Defending champion Viktor Hovland sizzled with an eight-under 64 to forge a three-shot lead heading into the ultimate spherical of the Hero World Challenge right here.

The Norwegian, who’s making an attempt to turn into the second back-to-back champion on the occasion after match host Tiger Woods in 2007, is 13-under 203 after 54 holes.

On a day when the mud from the rain-soaked fairways caught on the ball and created a number of issues, Hovland had 10 birdies and two bogeys.

World quantity 2 Scottie Scheffler, who might overtake Rory McIlroy atop the rankings with a victory, is inside placing distance of Hovland at 10-under after his third-round six-under 66.

Justin Thomas overcame the circumstances to shoot a bogey-free 66 and was tied third with Cameron Young (68), whose entrance 9 was 31.

Young added his sixth birdie on No. 10, at which level he was 6-under for the day and main by two. He then dropped a shot every on Par-5s, 11th and fifteenth.

Collin Morikawa (69) and Xander Schauffele (69) have been tied for fifth.

Hovland, who has led or co-led all three rounds of the match, had six birdies between the 11th and 18th however completed with a bogey as he suffered a mud-ball on the 18th.

”I missed in all probability like a 10-footer on the primary gap and lipped out and I sort of thought right here we go once more, however after that, it was a number of putts that went in,” Hovland stated.

”You want that on a day like right now when the winds are down and also you could be a little bit extra aggressive. That’s the one means you can also make that many birdies, in order that was a number of enjoyable,” he added.

Scheffler had an eagle on the par-5 fifteenth, 5 birdies and a bogey. He had a number of mud balls, too.

The Master’s champion was visibly disillusioned, saying, ”Who’s good at these? You just about do not know what the golf ball’s going to do.

”It’s not one thing that I might apply at residence simply because it is not one thing that I imagine ought to occur on the golf course.” Tom Kim, one of many three gamers to shoot over par within the spherical, had a 74 and dropped to tied twelfth.

He was nonetheless forward of Tommy Fleetwood (72, 14th) whereas Jordan Spieth (72, T-15), Matt Fitzpatrick (76, T-15) and Shane Lowry (71) have been means behind.

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