Steven Alker held onto his one-stroke lead after the third round on Saturday at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship as the New Zealander is in position to win his third tour championship in four years.

Alker carded a 6-under-par 65 at Phoenix Country Club to match his nearest pursuer and get to 17 under. Stewart Cink, who trailed Alker by one shot after two rounds, is at 16 under after his 65 and also is challenging for the season-long Schwab Cup title.

It all comes down to Championship Sunday. pic.twitter.com/BV5EhinjUC

— Charles Schwab Cup Championship (@SchwabCupFinale) November 16, 2025

"Yeah, to take the lead it's great, but it's going to be a shootout tomorrow," Alker said. "It's amazing it's come down – the whole season, all the tournaments we play, all the rounds we play, it's come down to one round. It's pretty amazing."

Alker's bogey-free round featured birdies at Nos. 1, 6, 10, 12, 14 and 18.

The 54-year-old is seeking his 11th victory in 98 starts on the PGA Tour Champions and third in 23 starts in the 2025 season. He also won the Cologuard Classic in March and the Simmons Bank Championship on October 24-26, meaning Alker is going for back-to-back victories.

The leader's having fun 🕺

Steven Alker with his fourth birdie of the day @SchwabCupFinale. pic.twitter.com/KCa1QzyRE1

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 15, 2025

Alker, who won the Schwab Cup title in 2022 and 2024, entered the week atop the season-long points standings and a win would clinch the title. Only Bernhard Langer, with six, has won the Charles Schwab Cup three or more times.

Alker won this tournament in 2023, finished second in 2021 and tied for second last year.

Cink began the day with an eagle on the par-5 first hole and saved strokes with birdies on Nos. 4 and 8 for 32 on the front nine. He negated a birdie on No 10 with a bogey at the par-4 No 12 before responding with birdies at Nos. 14 and 16.

Best seat in the house 😆@StewartCink found the fans on the roof @SchwabCupFinale 👋 pic.twitter.com/ZyPrM5c9Yd

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 15, 2025

He was third in the standings entering the week, and was asked after the third round if he viewed the final day like match play with Alker.

"Well, I actually wish it would because I love match play," Cink said. "I think this would be an exciting scenario to have a match, but you can't do that. If me and Alker both go out there and lay an egg out there, then someone else is going to come from behind, we know that.

"But it will be – I mean, we have a scenario, no secret, that the winner tomorrow, if it's one of us, wins the Charles Schwab Cup. That's my goal and I'm sure that's his goal, too. He's a little bit more experienced in this situation than I am, but I've also gained a lot of experience in my career. I know how to handle this stuff and I know that there's a chance I could win it tomorrow. There's a chance I could not win, but I'm ready for either one."

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who entered the week No 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, is tied for 13th in the tournament at 9 under after his 1-under 70 on Saturday.

Tommy Gainey (68 on Saturday) and Langer (65) are tied for third at 12 under.

Adam Schenk shot a 4-under 67 Saturday to share the lead with Braden Thornberry at 12-under 201 after three rounds of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in Southampton, Bermuda.

Thornberry carded a 69 on Saturday heading into the final round at the Port Royal Golf Course.

The leaderboard after the third round! 👀 Who is ready for the final round tomorrow?!#ButterfieldBDAChampionship pic.twitter.com/QRMClsLaA5

— Butterfield Bermuda Championship (@Bermuda_Champ) November 15, 2025

Four players – Max McGreevy, Chandler Phillips, Takumi Kanaya of Japan and 36-hole leader Adam Hadwin of Canada – are just a shot behind the leaders at 11-under 202.

Hadwin is the only player in the group with a PGA Tour victory.

Schenk, who is 134th in the FedEx Cup fall points standings, had four birdies and no bogeys in strong wind on Saturday. His birdies came on the 10th, 11th, 13th and 17th holes. While he is the 54-hole leader or co-leader for the fifth time his PGA career, he is still seeking his first victory in his 243rd start.

