RECAP: Sentry Tournament of Champions Third-Round
Third-Round Notes – Saturday, January 4, 2020
Weather: Scattered morning showers with rain decreasing in the afternoon. High of 79. Wind NE 15-25 mph, with gusts over 30 mph.
Second-Round Leaderboard
Xander Schauffele 69-68-71 – 208 (-11)
Justin Thomas 67-73-69 – 209 (-10)
Gary Woodland 73-69-69 – 211 (-8)
Things to Know
- Defending champion Xander Schauffele could become the youngest player since Daniel Berger at the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic to successfully defend a title
- With a victory, Justin Thomas will have 12 career PGA TOUR wins, marking the most TOUR wins for a player currently under 30 years of age
- Two past champions of the event are inside the top three (Schauffele and Thomas)
- Due to heavy downpours overnight, preferred lies were utilized for the second consecutive day
Third-Round Lead Notes
27 Third-round leaders/co-leaders at Sentry Tournament of Champions to win (since 1983)
Most recent: Dustin Johnson/2018
9 Third-round leaders/co-leaders to win on TOUR in 2019-20
Most recent: Brendon Todd/Mayakoba Golf Classic
Xander Schauffele (-11/1st)
Age: 26 (October 25, 1993)
Turned Professional: 2015
Entering the week
#21 FedExCup
#9 OWGR
2 Starts at Sentry Tournament of Champions
1 Win at Sentry Tournament of Champions (2019)
80 PGA TOUR starts
4 PGA TOUR wins
19 Top-10s on PGA TOUR
2 PGA TOUR starts in 2019-20
2 Top-10s in 2019-20
- Hit 12/15 fairways, 16/18 greens and required 33 putts en route to a 2-under 71
- Leads the field in Strokes Gained: Tee To Green (+8.630); Scrambling (7 of 8) and Putts (GIR)
- Holds the third-round lead/co-lead for the second time (2018 Open Championship/T2)
- With a victory, would become the youngest player since Daniel Berger at 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic to successfully defend a title
- Seeking to become the first repeat winner of the event since Geoff Ogilvy (2009, 2010)
- Making his third start at the Sentry Tournament of Champions (T22/2018, Won/2019)
Miscellaneous Notes
- 2017 Sentry Tournament of Champions winner Justin Thomas (2) collected six birdies and two bogeys en route to 4-under 69; currently leads the field in Strokes Gained: Approach The Green (+4.231) and Proximity to the hole (36’9”)
- With a win, Thomas will have 12 PGA TOUR victories, marking the most PGA TOUR wins for a player currently under 30 years of age
- Gary Woodland’s 4-under 69 highlighted by three consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-6; sits in solo-third place
- In his fifth start at the event, Kevin Kisner posted a 5-under 68 highlighted by six birdies; qualified for the event with win at World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play
Bogey-free rounds:
R1: Matt Kuchar (68), Joaquin Niemann (66), Justin Thomas (67), Xander Schauffele (69)
R2: Xander Schauffele (68)
R3: None
Scoring Averages
Front 9 Back 9 Total Cumulative
R1: 35.735 35.971 71.706 —
R2: 35.765 36.324 72.088 71.897
R3: 35.000 37.147 72.147 71.980
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