The Players Championship LIVE: Cameron Smith Wins

Welcome back to another huge day of golf, who will take home the record winner's cheque tonight? Well stayed tuned as we keep you up to date with all the latest updates. Leader Anirban Lahiri as well as all the other players who didn't finish round three are off again in just 15 minutes.

Elliott Heath will be the first guide for the next couple of hours.

Hello and welcome to the action from TPC Sawgrass on day five of the Players Championship!

I'm Elliott Heath (@eheathgolf on Twitter) and I'll be here until 2pm UK time to guide you through the action. We have around 2hrs left of the third round before the final 18 holes this evening.

What did you miss from yesterday?

- WATCH: Shane Lowry makes hole-in-one on 17th at TPC Sawgrass

- WATCH: Matthew Wolff throws club into lake 

- WATCH: Pro shanks it on 17 at TPC Sawgrass

Day 5 has begun

We open up the day to see Justin Thomas miss a six-footer for birdie on 12. He'll have been thinking about that all night and morning, and it slides by on the low side.

We've already seen a ball in the water on 17 too. That didn't take long.

Henrik Stenson favourite for Ryder Cup captaincy?

In case you missed it, Henrik Stenson faces a huge dilemma after being told he is the new front-runner for the European Ryder Cup captaincy - but only if he is prepared to sever all connections with the rumoured Saudi Arabia-backed Super League.

Lahiri defies form

The Indian star currently leads by one and is in the middle of the 12th fairway after a fine tee shot. His form, however, is less than fine. He comes into this week off the back of a T74 at Bay Hill (with a final round 82) and four missed cuts previously to that.

If the World No.322 can pull this off it would surely be one of the stories of the year.

Sergio

The Spaniard moves to five-under after a birdie at 16. A par-par finish will leave him licking his lips ahead of the final round.

Update: He's just spun his wedge back into the water on the 17th. Ouch.

Meanwhile, Keegan Bradley moves to four-under after a birdie at 17, which is his fifth birdie in seven holes.

Lahiri chunk

Having just told you Lahiri hit a beauty down 12, he then chunked his wedge well short of the green. Maybe the nerves are getting to him. For those wondering, his last victory came at the 2015 Indian Open.

Clutch Lahiri

A brilliant par putt from Lahiri on 12 following on from that chunk. He holes a snaking left-to-righter down the hill to settle himself down into what could be the biggest day of his career. Still one ahead at nine-under.

Knox from the bunker!

The Scot moves to five-under...

Casey to within one

Paul Casey makes a tidy up-and-down from the greenside bunker at 11 to move to eight-under-par and within one. He's never won a Major but this would surely feel like one if he can get over the line tonight.

Casey 2nd

The Englishman is now second on his own at eight-under after Hoge and Varner III both make bogeys.

Garcia double

Having birdied 16 to get to within three, Garcia is now five back after a double at the 17th - his race could be run. Looked to have hit a lovely wedge in but it ripped back all the way into the water. Greens are pure right now and players struggling to control the spin with the approach shots.

Keegan Bradley!

The American finishes birdie-birdie to get into the clubhouse at five-under-par thanks to a 30 on the back nine with six birdies and three pars. He may have a say later tonight.

What are the bookies saying?

Justin Thomas is charging

The defending champion moves to five-under and is now just three back after a birdie at 14. He has a par-5 left to play so if he can get in the house at six or seven-under then he'll really fancy his chances of going back-to-back

Fleetwood within two

A birdie at 11 takes the Englishman to six-under and one-under for the day. He's been quiet since that 66 on Thursday but is well in this as he seeks a maiden PGA Tour and US victory.

Louis!

Oosthuizen chips in at 15 for his second-consecutive birdie and fourth in six holes! The South African is WELL in this now with the par-5 16th to come.

How's the weather looking?

Lahiri clutch again

He can't keep this up all day. Lahiri makes a wonder up-and-down at 14 to stay one clear at the top.

Meanwhile Sam Burns birdies to reach eight-under and Paul Casey drops a shot to fall back to seven-under.

Munoz in the clubhouse at -8

The Colombian ends his morning and third round with a birdie at the 9th hole and his brunch will taste very nice as he's eight-under-par and currently just one back.

Hatton in at four-under

The Englishman misses a birdie putt at the 9th and he looks furious as always, gesturing that it should have turned in left to the hole. Anyway, he's four-under and in the house so well within a shout of victory this evening if he can post a low one.