"I should write down all my putting thoughts so I could look back at them in 10 years and laugh at myself."

Whatever it takes 🤝

Fighting to keep his PGA TOUR card, @ACSchenk1 is hitting some putts one-handed @Bermuda_Champ ... and he shares the 54-hole lead. pic.twitter.com/hs1yl0VJLW

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 15, 2025

"A great opportunity to have for tomorrow," Schenk said Saturday. "I know if I don't, I have to go to Q-School if I don't get inside the top 100, so that's a pretty big motivator and what a great opportunity to have tomorrow."

Thornberry, a PGA Tour rookie who is No 178 in the points standings, had an eagle on the par-5 17th, along with three birdies and two bogeys, in the third round.

"That's not what I thought was about to happen" 😂

Wild spin for @TBerryGolf leads to birdie ➡️ one off the lead @Bermuda_Champ.

He entered the week at 178th on the #FedExCup Fall, needing a win to move inside the top 100 with one event to play.

📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/XKsOweYpQa

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 15, 2025

Thornberry said he's looking forward to the final round.

"I'm super excited. It's a battle out there," he said.

Rikuya Hoshino of Japan was the lone golfer at 10-under 203 after a 67 on Saturday, and four players were tied at 9-under 204.

Steven Alker is two rounds away from his third championship in four years as he leads Stewart Cink by one shot at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship after Friday's second round at Phoenix Country Club.

The 54-year-old from New Zealand, who won the Schwab Cup title in 2022 and 2024, entered the week atop the season-long points standings. Thanks to his 6-under-par 65, he leads the field in Arizona at 11 under.

Steven Alker leads the way with 36 to go. pic.twitter.com/QRLYmHgvQ1

— Charles Schwab Cup Championship (@SchwabCupFinale) November 15, 2025

Cink posted a 68 and relinquished the lead he held after 18 holes thanks to an opening 64. Tommy Gainey moved into third place at 9 under with a 67.

Alker rolled in five birdies in a six-hole stretch from Nos. 3-8. He escaped with only one bogey on the day and said he wasn't scoreboard-watching during the round.

Solo leader @SchwabCupFinale 👏

Steven Alker sits on top of the Schwab Cup rankings heading into the weekend. pic.twitter.com/JEotXJhDyV

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 14, 2025

"I didn't watch the board at all," Alker said. "I walked off and just took a look, saw what's going on. No, it's kind of – as good as the conditions are and the golf course as good as it is, just put it in the middle and just keep going, try and get out of your own way and just play golf."

Winning the event would be plenty for Alker to win the season-long championship; he mathematically has a chance to win the cup regardless of his finish in the tournament.

His biggest pursuer is Cink, who was third in the standings entering the week. There's also second-place Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, who carded a 65 Friday to move to 8 under and a tie for fourth with Jerry Kelly.

Ending the round in style @MAJimenez1964 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cAYlqmQMEf

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 14, 2025

Cink put together a five-birdie, two-bogey round but had Alker pass him by. They'll play together on Saturday.

"I've probably played with him a half dozen times at least this year," Cink said. "He's great to play with ... and he's obviously the guy with the number on his back. I don't even know what the scores are as far as like who's in the lead or tied or whatever, but if I'm playing with him I know that we're pretty close together. But it's exciting to be in the group with the guy that you need to hunt down and a lot of other mathematical things."

Two-time major-winner Justin Thomas said Friday he has undergone a microdiscectomy procedure to treat hip pain and will be sidelined through the start of the 2026 US PGA Tour season.

"Life update - I've had some nagging hip pain for a handful of months and after some time off and worsening symptoms, an MRI showed I had a disc problem that needed to be treated," the 32-year-old American wrote in a social media post.

He said he had a successful procedure in New York on Thursday and had already left the hospital.

Justin Thomas will miss the start of the 2026 season after undergoing microdiscectomy surgery.

