Kapalua (United States) (AFP)
American title holder Xander Schauffele retained the lead in the Tournament of Champions, counting for the North American Professional Golf Circuit (PGA), after the third round on Saturday night in Hawaii.
Schauffele had four birdies to make a 71 card, two strokes under par, on the Plantation to Kapalua course, swept as the day before by a strong annoying wind.
He accumulated a total of 11 shots under par and is now followed by one stroke by his compatriot Justin Thomas, who finished four shots under par with six birdies. Gary Woodland, winner of the last US Open, is third at three lengths.
If he wins on Sunday, Schauffele will become the first golfer to achieve the double in ten years, since that achieved by the Australian Geoff Ogilvy in 2009 and 2010.
The Tournament of Champions brings together the winners of last season's tournaments and unofficially kicks off the new season.
Classification after the 3rd round (par 73):
1. Xander Schauffele (USA) -11 (69-68-71)
2. Justin Thomas (USA) -10 (67-73-69)
3. Gary Woodland (USA) -8 (73-69-69)
4. Kevin Kisner (USA) -7 (72-72-68)
. Jon Rahm (ESP) -7 (69-73-70)
. Collin Morikawa (USA) -7 (71-71-70)
. JT Poston (USA) -7 (70-71-71)
. Matthew Wolff (USA) -7 (69-72-71)
. Joaquin Niemann (CHI) -7 (66-72-74)
. Patrick Reed (USA) -7 (72-66-74)
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