That Munoz 65

His 65 was the lowest round of the week at TPC Sawgrass.

Get to know him better with these things you didn't know about Sebastian Munoz.

Rory McIlroy

For all you Rory fans (I'm one of them), we've just seen him par the fifth, his 14th hole of the day. He's at five-over-par, which leaves him in last place of the golfers who made the cut.

Lahiri bogey

The Indian clearly doesn't have his best stuff right now and the scrambling comes to an end with a dropped shot at the 15th. He falls back to eight-under and now tied for the lead with Burns and Munoz.

We've also just seen Lowry finish up at six-under, finally completing his round that included THAT ace yesterday.

Thomas in the water

After getting to five-under, we thought Thomas could reach six or seven with the par-5 16th to play but he leaks his second shot into the drink. That'll be costly.

HOLE-IN-ONE!

Viktor Hovland aces the par-3 8th hole!

VIKTOR!

Lahiri back on top

The Indian bounces back from bogey at 15 to birdie the par-5 16th and regain the lead at nine-under-par. Next up, the 17th.

Rahm in at three-under

The World No.1 birdied the 18th and is in at three-under-par, which is currently six back. Not over just yet but he's going to need to go low this afternoon.

Cam Smith to seven-under

The Aussie moves to within two of playing partner Lahiri thanks to a tap-in birdie on the 17th, after almost making the second hole-in-one of the week at the famous 'island' green par-3.

Thomas' woes continue

Justin Thomas' costly bogey at the par-5 16th, after finding water, has been followed with another water ball on 18. JT looks unlikely to retain his crown this year as he's set to slip at least six back.

Different day, same Tyrrell Hatton

Who's going to win this?

Not a clue. There are currently 27 (!) golfers within five strokes. An unbelievable final round ahead you have to think.

Lahiri looking good at nine-under

Lahiri finds the 18th in regulation and looks set to get into the clubhouse at nine-under and one clear as things stand.

In other news, I'm off now for some lunch (ham-mayo baguette if anyone's interested) and i'll be back on at 4pm GMT. Until then, I'll leave you in the capable hands of Tom Clarke...

Afternoon all, Tom Clarke here, it may be Monday - but let's try and brighten up your day.

ROUND-UP

The second round leaders are coming to the end of their round - Sebastian Munoz shot a wonderful 65 to sit happily at -8.

Anirban Lahiri is trying to hold onto his -9 lead... but has a long par putt coming up.

Paul Casey has also just holed a monster on 17 to move to -8.

And Viktor Hovland had a wonderful hole in one.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED ROUND 4 YET!!!

PAR SAVE AND SAFELY HOME

Lahiri holes his par putt on 18 and can have his lunch knowing he will be in the final group later on.

STAT

BIRDIE

Doug Ghim has been quietly going along and with a birdie on 18 he also joins the group on -8.

AND ANOTHER BIRDIE

Sam Burns now also joins the log jam at -8 - with a kick-in birdie on 16.

WHAT A COURSE

The weather has been horrendous over the past week - so it is fantastic to see some blue sky and sun for this final day. Who is planning a trip to Sawgrass - here is how you could get a tee time!

HOLE POSITIONS FOR ROUND 4

By the looks of it there are going to be some balls find water this afternoon, a lot of the usual final round pins are going to be in use. Should be fun!

ROUND 3 DONE

The final group have rather plodded in, but they manage all to par the final hole - and with that round 3 is FINALLY complete.

Will update you in when round 4 will begin shortly

TEE TIMES

Told you it wouldn't be a long wait - the first groups tee off in 2 minutes! 

TEE TIMES FOR ROUND 4

DOUBLE BOGEY

The early round 4 starters have got underway - and it's a poor start by Russell Henley who double bogeys the 10th - his 1st to drop back to level par.

ALBATROSS?????!!!!!

I was just saying that Henley had started with a Double Bogey - well the PGA Tour Scoreboard is no saying he has holed his 2nd to the par-5 11th. Will try to get confirmation.

AWAITING ALBATROSS CONFIRMATION - PGA TOUR AT LUNCH?

The PGA Tour are being badgered by social media to see if they can confirm is Russell Henley did have an elusive "Double Eagle"

They have had a busy week - so maybe they are out catching a bite.

BLAME CANADA

Three Canadians teed off at 11:11am Hadwin and Connors from the 10th and Taylor Pendrith on the 1st. Pendrith has got off to the best start of the early starters - he is two under through 2 and up to -5.