📰: https://t.co/2qLhc2j7AN pic.twitter.com/pOrRf7UhGw

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 14, 2025

"My next few weeks will be a lot of resting before the rehab process begins," Thomas said. "I have a great team behind me who I fully trust to get me back to a better place than I was before!"

Thomas, who hasn't played since the Ryder Cup at Bethpage in September, had been scheduled to take on England's Tommy Fleetwood, two-time major-winner Xander Schauffele and US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley in a revamped Skins Game this month and the unofficial Hero World Challenge in December.

He didn't provide a timetable for his return, but said he would miss some events at the start of 2026.

Kai Trump said her first taste of LPGA Tour competition was "amazing" despite carding a 13-over-par 83 on Thursday that left her in last place after the first round of The Annika by Gainbridge in Belleair, Florida.

 

Kai Trump hits a massive birdie on a Par 3 in her LPGA Debut 🔥👇🏼

This is for all the people that said she only got in because of her last name

She can play! pic.twitter.com/pPDprCCHN5

— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) November 13, 2025

 

The 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump finished her first official LPGA Tour round with nine bogeys, two double bogeys and no birdies. Kai Trump is last in the 108-player field, four shots behind her closest competitor.

"I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there. I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots," she said. "Obviously being, you know, my first LPGA event, now I kind of know how it goes."

Starting on the back nine, Trump bogeyed her first four holes before carding her first par on the par-5 14th hole. She added two more bogeys before a par on the daunting 18th hole put her at 6-over 41 at the turn.

"I felt like a little out of order in the beginning but I kind of got it going afterwards," Trump said. "I learned a lot. It was amazing. I had a great time out there.

"Didn't play the way I wanted obviously, but for my first event ever I think I played pretty good."

 

18-year-old Kai Trump shoots a 13-over 83 in her LPGA debut. pic.twitter.com/4VWQumyEtu

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) November 13, 2025

 

Some have been critical that Trump, a high school senior with modest results in junior competitions, received a sponsor invite into the event. She took part in Wednesday's pro-am, but acknowledged that Thursday was by far the biggest golf stage she has been on to date.

The youngest player in the field, Trump did display solid distance while averaging 242.0 yards off the tee. However, she hit only 7 of 18 greens in regulation and needed 36 putts to get around the Pelican Golf Club.

"It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even out-driving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good," she said. "Felt like my game is in a good spot, and especially only being a senior in high school. It was cool to see that."

Trump, who has committed to play for the University of Miami next year, will begin her second round at 8:17 a.m. ET on Friday.

Stewart Cink finished his round birdie-birdie to take the lead at the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Thursday at Phoenix Country Club.

A victory in the 72-hole event would be enough for Cink, 52, to capture the season-long Charles Schwab Cup for the first time. He entered the finale in third place behind New Zealand's Steven Alker and Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

 

Cinks it in for birdie 🐦@StewartCink moves up to T4 @SchwabCupFinale.

📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/6tVEzgaa4y

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) November 13, 2025

 

Cink posted a bogey-free, 7-under-par 64 and claimed the outright lead when his birdie putt fell at the par-5 18th hole. Jerry Kelly sits one shot back.

"I hope to be consistent the rest of the way because consistency is a major weapon in pro golf," Cink said. "Today was a great day for consistency for me. I wasn't really ever in a whole lot of trouble. My short game was really sharp today and I made a few birdie putts, too.

"It was eerily similar to last year's opening round where I shot minus-7, I had the solo lead. I don't want to be eerily similar to the next three rounds for last year."

What happened to Cink last year? After going 12 under par through two rounds, a 4-over 75 on Saturday knocked him down a peg and he couldn't catch up to eventual tournament winner Bernhard Langer of Germany.

Alker tied for second in this tournament last year and it was enough for him to win the Charles Schwab Cup points race. Now he's angling for an impressive third Cup in four years (2022, 2024).

Alker opened with a 5-under 66 and shares third with Steve Flesch, Jason Caron and Tommy Gainey. He declared himself happy with his position after one day.

