McKINNEY, Texas — Kim Si-woo misplaced the five-shot lead he had constructed the day earlier than, setting a brand new report with a sub-60 on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
The 30-year-old Korean entered the ultimate spherical with a bonus over a number of main champions, together with native favourite and defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
Kim shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday, main by two strokes forward of chief Scheffler and 2023 U.S. Open champion Windham Clark, who have been tied at 65.
“It is enjoyable to be in competition,” stated Clark, a three-time Tour champion searching for his first win since Pebble Seashore in 2024. “Whether or not you must go 8 below to win or you must go 1 below to win, it is enjoyable since you really feel the identical pleasure. Tomorrow we’ll most likely be in that precise state of affairs and should make a ton of birdies.”
Im Sung-jae, Kim’s compatriot, shot a 67 following his 61 within the second spherical, transferring him inside two strokes of Stefan Jaeger and Tom Hoge. Yeager’s 64 was the bottom spherical of the day at TPC Craig Ranch, and Hoge shot a 66.
Zach Bausch (66) was 16 below par, one stroke forward of Brooks Koepka (66) and three different gamers. Koepka, who opened with a 63, is in search of his first win since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.
Kim, second-highest ranked behind Scheffler at No. 24, was in place to shoot a 59 within the second spherical, however needed to accept a 60 after bogeying on 18.
His five-stroke lead was tied for the second-most in 36 holes on tour this season, behind Rory McIlroy’s six-shot lead when he defended the Masters Championship in April. It disappeared on the eleventh gap.
With three bogeys in 4 holes, all putts inside 10 toes, the four-time Tour winner tied Clark at 18 below. Earlier than that, Clark sank a brief eagle putt on the par-5 ninth to return inside one stroke.
Kim, who lives in Dallas, made three birdies on the subsequent 4 holes a day after successful 12 holes.
“I used to be excited about scoring an excessive amount of, like the primary 10, 11 holes,” Kim stated. “So I am simply attempting to get again to the place I used to be yesterday. Yeah, simply attempting to hit some good pictures and attempting to love that my mojo is again.”
Clark scrambled for birdie on the par-5 twelfth, hitting a bunker shot along with his proper foot into the grass and making a 15-foot putt along with his bent proper knee nearly touching the bottom.
After Scheffler and Clark hit the inexperienced and settled for par, Kim made a birdie on the brief par-4 14th to take the lead, with Kim, Scheffler and Clark tied at 19 below.
Clark caught up once more, however Kim made a birdie on the par-3 fifteenth gap to take the lead for good.
Scheffler, a four-time main champion who got here away with an eight-shot victory in Nelson final 12 months, suffered his first bogey of the match on the par-3 fourth gap, however bounced again with three birdies within the remaining 5 holes of his entrance 9.
“I am heading into tomorrow with a two-shot lead, so I am wanting ahead to the problem,” stated Scheffler, who’s aiming for his twenty first tour win. “It is at all times enjoyable taking part in with Siu. I feel it is good for the group to have two locals on the leaderboard. Tomorrow must be a enjoyable day.”
Clark, who was in search of his first win at Pebble Seashore since 2024, stood previous the putt, leading to one of many early birdies, however pulled away and tapped it on the nostril. He made the putt, however was nonetheless tapping his nostril a number of holes later.
When requested if he had a nosebleed, the 32-year-old stated: “I am undecided.” “I had one thing like a lower on my nostril, and it appeared like this. After I awoke, there was blood popping out. It wasn’t actually a nosebleed, nevertheless it lasted for a number of holes.”
Jordan Spieth, who together with Scheffler is a neighborhood favourite, began off with six straight birdies and shot a 62 on his second 9 earlier than faltering on the day with 4 bogeys within the first 5 holes on the again 9. He shot 73.
First-round chief Taylor Moore rejoined the fray with 4 straight birdies, however sank into the water on the fifteenth gap and completed with a triple-bogey six. He shot a 69 and was 13 below.
Japan’s Kensei Hirata, who performed within the remaining group with Kim and Lim, shot 70, giving him a seven-shot lead.