ALBATROSS/DOUBLE EAGLE CONFIRMED

AMAZING!

HANDING OVER TO...

I am off to try and find a video of that Henley hole out - in the meantime Elliott Heath is back and will be with you for the next 2 hours.

ELLIOTT HEATH HERE...

Hi all, back from my ham-mayo baguette and salt and vinegar discos, if anyone is a fan of those particularly amazing crisps?

Anyway, I'm genuinely really excited about tonight as I have no clue what is going to happen and it's surely going to be some cracking viewing. There's plenty of stories to follow too - will this be Paul Casey's defining moment? Will the World No.322 win at Sawgrass? Or could Shane Lowry add a Players Championship to his Claret Jug and WGC trophies? They're just three potential storylines.

PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ARTICLES:

- How can I play TPC Sawgrass?

- Players Championship Prize Money 2022

- Players Championship Final Round Tee Times

- WATCH: Viktor Hovland Makes Hole-In-One At TPC Sawgrass

- Why The Players Championship Already Is A Major...

OUTSIDERS CHARGING

Erik van Rooyen has started birdie-birdie to get to six-under-par and is now just three back, whilst Abraham Ancer is also two-under for the round and a shot further back.

BIG VIK

Viktor Hovland fans (I'm one of them), your man has birdied the 2nd hole and he finds himself at five-under-par now - which is just four back of the lead. Hovland has a chance to go to World No.1 if he wins today.

Imagine that: a hole-in-one, Players Championship victory, $3.6m and you become the world's best golfer. If Carlsberg did days...

UH OH JON RAHM...

The World No.1's having a mare at the 4th...

UH OH JON RAHM... (Part 2)

It was a nine...

DOUBLE BOGEY

Sorry if you've bet on Will Zalatoris but I'm afraid he has three-putted the first for a double-bogey after finding the bunker with his approach. Zalatoris drops from six-under to four-under.

HOMA ON FIRE

Max Homa is the first player in the final round to reach three-under-par and he's done so thanks to three consecutive birdies to start his fourth round, making gains at 10, 11 and 12 having started on the back nine. He's jumped 15 spots on the leaderboard from level par to three-under.

UH OH JON RAHM... (Part 3)

Great stat from Steve DiMeglio. Rahm's nine on the 4th hole was his highest score of his PGA Tour career...by two shots.

SEAMUS IS POWERING

Seamus Power joins Max Homa in the 'three-under-par for the round club' thanks to three birdies in his opening five holes. The Irishman is now four-under for the tournament and up to T24th.

JON RAHM UPDATE

A wonderful bounce back from the World No.1 who birdies the 5th after that quintuple at the 4th.

He has two birdies for the day yet is four-over-par after five holes, which sounds like one of my rounds.

SPLASH

Ian Poulter finds the drink on 17, which is the first water ball there so far in round 4. It's the 55th of the week.

THOUGHTS

I've got to say, TPC Sawgrass is an incredible golf course to watch as a viewer. The wind is getting up yet there are still scores to be made but there is disaster waiting at every turn. A proper golf course and one worthy of hosting a Major - which The Players already basically is.

Penultimate trio of Casey, Burns and Smith going off now - final group up next.

KNOX BIRDIES

The Scot gets off to the perfect start with a birdie at the 1st hole to move to seven-under-par, now within two.

GARCIA BIRDIE-BIRDIE

Sergio goes birdie-birdie through 4 and 5 to reach five-under-par. He'd be right in the mix if it wasn't for a double-bogey on the 17th earlier this morning when he spun his wedge back into the water in the calmest of conditions. Playing beautifully this week - great to see.

LEADERS ARE OFF!

We have a golf tournament folks! The entire field is on the golf course and we currently have 35 players within five shots of the lead, incredible.

Lahiri stripes it down the first, Munoz leaks it down the right (think it's in the sand), and Ghim also stripes it.

HOMA STILL GOING

After starting birdie-birdie-birdie, Max Homa makes another birdie at his fifth hole (the 14th) and he's the first man to four-under-par for the round. He's four-under for the tournament and within five.

SMITH BIRDIES

Cam Smith birdies 1 to move to eight-under and Paul Casey holes a clutch par putt to save his par.

Sam Burns bogeys the 1st to drop to eight-under.

