Si Woo Kim carded a 3-under 68 to hold a two-shot lead entering the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in McKinney, Texas, after losing a five-shot advantage earlier in the day. Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark are both poised to catch him, while multip
McKINNEY, Texas — Si Woo Kim watched his five-shot lead evaporate, the kind of swing that can snap a week in half. For a moment, the sub-60 conversations felt right there in the air.
Instead, the 30-year-old South Korean finished Saturday with a 3-under 68 and kept the tournament edge at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson going into Sunday’s final round.
Kim goes into the last day with a two-shot lead over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, who matched 65s. Clark, meanwhile, is still chasing his first win since Pebble Beach in 2024.
“It’s fun being in contention,” Clark said. “Whether you have to shoot 8 under to win or 1 under to win, it’s fun because you still feel the same heat. Tomorrow it’s probably going to be exactly that way where you have to make a ton of birdies.”
The lead didn’t come easy. Kim built his advantage on Friday before Saturday brought the closer pressure. He flirted with history during the round and was in position for 59 in the second round, but a bogey at 18 forced him to settle for 60.
That early momentum didn’t survive the full day. Kim’s five-shot lead was tied for the second-biggest advantage on tour through 36 holes this season behind Rory McIlroy’s six-shot edge when he defended his Masters championship in April. But by the 11th hole, it was gone.
Three bogeys in a span of four holes — all on putts inside 10 feet — dropped the four-time tour winner into a tie with Clark at 18 under. Clark had pulled within a stroke earlier thanks to a short eagle putt on the par-5 ninth.
Kim responded quickly. He rolled in three birdies over the next four holes — a day after he had 12.
A scramble birdie on the par-5 12th pulled Clark back into the front, with a 15-foot putt after a bunker shot that left him with his right foot in the grass. Kim, Scheffler and Clark were tied at 19 under before Kim went in front for good.
On the short par-4 14th, Kim made a birdie after Scheffler and Clark settled for pars after trying to drive the green. Clark got even again, but Kim answered with another birdie at the par-3 15th.
Scheffler’s Saturday included an early jolt, too. The four-time major winner ran away to an eight-shot victory at last year’s Nelson, but this time he carded his first bogey of the tournament on the par-3 fourth. He recovered with three birdies over the final five holes on the front nine.
“Two shots back going into tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Scheffler said. “It’s always fun when I get to play with Si Woo. I think it’s good for the community to have two guys that are local up there on the leaderboard. Should be a fun day tomorrow.”
For Clark, the day came with more than just pin positions. He said he wasn’t sure what happened when asked if he had a bloody nose.
“I don’t really know,” the 32-year-old said. “I had like a cut on my nose, and I went like this. Next thing you know, I was bleeding. It wasn’t quite a bloody nose, but it lasted a couple holes.”
Sungjae Im, Kim’s countryman, stayed in it with a 67 after shooting 61 in the second round. Im is another two shots back with Stephan Jaeger and Tom Hoge. Jaeger’s 64 was the low round of the day at TPC Craig Ranch, and Hoge shot 66.
Elsewhere, Zach Bauchou shot 66 and is 16 under, one shot ahead of Brooks Koepka (66) and three others. Koepka, who opened with a 63, is seeking his first win since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.
Behind the leaders, Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., sits in a seven-way tie for 22nd at 12 under, while A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., is in an 11-way tie for 39th at 10 under. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill. Ont. is in a seven-way tie for 56th at 8 under. and Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton is in a five-way tie for 63rd at 7 under. Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is in a two-way tie for 68th at 6 under.
Jordan Spieth, the hometown favourite alongside Scheffler, faded after a tough run. He put up four bogeys on his first five holes on the back nine a day after six straight birdies to start his second nine and finished with a 73.
First-round leader Taylor Moore was also back in the mix before the damage came. He carded four consecutive birdies, then went in the water at 15 and ended up with a triple-bogey 6. Moore shot 69 and is 13 under.
Kensei Hirata of Japan, playing in the final group with Kim and Im, shot 70 and trails by seven.
Kim, a Dallas resident, now has to survive one more day of pressure after the lead slipped away and then came back. He put it plainly after Saturday’s swing.
“I was thinking about too much scoring like first 10, 11 holes,” Kim said. “So I’m just trying to be back to kind of like yesterday. Yeah, just trying to hit the good shots and trying to like, all the mojo’s back.”
Si Woo Kim Byron Nelson CJ Cup Byron Nelson Scottie Scheffler Wyndham Clark Sungjae Im TPC Craig Ranch PGA Tour results