Koivun sets the pace in Blaine
PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun fired a bogey-free 10-under 61 in the third round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, vaulting to 20-under and a three-stroke lead heading into the final round. The 21-year-old closed with a tournament-record 28 on the back nine, highlighted by a 223-yard approach to seven feet for eagle on the par-5 18th and a 12-foot eagle conversion at the par-5 12th. Koivun also became the youngest 54-hole leader on tour this season, and he tied the 54-hole scoring mark of 193 set by 2023 wire-to-wire champion Lee Hodges. Emiliano Grillo and Ben Kohles, who each carded a 65, share second place at 17-under.
Koivun, the former world No. 1 amateur, turned professional after tying for 23rd at the U.S. Open as an amateur and earned his Tour card through the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program. Saturday's round marked only his third PGA Tour start as a full member; he missed the cut at the John Deere Classic, bounced back with a tie for 10th at the ISCO Championship, and said he was ready to "stick to my game plan" on Sunday.
Scheffler mounts a back-nine charge
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler rebounded from a sluggish front nine with a 29 on the inward half, carding five birdies and chipping in for eagle at the drivable par-4 16th to climb into a four-way tie for ninth at 14-under, six strokes behind Koivun. Scheffler was even-par for the day and just 1-under over his previous 27 holes before his late surge and acknowledged that he needed "to make as many birdies as I could coming in." The largest final-round comeback in the tournament's seven-year history is five shots, set by Tony Finau in 2022.
Kim's 59 fades, field stays bunched
Michael Kim, who took a three-shot advantage into the weekend after becoming one of the few players in PGA Tour history to break 60 with a Friday 59, lost his putting touch and settled for a 1-under 70, leaving him tied for sixth at 15-under alongside Denny McCarthy and Billy Horschel. One source characterized Kim's round as the 16th sub-60 score in Tour history, while another described him as the 15th player to reach the milestone. Twenty-eight of the top 30 finishers broke 70 on a low-scoring day aided by softer greens and calm winds. Michael Brennan (63) and Chandler Phillips share fourth at 16-under.
Herbert in control at LIV Golf UK
Lucas Herbert extended his individual lead at LIV Golf UK Presented by JCB to 20-under through 54 holes with a 3-under 69, opening a three-shot cushion over Bryson DeChambeau, whose 68 kept him at 17-under. Tyrrell Hatton sits third at 15-under after a 67 in front of the home crowd, while Ripper GC teammate Cameron Smith caught fire on the back nine, rattling off eight consecutive birdies to tie the LIV Golf single-round record. Smith signed for a 66 and reached 14-under in solo fourth. In the team competition, Ripper GC leads at 41-under, ahead of Crushers GC, Legion XIII and Torque GC.
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