Leaderboard as it stands:

• Lahiri -9
• Smith, Casey, Ghim, Munoz -8
• Burns, Kisner, Knox -7
• Pendrith, Hovland, Steele, Varner III, Hoge, Lowry -6

POWER KEEPS POWERING

The Irishman joins Max Homa in the 'four-under-par for the round club' thanks to a birdie at 16 (his 7th hole) to move up to five-under.

As I'm typing this, Sebastian Munoz has just had a wild slash at a ball that has got caught up in some thick grass. He's looking like making a double bogey on the opener I'd guess.

POWER IN THE WATER...

Seamus finds the drink on the 17th. Missed the green miles right.

JON RAHM UPDATE

The World No.1 has dropped another shot. This round isn't going well...

RUSSELL KNOX WITHIN ONE

The Scot starts birdie-birdie to reach eight-under-par. A delightful pitch shot from the thick stuff to 3-4ft led to an easy birdie on the par-5 2nd hole.

IS HOVLAND GOING TO BECOME WORLD NO.1?

Viktor will become World No.1 with a solo 2nd finish (or better) AND if Jon Rahm finishes outside of the top-50. After the Spaniard's nightmare start, he is currently T58th and Hovland is now just three off the lead thanks to two birdies in his opening five. He has a good look for birdie at 6 too.

HOW ARE THE BOOKMAKERS SEEING IT?

HOVLAND ACE RECAP

For those of you tuning in after a long day at work, or perhaps you're on your lunch break over in the US, I hope you had, or are having, a good one and are enjoying the golf.

Here's the highlight of the day so far...

CAM SMITH

Birdie-birdie start for the World No.10 and he's now tied for the lead.

He holed a 10ft left-to-righter and I'm telling you that stroked looked beautiful. Fluid, confident and the ball went in dead centre. He's our winner folks, you heard it here first.

RUSSELL HENLEY

After Henley's double-albatross start, he then went on a very boring run of five consecutive pars before this lovely chip-in at the 17th...

KNOX LOOKS GOOD

The Scot hits a beauty into the par-4 4th hole and will have around 6ft to join the leaders for his third birdie of the day.

SMITH TO -10

Cam Smith goes birdie-birdie-birdie to start his round (another beautiful putt) and he's now out on his own at 10-under-par. Lahiri looks likely to join him though as his eagle putt from long range on the 2nd was a very fine effort.

GHIM DOUBLE

Doug Ghim made a double from nowhere on the par-5 2nd. Having expected a birdie after a great drive, it's evidence of just how disaster can strike anywhere at Sawgrass.

Lahiri made a par as I forgot he had to chip out after a pulled drive!

LEADERBOARD:

STRAKA TO SIX

Sepp Straka, the Honda Classic champion from a couple of weeks back, is four-under-par after 11 holes and moves up to six-under.

Meanwhile, Viktor Hovland stays at six-under after a clutch sand save on the par-3 8th, where he had a hole-in-one earlier. Viktor has the par-5 9th coming up so that save at 8 could be a huge one.

SIGNING OFF...

Just as Anirban Lahiri completes his sandy par at the 3rd, I am heading off now and once again leaving you with GM veteran Tom Clarke. I'm going to whip up a chilli con carne and will be glued to the telly tonight.

Enjoy the golf.

Tom Clarke back with you now until 8pm - and we have some more movement on the leaderboard...

FOUR IN A ROW FOR SMITH

Cameron Smith has made it four birdies in a row for his first four holes - and is now two shots clear.

ANOTHER EAGLE FOR HENLEY 

What did the American have for lunch? He has had a double bogey, albatross, a couple of birdies and now and eagle! He is 7 under thru 11 holes and just four off the lead!

BIRDIE

Lahiri is not going away, he continues to impress and holes his birdie putt at 4 to go to just a shot behind Smith.

HOVLAND ON THE CHARGE

Big Vik holes a lengthy putt on 9 to move to -7, his race is not yet run.

HE IS HUMAN

Cameron Smith has missed a birdie putt! But does hole out for par to stay at -11 thru 5.

RAHM IN THE DRINK AGAIN!

World Number One Jon Rahm is having a shocker - already had a 9 (nine) on the 4th and has found the hazard again on the 11th. Has a chance to escape with a par, but it misses! He is now 2+ and outside the top 50 - his Number One Ranking is in serious threat.

ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR SMITH

Cameron Smith take a bow - he drains another birdie on 6 and he increases his lead back to two shots.

