The show goes on at the PGA Tour CJ Cup Byron Nelson! Kim Si-woo defended his two-shot lead on Saturday with a round of 68 – but it was no walk in the park.
The 30-year-old from Seoul is determined to bag his first victory since the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii. He stands at 21-under-par after 54 holes at TPC Craig Ranch in suburban Dallas, with a total of 192 strokes.
On Friday, Kim had built a five-shot lead with a sensational round of 60. But on Saturday, he stumbled with three bogeys in four holes, and by the 11th, his lead was gone. However, the South Korean didn't let it faze him: With three birdies in the next four holes, he reclaimed the outright lead heading into the final round. 'I wanted to go deep again,' Kim said, 'but the start was shaky. The last six, seven holes, though, were really strong again.'
Right behind him, the big names are lurking: Top star and defending champion Scottie Scheffler, a four-time major winner, and his compatriot Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open Champion, each delivered a spectacular round of 65 and share second place with 194 strokes. In fourth place, with 196 strokes, are Germany's Stephan Jaeger, American Tom Hoge, and South Korea's Im Sung-jae.
'My putting was really good,' Clark stated. 'I played really well, fought hard, and earned myself a chance to win tomorrow.'
Scheffler and his friend Kim, both local favorites incidentally, will be in the final pairing. That already promises drama! 'Si-woo is a great guy and a strong competitor,' Scheffler praised his direct opponent. 'I'm looking forward to the challenge of chasing him. It's going to be fun tomorrow.'
Kim's Wild Rollercoaster Ride
Kim started with birdies on the 3rd and 6th – that looked really good at first. Then a three-putt bogey on the 8th – frustrating! After a five-foot birdie putt on the 9th, bogeys promptly followed on the 10th and 11th. Both times he missed the green with his second shot. The lead melted like ice in the Texas sun.
But then came Kim's later birdie surge: A tap-in birdie on the par-5 12th after reaching the green in two strokes – textbook! Plus a birdie putt from just under nine feet on the 14th and another from just under ten feet on the 15th. That's how you get the lead back! One thing is clear: Kim absolutely must maintain his hot putting on Sunday if he wants to clinch the victory. 'I'm just trying to do the same thing all day, make a lot of birdies,' Kim stated. 'Playing with Scottie will be fun. Win or not, it will be fun.'
The Chasers Strike Back
Wyndham Clark also had his moments: He strung together a series of three consecutive birdies, starting on the par-3 4th, and even capped off the front nine with an eagle! But a bogey on the par-3 17th unfortunately set him back again. Bitter!
Scheffler
