JJ Spaun leads THE PLAYERS Championship by one stroke over Bud Cauley heading into Sunday's final round at TPC Sawgrass, with challenging weather conditions expected to create dramatic shifts in the leaderboard.

Current Odds & Standings:

• JJ Spaun: +210 (Leader)
• Bud Cauley: +500 (1 stroke back)
• Rory McIlroy: +650 (4 strokes back)

Weather Impact: Forecasted 25+ mph winds and rain have forced earlier tee times and threesome groupings for the final round. Saturday's conditions already proved treacherous, with notable struggles including Will Zalatoris dropping 9 strokes in his final five holes.

Top Round 4 Picks:

1. Akshay Bhatia (+1800)

• Currently 5 strokes back
• Strong all-around game, ranking top-20 in key statistics:
  • Approach shots
  • Around the green
  • Putting
  • Tee-to-green

2. Sepp Straka (+2200)

• Exceptional ball striker
• Gained 4+ strokes on approach in 5 of last 6 tournaments
• Ranks 6th in strokes gained tee-to-green
• Averages 0.4 strokes gained per round in windy conditions

Historical Context: The largest final round comeback at THE PLAYERS is five strokes, making multiple players within striking distance of the lead legitimate contenders, especially given Sunday's challenging forecast.

Rory McIlroy, the 2019 champion, remains a strong consideration at +650, showing consistent ball-striking despite putting struggles in Round 3.

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