Sepp Straka four in American Express, where ‘without a trace is not safe’

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Sepp Straka shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday as his top competitors failed to match his blistering pace, giving the Austrian a four-shot lead over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower after three rounds at the The American Express.

Straka made six birdies on his front nine at La Quinta Country Club, perhaps the easiest of the three courses that host this venerable Coachella Valley tournament. He completed his third straight bogey-free round with two more birdies down the stretch, putting him at 23-under 193 and giving him a commanding lead heading into Sunday in pursuit of his third PGA Tour win.

Straka also shot a 64 on the Stadium Course on Friday after opening the tournament with a 65 on the Nicklaus Course. He still needed a smooth putt and a 10-foot putt to save his final hole on Saturday after missing the fairway with his drive.

Straka knows his work is far from done as he prepares for the final round at PGA West on the Stadium Course.

“I think the stadium is the type of ground where no lead is safe,” he said. “I got my first win at the (Honda (Classic), it’s a very similar golf course, and I was five shots back there at the beginning of the day. So no lead is safe. You just have to keep hitting your spots, and you really have to do well to hit the ball out there, so what I’m looking for tomorrow is just a good round to hit the ball.”

Every player at the top of the rankings is chasing a significant win. Day is a former PGA Championship winner with just one Tour win since 2018, while the 48-year-old Hoffman is looking for another trophy at the tournament where he earned the first of five career wins back in 2007. Lower is looking for his first Tour victory.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Straka. “It’s a very fun leaderboard to look at.”

Straka is the first Austrian-born player to earn a PGA Tour card and win on the course. After breaking into the Tour’s top 20 last year, Straka made one big change in the offseason that drew a lot of attention from his fans and fellow pros.

“I was kind of losing my hair, so I thought I’d be in front of her, so yeah, I just (went) ahead and shaved it off,” he said with a smile.

Hoffman began the day with a share of the lead, carding a bogey-free 69 on the Stadium Course despite an early struggle with the deceptively firm greens. Finally healthy again after his back battle, the San Diego native is looking for his first win since 2016.

Brackets, match times and how to watch the final round of the American Express PGA Tour.

“I didn’t think about it until the bottom of the ninth, and then I was able to make some shots,” Hoffman said. “Obviously, a clean sheet on the stadium pitch is something to be proud of.”

The day’s round was richer, with the former PGA Championship winner recording seven birdies and two bogeys as he played in front of a lively gallery watching him match up with two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas.

Day has recently made a habit of starting his season in the Palm Springs area and is comfortable in the California desert.

“It’s hard not to like this place,” said the Australian veteran. “You try to find (reasons not to) come here, but I actually really look forward to getting out in the desert every winter. Right before the West Coast swing starts, this is my place to come, just because the golf courses are fantastic, the weather is obviously perfect, and then it’s easy to get to other golf tournaments from here. It’s nice and quiet here, I like that. I’m here to focus on golf, and I can do that here.”

Thomas shot a blistering 68. He had a 17-under 199, a shot behind Patrick Cantlay and Mark Hubbard.

Lower, who started the first day a shot off the lead, shot a 68 on the Stadium Course to stay in contention for his first win. He got to 20 under with back-to-back birdies down the stretch on Saturday, but also bogeyed his 14th and 17th holes.

Lower has five career top-five finishes, including a runner-up finish in Los Cabos, Mexico, last November.