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Where things stand
Three rounds done. One to go. And Sungjae Im has led every single one of them. But don't let that fool you into thinking this one is done.
Im has been solid all week but he's had his moments. Scrambled out of some ugly positions across rounds two and three, and the question going into Sunday is whether that kind of luck holds up on one of the toughest closing stretches on tour. Copperhead bites. It bit plenty of people this week already.
Brandt Snedeker is the feel-good story. The 45-year-old came out firing on Saturday, three birdies in his first four holes, bogey-free 67. He hasn't won since 2018 and hasn't had a top three in six years. He wants this badly and he's playing like it.
David Lipsky is right there too at 9 under after a scrappy 70. He had his best day on Friday and will need to rediscover that form to stay in the conversation.
Brooks Koepka is quietly picking up steam. He's been finding his range all week and looks like a player getting sharper as the tournament goes on. Don't sleep on a big Sunday from Brooks on a course he knows well.
Xander Schauffele has wobbled. He came in with serious expectations and has gone backwards both yesterday and today. The world number one has had chances and not taken them. He'll need something special just to get into the top ten at this point.
Weather for Sunday
Good news on that front. Clear skies, zero chance of rain, high of 73 degrees in Palm Harbor. Clean scoring conditions. No wind excuses. The Copperhead will do all the damage itself.
My pick Matt Fitzpatrick
Right, let's talk about Fitz. He's T4 at 8 under, three off the lead. And the narrative here is almost too good.
Last Sunday at The Players, he started five shots back of the lead and worked his way to the front. He was in the lead standing on the 17th tee at TPC Sawgrass. He made bogey on 18. Cameron Young birdied the 17th. One shot. Gone.
Now here he is, seven days later, right back in contention. He shot 68 today, cool and composed. He knows exactly what it feels like to carry a lead into the back nine on a Sunday. That's experience, not baggage. Most players would crumble after what happened at The Players. Fitz turned up the following week and put himself right back in the mix.
At 8 under he needs Im to wobble and needs to go low himself, something in the 65 to 67 range. It's absolutely possible on Copperhead if the putter gets going. He's in form and itching for his first win on tour since 2023 at the RBC Heritage. The model had him as the top pick this week and nothing through 54 holes has changed that view.
Sunday is going to be fun.
The Cut Line Take
This is not a foregone conclusion. Im has led wire to wire but he's been bailed out at times and Copperhead has a way of exposing that on the final day. Snedeker is playing the golf of his life right now. Fitzpatrick has a point to prove. Four shots covering the top five going into the last round on one of the hardest courses on tour. We are in for an exciting Sunday.
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