Justin Thomas takes a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler on the final day of the Hero World Challenge, with Tom Kim chasing after an exciting third round.
Thomas carded a bogey-free 66 on Saturday at Albany Golf Center to move to 17 under and one ahead of Scheffler, who is looking to defend his title and complete two majors at the Tiger Woods event for the fourth year in a row. after each other.
Scheffler posted a third-round 69 to set up a Sunday pairing with Thomas, while Kim is just two shots back in third place after briefly threatening a “round 59” on his way to a day-round 62.
Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is fourth and within four of the lead, while Akshay Bhatia – who played alongside Scheffler in the final group – dropped five back after a third-round 71 and into fifth with Sahith Theegala.
Scheffler follows Thomas at the Tiger event
Thomas, playing in the group behind Scheffler, opened with three pars before following a birdie at the par-four fourth with back-to-back wins from the sixth to move briefly tied for the lead.
Scheffler also birdied the fourth and holed in from 15 feet on the seventh to match Thomas, who took advantage of the par-five ninth to close on the front nine with a 32 and pull back a par. with the world No. 1.
Justin Thomas carded six birdies in a bogey-free third round in the Bahamas
Thomas missed a six-footer at the par-five 11th, where Scheffler two-putted from 60 feet to pick up a shot and move one back, while Kim jumped into a tied second after a string of birdies interesting
Kim was eight off the lead, but followed up with birdies on each of his four holes by adding four more in a five-hole stretch from the seventh, then birdied the 14th and 15th to get with Thomas on 15 fo.
Tom Kim's 62 was four strokes better than anyone else in the field on Saturday
The Korean holed a putt from the fringe at the par four to go 11 under for his round and needed a birdie-birdie finish for a 59 round, with Kim moving into the lead when Scheffler failed to save par at the 12th.
Thomas holed a putt from nearly 50 feet at the 14th to move to 16 under, which gave him an outright advantage when Kim made two attempts out of a green bunker at the par-three 17th on his way to a double bogey five.
Kim responded with a bunker hole at the last four to finish with a birdie, although he found himself two behind when Thomas birdied the 16th and finished with back-to-back pars to set the clubhouse target. .
Scheffler matched Thomas' birdie at the 16th but missed opportunities to close both holes to get to 17 under, leaving him with a comeback in the final if he is to claim a ninth world title. of 2024.
Who will win the World Hero Challenge? Watch the final round live on Sunday from 4.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
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