Australia’s Min Woo Lee shot a 7-under-par 63 to take the lead after three rounds of the Texas Children’s Houston Open on Saturday at Memorial Park.
Lee is at 193, is a 54-hole tournament record, eclipsing Curtis Strange in 1998 and Tony Finau in 2022.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who fired a 1-under 69, dropped into a three-way tied for third in his quest for his first victory of the season.
“I’m just going to go out and try to have a good round,” Scheffler said. “Not overthink things, try to get off to a good start. (Saturday), I made some mistakes early in the round, a few shots I’d like to have back. Hopefully, be a little bit sharper (Sunday).”
Lee holds a four-stroke lead on Argentina’s Alejandro Tosti, whose 65 put him in second place at 13 under. Australia’s Ryan Fox also posted 65 and shares third place with Ryan Gerard (68) and Scheffler at 12 under.
“I just feel really good about it,” Lee said. .”.. It was great fun and very solid overall.”
In his bogey-free round, Lee had five birdies through 10 holes, including three consecutive on No. 8, 9 and 10. He added two more birdies over the next four holes, and then ended the round with four consecutive pars.
On the sixth hole, Lee chipped in from the fringe. He nearly had a hole-in-one on No. 9, needing just a tap-in for a birdie.
Lee, a younger brother of the LPGA’s Minjee Lee, has never won on the PGA Tour.
Scheffler, playing in his home event, led by one shot after matching his course record with Friday’s 62. Some golfers, including Lee, had to complete the second round Saturday morning.
Scheffler didn’t have a bogey through the first two rounds, but posted a pair on Nos. 4 and 13 on Saturday. The putts weren’t rolling in at the rate of a day earlier.
“I couldn’t get the ball to go in the hole,” he said.
Sweden’s Jesper Svensson moved into contention with a third-round 63, marking his career-low round. He’s at 11 under in a sixth-place tie with Gary Woodland (66 on Saturday), Keith Mitchell (66) and Trey Mullinax (67).
Davis Thompson made a big move with a 64, putting him at 10 under.
Canada’s Taylor Pendrith was flirting with the lead through play Friday, but his 70 left him tied for 10th at 10 under.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy went from barely making the cut to briefly moving into the top 10 after Saturday’s 65. His chip-in for eagle on No. 8 (which was his second-to-last hole of the round) was a big boost, but he’s at 9 under and tied for 14th place.
McIlroy is in the tournament for the first time since 2014.
–Field Level Media
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