"Yeah, yeah, for sure. If I shoot par or 1 over or something, you start thinking about being more aggressive and have to kind of play catch-up," Alker said. "I kind of feel like I don't have to do that. Game feels good, I'm hitting the ball well. Just roll in a couple of putts, that's all it is. But we have a long way to go."

Jimenez settled for a 2-under 69 to begin the tournament tied for eighth.

Given his lead in the points race, Alker has a chance to win the Charles Schwab Cup no matter what he does this week. Jimenez must finish at least 14th and have other things go his way. Cink's minimum tournament finish for a chance to win the Cup would be a two-way tie for fourth, but getting more than a million points for the victory would also work nicely.

"Chris and I, my caddie, have a good game plan and it all comes down to execution," Cink said. "I know over the next three days, at least I hope that I'm going to be in position to feel very nervous and get uncomfortable and have some opportunities to really test myself and trust it and I look forward to it."

Ben Griffin put an exclamation point on his breakout season by shooting a final-round, 9-under-par 63 to secure his third win of 2025 at the World Wide Technology Championship on Sunday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Griffin was consistent all week but started the day two shots back of South Africa's Garrick Higgo. Griffin rolled in five birdies in a row at Nos. 8-12 to overtake Higgo and Carson Young for the lead at 27 under par.

Easy as 1, 2, 3 for Benny G 🏆

Ben Griffin takes the @WWTChampionship in Cabo for his 3rd TOUR Victory! pic.twitter.com/p2TFI4TZWh

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 9, 2025

He added two birdies coming home and finished with 10 birdies and a single bogey on his card in order to reach 29-under-par 259 at El Cardonal Golf Course. That was enough for a two-shot win over Sami Valimaki of Finland (64 Sunday) and Chad Ramey (65).

Higgo shot a 68 and faded to a T4 finish alongside Trevor Cone (66).

"To start out the round I wasn't really paying too much attention" to the leaderboard, Griffin said. "There's a lot of gettable holes, felt like there were a lot of birdies to be made.

"So I just kind of kept my head down and just tried to play aggressive, play smart, not attack the pins that were a little closer to the edges or whatnot, go at a lot of the pins that were a little more receptive.

"Yeah, and coming down the stretch I kind of got to a point where I was I think 27 under and with three holes to go my goal was to birdie ‘em all and get to 30, and I had felt like that would seal the deal."

Ben Griffin. Extending the lead to 2 🔥 pic.twitter.com/feM2aEa6q0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 9, 2025

Griffin, 29, won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with teammate Andrew Novak) and the Charles Schwab Challenge in the spring. He vaulted into the top 15 in the world rankings, qualified for the Tour Championship for the first time and was a captain's pick for the US Ryder Cup team.

Par-3 holes were instrumental to Griffin's comeback. He birdied all four par-3s, sticking his tee shot to 2 feet of the pin at No 9 and getting a long, left-to-right bender to drop at No 11.

"My dad always calls me Mr. Par 3, so shout out, Dad," Griffin said. "No, I mean, I got off to a great start honestly making some birdies. ... But after making a few birdies early, I kind of pushed myself a little bit harder than the past few weeks when I was in contention to kind of keep the pedal down."

Here comes Benny Booms 👀

📺 @GolfChannel pic.twitter.com/WbQSMbFr19

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 9, 2025

Griffin has several reasons why 2025 will be a memorable year. Away from the course, his wedding to partner Dana Myeroff is on the horizon.

"It's so great to have her out here, it means the world," he said. "So excited to marry her in four weeks, getting closer. Crazy, three wins and getting married in the same year, hard to beat."

Ramey and Valimaki were outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings entering this tournament, and the top 100 players at the end of the fall secure full PGA Tour status for next season. Ramey vaulted from No 123 to No 89 and Valimaki from No 103 to No 76 with two tournaments to go.

"At the end of the year that's the goal, keep your PGA Tour card," Ramey said. "You know, Ben's top-50, he didn't have to worry about it, but the rest of us out here, that's on the top of our goals."

