On May 24, during the third round held at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, Kim shot a 3-under 68, with six birdies and three bogeys.
With a total score of 21-under 192, Kim is two strokes ahead of defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark, both at 19-under 194, marking his second consecutive day in the lead.
Kim started strong, making his first birdie on the par-4 third hole. He followed this with another birdie on the par-4 sixth hole, sinking a putt from about three meters.
However, he faced challenges starting from the par-4 eighth hole, where he recorded his first bogey. Although he bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole, he suffered consecutive bogeys on the par-4 tenth and eleventh holes.
Kim regained momentum with a birdie on the par-5 twelfth hole and added two more birdies on the par-4 fourteenth and par-3 fifteenth holes to maintain his lead.
After the round, Kim reflected, "There were some tricky putts that I missed, which was disappointing. I received advice from my caddy that I seemed rushed, so I refocused. Thanks to that, I played well after the eleventh hole. I concentrated on my desired shots, which helped me perform well over the last seven holes."
Kim is seeking his fifth PGA Tour win, his first since the 2023 Sony Open. He stated, "Rather than thinking about winning, I want to focus on my play. I had some ups and downs today, but I overcame them. This experience will give me strength in the final round, even if things don’t go well."
Im noted, "My tee shots were not as good as in the first two rounds. Still, I capitalized on opportunities and made several birdies. However, I regret not lowering my score further at the end."
Im aims for a comeback victory in the final round. If he lifts the trophy, it would mark his third career win, nearly four years and seven months after his last victory at the Shriners Children's Open in October 2021.
Im added, "This course allows for many birdies if you get into a good rhythm. In the final round, I want to play strategically from the start and aim to make as many birdies as possible."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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