Eighteen holes to go

Moving day lived up to its billing Saturday at The Riviera Country Club during the third round of the 2024 Genesis Invitational. Patrick Cantlay continues to hold the lead as he has after each round this week but what was a comfortable cushion has shrunk to two shots. Cantlay’s 14-under-par 199 through 54 holes leads Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris, who are tied for second at 12-under.

Cantlay is looking to become only the third player since 1969 to win the tournament in wire-to-wire fashion. Charlie Sifford accomplished the feat at Rancho Park in 1969 while Joaquin Niemann did it at Riviera in 2022.

“This golf course is a golf course I grew up on, playing in college a number of times and having the NCAA Championships here,” Cantlay said. “Being from Southern California, it’s one of the tournaments on the list that I’d like to win the most.”

Schauffele and Zalatoris both posted rounds of 6-under 65 – matching Harris English for low round of the day. Schauffele and Zalatoris are no strangers to success with Genesis events. Schauffele won the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open while Zalatoris won the 2015 Collegiate Showcase at Riviera, earning his first PGA TOUR start.

“To play good golf around Riviera you’ve got to sort of fire on all cylinders and been able to do that the last couple days,” Schauffele said. “Just wanted to give myself a shot tomorrow. I see Pat’s still making birdies, so he looks like a tough man to beat right now.”

With low winds and a front-pin placement, the iconic par-4 10th hole had a flair for the dramatic during the third round. Seamus Power and Tom Kim each recorded eagles at the 10th. Power drained a 33-foot putt from off the green while Kim holed a wedge shot from nearly 54 feet.

Sunday’s final round of the 2024 Genesis Invitational gets underway at 6:55 a.m. The final pairing of Cantlay and Schauffele tees off at 11:15 a.m. Join us at Riviera as The Genesis Invitational crowns a new champion.