Two surprise leaders at halfway point of The Players

Oosthuizen looking for first win in US, Stanley looking for first win since 2012

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Halfway through The Players Championship, a one-time major champion and a one-time PGA Tour winner share the lead while a bevy of the world’s top ranked players are scrambling to survive.

2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Kyle Stanley, whose only PGA Tour win came in 2012, both shot 6-under par 66 on Friday to share the lead at 9-under par after two rounds. The 66s were the lowest rounds of the tournament thus far.

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Oosthuizen, who is renowned as possessing one of the golf world’s prettiest swings, is trying to win in the United States for the first time ever.

“I've come close a few times, and I've felt I've played really well,” Oosthuizen said. “You know, so it's something I don't really want to think about, but you do now and then think about it. You know, like I say, I've played well, and it's odd not to think about that I haven't won on U.S. soil. Hopefully I can change all that this week.”

Oosthuizen moved his family to Jupiter, Florida will have the benefit of a short trip home after the tournament. He will hop to be driving a trophy during the 270 mile trip from Ponte Vedra Beach.

Stanley, who lost his PGA Tour card two years ago, has begun to show the style that he flashed en route to winning in Phoenix five years ago.

“There's still a lot of golf left,” Stanley said. “You know, and if you go by the field, it's about as strong as you'll see. We're still going to have to play really well. I don't think you can ever really get too comfortable out here.”

Six other golfers are within four strokes of Oosthuizen and Stanley led by J.B Holmes, who had a share of the lead before bogeys on his last two holes Friday, holes eight and nine. 54-year-old Vijay Singh shot 68 on Friday to pull to minus-6 for the tournament. He was matched by Alex Noren.

The leader board doesn’t boast the kind of big names that this tournament typically boasts. Aside from Oosthuizen’s one major championship, only Singh, a three time major champion, and 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover have substantial pedigrees among the top 10 golfers.

Lurking near par, and scheduled to tee off early on Saturday are some of the world’s best golfers. Among those at 2-under par are Adam Scott, Jason Day, and Phil Mickelson. Former Players Champion Martin Kaymer, Servio Garcia, Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, and Ricky Fowler are all at even par, just two strokes from the cut line.