- Si Woo Kim leads at 15-under after a 5-under 66
- Justin Thomas overcame a rules penalty and hazard trouble to stay within one stroke
- Andrew Novak joins Thomas in second with a bogey-free 66
- Defending champion Scottie Scheffler remains in contention despite back-nine struggles
- Firm, fast conditions at Harbour Town create Sunday scoring challenges
The RBC Heritage Tournament delivered third-round theatrics as players navigated Hilton Head's signature hazards and tightening leaderboard. Justin Thomas's day began with an immediate setback when his ball moved fractionally on the par-5 second hole, resulting in a costly one-stroke penalty. The former world No. 1 later found himself knee-deep in drama – literally – after a risky hazard shot on the 11th left him smelling like a wet dogbut still fighting.
Kim's precision proved the antidote to Thomas's volatility. The South Korean star opened with back-to-back birdies and maintained composure despite his first final-group appearance in two years. When you win golf tournaments, you need to salvage under-par rounds when you don’t have your best stuff,Thomas noted after his gritty 69 kept him within striking distance.
Novak emerged as the stealth contender, carding six birdies without a bogey to share second place. The 28-year-old's 66 marked his lowest career round at Harbour Town, capitalizing on what players described as increasingly firm greens. Tournament officials confirmed afternoon wind gusts reached 18mph, drying out surfaces and creating what Scheffler called a complete mental grind.
The defending champion's quest for a fourth 2024 victory hit turbulence with three bogeys in four holes, including a miraculous bogey save from pine straw on No. 11. Scheffler's 68 kept him four back, while Maverick McNealy's tournament-low 64 proved low scores remain possible for aggressive players.
Hilton Head's coastal layout continues to reward strategic play, with only 34% of players breaking par Saturday compared to 41% in Round 2. The Palmetto State's spring weather patterns – combining sea breezes with rising temperatures – create ideal conditions for the tournament's trademark rye grass to play faster daily. Local groundskeepers began hand-watering select greens post-round to prevent excessive overnight firming.
As the PGA Tour's lone South Carolina stop, the RBC Heritage leverages Hilton Head's reputation as a golfer's sanctuary while testing players' adaptability. Kim's ability to avoid bogeys until the 18th hole Saturday exemplifies the patience required, though his final-hole miscue leaves the door ajar. With $3.6 million awaiting the champion and FedEx Cup points crucial for Olympic qualification, Sunday's finale promises high-stakes drama on every sunbaked fairway.