"Tokyo Olympic Gold" Schauffele Leads by 2 Shots: "I Like the Lynx Course"... Spieth "Eagle After Eagle"

DP World Tour and PGA Tour Co-Hosted Genesis Scottish Open Day 3: Cabrera Bello 2nd, Spieth 3rd

Xander Schauffele is examining the putting line on the 18th hole on the third day of the Genesis Scottish Open. North Berwick, Scotland = Getty Images / MultiBits Photo by MultiBits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Three wins in two weeks."

The momentum of Xander Schauffele (USA), the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist, is fierce. On the early morning of the 10th (Korean time) at The Renaissance Golf Club in North Berwick, Scotland (par 70, 7,293 yards), during the third day of the Genesis Scottish Open (total prize money $8 million), he shot 4-under-par amid strong winds and instantly took the top spot on the leaderboard (7-under-par 203). Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain) is in second place, two strokes behind (5-under-par 205), and Korea’s Kim Joo-hyung (20, CJ Logistics) is tied for ninth place (2-under-par 208).

Schauffele, along with ‘Playoff (PO) champion’ Patrick Cantlay (USA), won the Zurich Classic in April as a two-man team battle. Since winning the Sentry Tournament in January 2019, he had endured 8 second-place and 4 third-place finishes over 3 years and 3 months, repeatedly falling short of victory, which was frustrating. Ultimately, with Cantlay’s help, he secured his fifth career win. It is interesting that having mastered the winning strategy, he quickly reached his second season win at the Travelers Championship in June.

He also dominated the JP McManus Pro-Am held on the 6th at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in Limerick, Ireland (par 72). Although an event stage, world stars such as the ‘returning golf emperor’ Tiger Woods, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (both USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Jon Rahm (Spain), and Justin Thomas (USA) all gathered, drawing the spotlight. Starting the day tied for 4th place, 4 strokes behind, he recorded 6 birdies and 2 bogeys.

Kim Joo-hyung is targeting the green during the 3rd round of the Genesis Scotiabank Open. North Berwick (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits

Above all, his ‘computer iron shots’ that missed the green only three times stood out. The consecutive bogeys on the final 17th and 18th holes were rather regrettable. On the 17th hole (par 3), the tee shot landed on the green but rolled down the slope, and on the notoriously difficult 18th hole (par 4), he was caught in the rough, resulting in a ‘3-on 2-putt’. Nevertheless, this signifies not only his march toward winning this tournament but also that he has firmly warmed up ahead of the season’s final major, The Open, starting on the 14th. Schauffele himself expressed confidence, saying, "My shot feel is good."

Jordan Spieth (USA) is tied for third place (4-under-par 206). He succeeded in a 4-under-par moving day spurt, including an eagle with a ‘2-on 1-putt’ on the 10th hole (par 5) and a ‘shot eagle’ from 108 yards on the 15th hole (par 4). He is particularly strong on links courses, including his 2017 Open Championship win. ‘US Open champion’ Matt Fitzpatrick (England) is tied for sixth place (3-under-par 207), and LIV Golf second event champion Brandon Grace (South Africa) is tied for ninth. Kim Joo-hyung recorded 3 birdies and 2 bogeys and will challenge for a ‘top 5’ finish on the final day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.