’s flagship event four times.
Yahoo Sports - 12h
J.J. Spaun leads Players Championship as winds whip field Saturday at TPC Sawgrass

With gusts up to 30 mph, Spaun shot 2-under 70 to take a one-shot lead into the final round, where TV and tee times have been moved up.
Yahoo Sports - 10h
Camilo Villegas among trio of co-leaders with Rory McIlroy one back at The Players

Villegas, J.J. Spaun and Lucas Glover all shot 6-under 66 to share the Day 1 lead at The Players Championship.
Yahoo Sports - 2d
Spaun leads by 1 as wind wreaks havoc at Players

J.J. Spaun watched his 25-foot putt swirl 360 degrees around the cup and drop for par, a fitting end to a wild, windy Saturday at the Players Championship that gave him a one-shot lead going into ...
ESPN - 6h
Spaun leads The Players as McIlroy clings on

Rory McIlroy is four shots back from unheralded American JJ Spaun at The Players Championship going into the final round.
BBC News - 11h
The Players Championship final round tee times, how to watch: J.J. Spaun takes solo lead entering Sunday at TPC Sawgrass

J.J. Spaun is 18 holes away from what would be the biggest win of his career.
Yahoo Sports - 11h

Bud Cauley got into The Players Championship as an alternate; now he's one shot off lead

Bud Cauley practicing at Jack Nicklaus' Bear's Club when call came

Bud Cauley playing last 13 months on major medical extension

Topics

Related

Players Championship: Long par putt by J.J. Spaun preserves a one-shot lead over Bud Cauley

The Players Championship: J.J. Spaun takes 1-shot lead over Bud Cauley into final round; Rory McIlroy 4 shots back

J.J. Spaun takes the lead at The Players Championship on windy day that wrecked rounds

Former TPC Sawgrass resident Bud Cauley shines in return to The Players

J.J. Spaun leads Players Championship as winds whip field Saturday at TPC Sawgrass

Camilo Villegas among trio of co-leaders with Rory McIlroy one back at The Players

Spaun leads by 1 as wind wreaks havoc at Players

Spaun leads The Players as McIlroy clings on

The Players Championship final round tee times, how to watch: J.J. Spaun takes solo lead entering Sunday at TPC Sawgrass

More from Yahoo Sports

Liverpool’s Striker Solution – Julián Álvarez Slot’s Ideal Fit

The radio messages which show Lewis Hamilton has a lot of work to do at Ferrari

Arsenal in advanced talks to sign €60m La Liga superstar

When is First Four for March Madness? Schedule, dates, location for men's play-in games

It's bracket time! Details on Selection Sunday's bracket reveal

More in Sports

Norris holds off Verstappen in dramatic Aus GP

St. John's wins first Big East tourney since '00

Vikings acquiring RB Mason in trade with 49ers

Porzingis excels in return from 'frustrating' illness

Duke proves 'toughness' minus Flagg to win ACC