THE CHASING PACK

Hovland and Straka both make their own birdies to move to -8 (and to move Hovland closer to the World Number One spot). They will continue to try and put pressure on Smith.

PRESSURE PUTT FOR SMITH

The Australian has been peerless so far, but his approach to 7 comes up a little short and his chip is a little clumsy - has 7 feet to save his par. AND... HE MISSES! slides by on the left...

TWO-SHOT SWING 

Just before Cameron Smith missed his putt, Paul Casey rolled in a beauty from just off the green. There was four shots between them, now just two.

BIRDIE FOR HOVLAND (TWO OFF LEAD)

Big Vik is just so entertaining - he has another birdie on the 11th and he is also just two shots off the lead. Anyone could win this!

BOGEY - NEW LEADER

Wow! What a dreadful 20 minutes for the leader Cameron Smith he finds horrendous thick rough with his approach to 7 and can only get it to 20 feet with his chip. Misses par putt. Lahiri and Smith now top of the tree on -10.

BOGEY FOR CASEY

Paul Casey can not take advantage of Smith's dropped shot as he also misses a lengthy par putt to drop to -8.

NERVES ANYONE?

Lahiri - snap hooks tee shot into the jungle on 8.

Smith - hooks his tee shot into trouble.

Hovland - bogeys the 12th from nowhere

Berger - pars 12 which he could have birdied.

DO NOT GO ANYWHERE!

LAHIRI INTERRUPTS LUNCH

Lahiri has found his ball in a very unappealing bed of palms - he is going back as far as he can, but has had to ask a lady if she would stop eating her chicken wrap so he can drop.

He is on the green in 3, but a double bogey is in coming.

BIG VIK MISSES OPPORTUNITY

Hovland has followed his bogey on 12 with a short missed birdie putter on 13.

Someone is going to put in a winning run of holes... but I am not sure who!

SMITH AND LAHIRI DROP SHOTS - CASEY LEADS

Lahiri did not make his huge bogey putt. And Cameron Smith cannot two putt on 9 - he drops mack to -9, where he is joined by Paul Casey who has played the 9th superbly.

9 holes to go!

HADWIN MOVES TO WITHIN ONE

The Canadian is 6 under par for his round and just one shot off the lead!

BRADLEY JOINS LEADERS

Keegan Bradley is now four under for his round and the 2011 PGA Champion joins the leaders on -9.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT - IT'S RAINING AGAIN!

HOVLAND MAKES IT A FOUR-WAY TIE AT THE TOP

Big Vik hasn't given up, he has a chance to win the event and to be World Number One, and he birdies 14 to move to -9 with Casey, Bradley and Smith.

But Smith hits a wonderful approach to 10 and he has inches for a birdie of his own.

WHO WILL FINISH THE FASTEST

We have seen players finish eagle-birdie-birdie at Sawgrass before - if any of the leaders do that then they will surely win! 

LAHIRI BOUNCES BACK

Fair play, after his double on the 8th I feared the worst for Lahiri, but he birdies 9 and makes it five people at the top of the leaderboard!

IT IS BUCKETING IT DOWN 

We started in rain - we are ending in rain.

BRADLEY IS FLYING

Keegan Bradley has another birdie, he is on fire, joins Smith at -10.

Well that was a very enjoyable last few hours - I will leave you to Dan Parker to bring it home.

Dan Parker tapping in...

Thanks Tom, great work from Elliott and yourself doing the hard yards all day today. I've got the pleasure of taking us all home this evening in what should be a thrilling few holes. Who is going to take this tournament by the scruff of the neck? It's still bucketing down out there, but the showers should pass through soon enough. Stay with us as we take you right down to the very final putt of this enthralling Monday finish at the Players...

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY..

It really is coming down right now at TPC Sawgrass. Hopefully it's just a sharp shower, but it's making for an even more enjoyable watch...

SMITH LEADS AGAIN

After a serious wobble ending his back nine, Smith has just had back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 to reach -11, one shot clear of Casey...

ROLLING BACK THE YEARS

Sergio Garcia has just hit a gorgeous 9-iron into the 17th hole. It's brought back memories of his 2008 win, where he hit a similarly delightful shot on his way to winning. He'll tap that in to get to -4 for the tournament - not quite Sergio's week.

24 PLAYERS WITHIN 3 SHOTS

Yes, you read that right. With seven holes left, there's still 24 players well within a shout of winning. Some are starting to run out of holes however, so we should have our final contending cast in the next half an hour or so...