South Africa's Garrick Higgo matched the El Cardonal at Diamante course record with an 11-under 61 to take a one-stroke lead after the third round at the World Wide Technology Championship on Saturday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

"Hit it great, made a lot of good putts and chipped in once," Higgo said following the round. "Just everything was really solid and took advantage of opportunities that I had."

Higgo chipped in for an eagle on the par-5 first hole, then sank five straight birdies to record an impressive front-nine 7-under-par 29. He added four more birdies on the back nine, including the par-5 18th, to close out the round as he aims for his second victory of the season.

"I hit it well," Higgo added. "Kind of played similar to the way I played yesterday morning. I think I shot 29 to begin, as well. I tried to make a point of it today to finish well."

Higgo bagged his second PGA TOUR win in April at the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic, an opposite-field event to the RBC Heritage. He missed the cut at the Wyndham Championship in August, but the former UNLV standout has been sizzling since with three straight top-seven finishes.

Carson Young sits second at 21-under after a 9-under-par 63 that featured 11 birdies and two bogeys.

"Did everything pretty good today," Young said. "Obviously nine under you have to do everything pretty well. Holed some nice long putts today, kind of kept some momentum going."

Young is within striking distance of earning his first career PGA Tour victory, and hopes to build off his second-place finish at the same event last year.

"Just keep doing what I'm doing and just focus on playing my game and not looking at the leaderboard too much or worrying about others," Young said.

"I'm excited about it because last year I finished second here and missed out by one (on) a playoff. Kind of feels like revenge here to be in the final group again. I'm excited to see if I can break through."

Ben Griffin, Trevor Cone and Chad Ramey are tied for third, two back at 20 under.

The stakes are high with only two tournaments remaining in the season following the World Wide Technology Championship, with the top 100 players on tour – down from 125 previously – retaining their PGA Tour cards for the next season.

German Matti Schmid had a bogey-free, 9-under-par 63 on Friday to overtake the lead at the World Wide Technology Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Schmid, seeking his first career win on the PGA Tour, took a one-stroke lead at 17-under 127 by pocketing seven birdies and an eagle at El Cardonal Golf Course.

He did that despite battling illness in recent days, limiting his preparation.

"I feel fresh and kind of short but good preparation I feel like," Schmid said. "Yeah, excited for the weekend."

His day began with five birdies over seven holes, before he took down the par-5, 585-yard No 18 in just three strokes to conclude his front nine.

"It was a really tricky putt, I had to kind of putt it up the ridge and let it come down," Schmid said. "I hit it kind of too hard but the bag was in the way, got a little lucky, but that's part of it."

Though cooling off over the back nine, the 10-time top-10 finisher still added two birdies to his total while remaining bogey-free.

"I kept life pretty stress-free out there today," he added.

Nick Dunlap and Finland's Sami Valimaki, who co-led Thursday after shooting bogey-free, 11-under-par 61s, remained tied with one another a stroke behind Schmid thanks to matching 67s.

Dunlap's day was going great with seven birdies over 14 holes until he ran into trouble on the par-4 No 7, taking a penalty and an eventual double bogey.

"I just hit it right, my only bad swing off the tee all week," Dunlap lamented. "This place gives you a lot of room off the tee but if you do miss it, then you're going to pay the price for it."

Valimaki didn't have anything quite so dramatic as that, instead balancing a pair of bogeys with seven birdies.

Chad Ramey (65) is alone in fourth at 15 under following his bogey-free round that included seven birdies.

A stroke behind him are France's Victory Perez (65) and Griffin (65), the latter of whom scored an eagle on his first hole of the day.

Tied for seventh at 13 under are Trevor Cone (64) and Mason Andersen (66).

Another six golfers are tied for ninth at 12 under: Eric Cole (63), Justin Lower (65), Carson Young (65), Taylor Moore (65), Italy's Francesco Molinari (67) and Patrick Rodgers (65).

