The third round of the PGA TOUR’s American Express 2026 kept the desert buzzing as Si Woo Kim rose to the top of the leaderboard with a composed six-under 66, moving to -22 total and seizing a one-shot lead heading into Sunday’s finale. Kim’s steady play across all three rounds has made him the man to beat, combining precision off the tee with reliable putting under pressure.

Just behind him, Blades Brown (-21), who broke the course record at the La Quinta in the second round with his scintillating -12, and Scottie Scheffler (-21) matched each other with four-under 68s, keeping the chase alive. Brown, the 19-year-old sensation, showed resilience after his record-setting 60 in Round 2, while Scheffler continued his trademark consistency, positioning himself perfectly for a final-round charge.

Eric Cole (-20) also impressed with a six-under 66, staying firmly in contention. Wyndham Clark (-20) matched that score to remain in striking distance, while Tom Hoge (-19) and Andrew Putnam (-19) climbed with sharp 65s, joining Matt McCarty (-19), who posted a 68 to stay in the mix.

Further down, J.T. Poston (-18) surged with a 65, and Haotong Li (-17) delivered one of the rounds of the day with a brilliant 64, vaulting into the top ten. Ryan Gerard (-16) matched Li’s 64, while Jason Day (-15) steadied himself with a 67 to keep hopes alive.

Other notable names include Patrick Cantlay (-17) and Sam Stevens (-17), both carding 68s, while Rickie Fowler (-15) slipped slightly after a 71 but remains within reach of a top finish.

With the leaderboard stacked and scoring conditions still favourable, the stage is set for a dramatic Sunday showdown. Kim may hold the lead, but with Brown’s fearless energy and Scheffler’s steady dominance lurking just one shot back, fans can expect a fiery show in the desert.