NEW WORLD NUMBER 1?

Viktor Hovland has just made a par at the par-5 16th, might that be he race run? If he finishes 2nd or higher and Jon Rahm finishes outside the top 50 (he's currently T59th), we'll have a new men's world number one.

LAHIRI TIES THE LEAD

Wow, what a putt from Anirban Lahiri! He's hung around all day despite a scrappy end to his third round and he's just been rewarded with an eagle on the 11th. He's once again tied for the lead.

Lahiri won €218,512 in his last victory at the 2015 Hero Indian Open. If he wins today he'll pay his caddie more than his last winner's cheque. Elliott has just fed me that stat, so all credit to him for that gem. The work never stops here at Golf Monthly...

FINAL FOUR?

Right, we've got some movement and I'd suggest we'll have our winner from a group of four players. Keegan Bradley (-10), Anirban Lahiri (-11), Paul Casey (-11) and Cam Smith (-12).

Smith and Casey both just birdied the 12th and Lahiri is lurking one hole behind off the back of an eagle.

KNOXED OUT?

Russell Knox has also been hanging around the leading pack for most of today. But a three putt out of nowhere on the 13th hole might see his challenge fade away.

Will I apologise for that attempt at a pun? No. You're stuck with me until the close of play I'm afraid. 

POTENTIAL PLAYOFF

With the leaderboard still so congested, a playoff looks inevitable at TPC Sawgrass. Here's a reminder of the Players Championship playoff format in case we do get there later this evening. Safe to say, we think it's the best playoff format in world golf...

TWO SHOT LEAD FOR SMITH 

Another birdie for Cam Smith takes him to -13 and two shots clear of the chasing pack. He's playing some seriously good golf today, but remarkably has just one par through 13 holes. That's 9 birdies, 3 bogeys and 1 par for those counting. 

Keegan Bradley, who was nine shots behind the lead at the turn yesterday, gets himself to -11 as well. The winner is definitely going to be one of our top four now...

HATTON HANGS AROUND

Tyrrell Hatton, who has been caught on a few hot mics this week, is the only man outside that top four who could make a run now. He's alone in 5th place at -9 after a birdie on the 16th hole.

BEEF BERGER 

We're hearing reports that Daniel Berger and Viktor Hovland have had an altercation of some kind regarding Berger's drop on the 16th hole. We'll try and find out what exactly happened between the two...

COMMENTATOR'S CURSE

Sorry, Tyrrell. After suggesting he still might be in with a shout, Hatton dunks he tee shot into the water on the 17th. As you were, one of the top four will be our winner in a few hours time. 

ALTERCATION? DISCUSSION? DISAGREEMENT?

The commentators on Sky Sports in the UK suggested there was an altercation in the Hovland/Berger/Dahmen group on the 16th hole. There was definitely some disagreement between the three on where Berger should drop his ball and Daniel certainly wasn't best pleased with the decision. Check it out for yourself below...

CLUTCH PAR

Cam Smith has only had two pars today, but that save on the 13th could be more important than any of his birdies so far today. He stays at -13, two shots clear of Lahiri, Casey and Bradley.

KEEGAN BRADLEY TO -12

The king of the club twirl is now -5 for his back nine at -12 for the tournament after a birdie on the 16th. He's a couple of holes ahead of his closest competitors so will be looking to post -12 or -13 in the clubhouse. The 17th hole looms next for the American...

DJ TIES COURSE RECORD

We've seen nothing of him today, but Dustin Johnson has just carded a course record equalling 63 after a chip in eagle on the 9th hole. That round included 29 on his back nine (he started on the 10th) and he finished the tournament at -7. Something to shout about for Johnson who has had a quiet start to 2022.

BRADLEY BOGEYS 17, FALLS BACK TO -11

It would've been some two putt from Bradley across the 17th green, but he de-greens his first effort and misses the one back - back to -11 for the American. 

A few holes behind, Smith and Casey make a stunning pair of pars after both being well out of play off the tee. Smith keeps his two shot lead for now after back-to-back clutch pars.

UNLUCKY CASEY

Paul Casey has hit a hellacious bomb down 16, but his ball appears to have found someone else's plug mark. There's no placing allowed today, so he has to play it out of a lottery of a lie. He shoves a 5-iron forward 100 yards or so - it was the right decision not to take it on. Unbelievably bad luck for Paul. 

