Ben Griffin, a rookie at the Ryder Cup, maintained a narrow lead heading into the final round of the Procore Championship. Griffin finished the third round at the Silverado Resort in Napa with a score of two-under 70, bringing his total to 16 under par. Despite holding a three-shot advantage at the halfway point, he now leads by just one over world number one amateur Jackson Koivun, who recorded a third-round score of 68.
World number one Scottie Scheffler surged into contention with an impressive eight-under 64, placing him just two shots behind Griffin. South Africa’s Garrick Higgo sits in fourth at 13 under. Other Ryder Cup participants, including JJ Spaun and Russell Henley, fell back to nine under, tied for ninth after rounds of 72 and 74, respectively. Cam Young is the only other member of Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup team within the top 20, positioned at seven under and tied for 17th.
As the tournament progresses, Patrick Cantlay is tied for 30th, joined by Sam Burns, while Collin Morikawa is tied for 41st. Harris English finds himself in a joint 46th position, and Justin Thomas is tied for 53rd.
Scheffler’s Charge Adds Pressure
Scheffler entered the third round eight strokes behind Griffin but quickly made a statement by scoring three consecutive birdies starting from the third hole. He maintained his momentum with another three-birdie stretch from the eighth hole, demonstrating his ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Despite a double-bogey at the 14th, which resulted from a challenging tee shot and a subsequent struggle in a bunker, Scheffler rebounded strongly with birdies on three of his last four holes.
“If I go out and play good consistent golf, I’m going to start moving my way up the leaderboard, and that was the goal going into today,” said Scheffler, a four-time major champion. “Hit a lot of greens, holed some putts.”
Griffin’s performance also included three birdies, but he stumbled at the par-five last hole, recording his first bogey of the week. His third shot fell short of the green, leading to a difficult chip that put pressure on him to secure his lead.
“I’m not too worried about what he [Scheffler] is going to do,” Griffin remarked. “I’ve just got to play better than him. If I do that tomorrow, I should be able to lift the trophy. Obviously, there are some other guys in the mix, too, but I think everyone knows what Scottie Scheffler is capable of, and I’ve just got to stay in front.”
The Final Round Awaits
As the final round approaches, the anticipation builds for the outcome of the Procore Championship. With Griffin at 16 under and Scheffler close behind at 14 under, golf enthusiasts are eager to see if the rookie can fend off the challenge from the world number one.
The final round will take place on Sunday, starting at 11:00 PM on Sky Sports Golf, providing fans the chance to witness a thrilling conclusion to this competitive tournament. For those without Sky, the event can be streamed with no contract on NOW.