Patrick Reed remained stuck on 9-under-par 63, shooting his third in a row on the Jack Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West in La Quinta, to take a whopping seven-stroke lead over Charley Hoffman and Brendon Todd heading to the final round of the Humana Challenge.
Reed, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the Wyndham Championship last August, carded eight birdies, an eagle and only his second bogey in 54 holes.
His 27-under 189 total set a PGA Tour record for lowest 54-hole score in relation to par. Steve Stricker held the old record of 25-under at the 2010 John Deere Classic.
“I’m just keeping everything in play,” said Reed, who has 25 birdies and two eagles over 54 holes. “My iron-play is so good that I’m getting a lot of good looks for birdie. And I’m really hot with the putter, so you’re going to go low. I feel like I’m going to make it almost every time. My iron play and putting, it’s almost like I’m in a coma.
“It means a lot, but it will feel better after 72 holes. It’s good to have the 54-hole lead, but I still have to go out and play 18 good holes tomorrow.”
Hoffman, who won the tournament in 2007 when it was the Bob Hope Classic, shot 66 on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West and was tied for second with Todd, who had a 68 at La Quinta Country Club.
James Driscoll was fourth after a 66 on the Nicklaus Course, and Bill Haas, who won the event when it was the Bob Hope Classic in 2010, shot 67 on the Palmer Course and was tied for fifth with Justin Leonard, the 2005 Bob Hope champion, who had a 65 at La Quinta Country Club.
Keegan Bradley shot 65 on the Palmer Course and was tied for 12th, and Zach Johnson posted a 68 on the same course and was tied for 15th.