Meanwhile, Smith hits out sideways from the pine-straw and his third shot finds the green on the par-5 16th. Great decision making from the Aussie. 

BRADLEY IN THE WATER ON 18

It was fun, but it looks like Keegan Bradley's race is run. He finds the water on 18 with his second shot. I'd suggest his lack of aggression on 17 has caused his sloppy finish. But, hindsight is 20-20 and I'm not a professional golfer. 

EVENTFUL 16TH HOLE ENDS IN PARS

Well, after all that drama, we've got a pair of pars on the 16th hole for Casey and Smith. However, Smith's par will likely feel like a birdie and Casey's a bogey. If Smith can par the last two holes, surely he'll be our champion?

SENSATIONAL SMITH!

Memories of Fowler in 2017 and Garcia in 2008. Cameron Smith take a bow! He hits a hyper-aggressive tee shot on the 17th and is rewarded with one of the shots of the day. He'll have around 10ft for birdie to surely clinch the 2022 Players.

GOLF IS AN UNFAIR GAME

Here's a great picture of where Paul Casey's ball ended up on the 16th fairway. Golf really is a brutal game at times...

SMITH CHAMPION ELECT

Of course he holed the putt. I did his tee shot a bit of a disservice saying it went 10ft by, it was more like 6ft. Here's a video of a shot that is already locked in to Players folklore...

HATS OFF TO LAHIRI

The world number 322 isn't done yet. He's hit it close on 17 and will give Cam Smith something to think about. Smith has found the pine-straw on the right of the 18th fairway. 

It's been a really impressive week for Lahiri who has come into this tournament with no form to speak of. He's put up a staunch resistance to TPC Sawgrass and the rest of the field. 

SMITH IN THE WATER, LAHIRI TO -12

I do not believe it!! After basically declaring Smith the champion, he's dunked it into the water on 18. He couldn't reach the green, so chose to hit out sideways but he  caught it too well and the fairway camber took the ball into the cold awaiting arms of the water. 

Back on 17, Lahiri has drained his birdie putt to move to -12. It's all happening again at TPC Sawgrass, I thought it was over! 

BISECTED FAIRWAY, STIFFED WEDGE 

Lahiri, who looks dialled in again, has bisected the fairway on 18. Up ahead, Smith has stiffed it for a knock in bogey - gorgeous wedge control. 

Here it is folks, a Lahiri hole-out eagle for the win, a birdie will give us a playoff and a par or worse and Cam Smith is our champion. 

LAHIRI SHORT OF THE GREEN, SMITH IN AT -13

It's a courageous bogey in the end from Smith, who cards a 66 to finish at -13. Lahiri is short of the green with his approach. He'll have to chip in to take us to a playoff...

CAM SMITH WINS 2022 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

It was a makable chip for Lahiri, but he leaves it just short!

With that, Cameron Smith is your 2022 Players Champion. After rain blighted the opening three days of play, it's been a remarkable Monday finish at TPC Sawgrass and Smith's 6-under par 66 wins the day.

MULLETS, MOUSTACHES, THE MIDAS TOUCH

What a wonderful win for Cam Smith. Speaking to Sky's Andrew Coltart, Smith spoke about how golf has taken a back seat this week, as his parents and friends from Australia have been over to see him in person for the first time in over two years.

Expect some emotional scenes when the presentation takes place shortly...

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

It's the biggest purse in PGA Tour history, so it's worth checking out what the players have won this week. Doug Ghim's missed birdie putt on 18 cost him a few thousand dollars...

LOCAL LAD

As you can hear, Cam Smith is very much Australian. But did you know he lives just up the road from TPC Sawgrass in Florida. 

Speaking to Mike Tirico, Smith admits he didn't mean to be quite that aggressive with he tee shot on the 17th - he seems like a charming bloke. 

SIGNING OFF, THANK YOU 

Well, what a week that was! After biblical rain threatened to postpone the entire event, Australian Cameron Smith eventually emerged as our winner late on Monday evening.  

Our next live text will begin with coverage of the Masters, starting with the par 3 event on Wednesday April 6th. We'll follow that with wall-to-wall coverage of the main event, with correspondents on the ground at Augusta National all week long.

From all the contributors this weekend, myself, Tom Clarke, Elliott Heath and Andy Wright, thank you so much for joining us on the Golf Monthly website and we hope you enjoyed our coverage.