Notable players who missed the cut of 5 under par included Brandt Snedeker (4 under), Wyndham Clark (3 under) and Englishman Luke Donald (3 under).

Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita each recorded rounds of 65 on Thursday to take the lead in their home country at the LPGA's Toto Japan Classic.

After rounds of 7-under 65, they stand a stroke ahead of Ji-yai Shin of South Korea, who carded a 66 at Seta Golf Course in Otsu in the western part of the country.

 

Miyu Yamashita and Nasa Hataoka are tied for first after Round 1 at the TOTO Japan Classic 💪

WATCH HERE ⬇️https://t.co/6PkiwYI1HR pic.twitter.com/sVaOm6coaq

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 6, 2025

 

Hataoka is pursuing her seventh LPGA Tour championship and Yamashita her third.

The latter won last week at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she charged from eight shots back entering the final round to win.

To win this week, Hataoka and Yamashita will need to fend off a trio of Japanese women who tallied 67s on Thursday – twin sisters Chisato and Akie Iwai, along with Minami Katsu – to sit two strokes behind.

Yamashita had a fast answer to the root of her success recently.

"Putting. That brings a good round last two weeks," she said.

Hataoka was also pleased with her opening round, especially with a home crowd behind her.

"I had a great round today, very solid," she said. "And yeah, I'm very glad to play golf in my home country and in front of so many Japanese fans."

The leaders will look to create separation from the field on Friday. Eight more women are tied for seventh place, at 4-under par.

The group includes Australia's Minjee Lee, owner of three major titles, and Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, who won her major title at the Chevron Championship in 2021.

Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan enters the second round eight strokes off the pace after a 1-over round of 73.

 

Christo Lamprecht, South Africa’s latest PGA TOUR member, has confirmed his place in this December’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open as he looks to go one better than his runner-up finish here last year.

Lamprecht will compete at the spectacular La Réserve Golf Links, Heritage Resorts, from 18-21 December having just secured his PGA TOUR playing privileges for the new season.

The 24-year-old heads to Mauritius on the back of a groundbreaking debut season on the Korn Ferry Tour where he claimed a victory on his way to finishing ninth overall among the top 20 who earned their PGA TOUR cards.

Lamprecht made a spectacular debut in the 2024 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open where he challenged for the title before finishing tied second with Dylan Naidoo two shots behind champion John Parry.

NEW GENERATION

He returns to the island representing a new generation of South African golfers which he believes is one of the strongest to emerge from the country in recent years. Lamprecht names several young South Africans who’ve competed in Mauritius over the years on this list, including Naidoo.

“We’re a strong group of golfers in our generation, from Dylan Naidoo to Aldrich Potgieter and Wilco Nienaber, Jayden Schaper, Deon Germishuys, Garrick Higgo, Luca Filippi and so many others. I think it’s one of the strongest generations that has come through South Africa in a long time, and it’s awesome to be a part of that.”

Both Lamprecht and Naidoo used their runners-up finishes in Mauritius to build to bigger things, with Naidoo going on to secure his full DP World Tour card for the first time in his career.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open was certainly a defining week for Lamprecht early in his professional career.

“I think it helped that I had my family with me and I just treated it as a holiday week, which is easy to do in Mauritius.”

Japan's Miyu Yamashita produced a stunning final round to clinch the Maybank Championship on a playoff after she overturned an eight-shot deficit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The 24-year-old won her second LPGA Tour title in three months after turning in a flawless 65 in her final round, with her eighth birdie in the first play-off hole sealing the win over Australian Hannah Green and South Korea's Choi Hye-jin.

At a rain-interrupted Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, all three golfers were tied for 18-under-par 270, which took the action into extra time.

With the stakes high, Yamashita -- who is in her debut season on the LPGA Tour -- kept her composure to sink a clutch putt.

Overnight leader Choi, who led from the first round and came into Sunday's showdown with a four-stroke advantage, saw her lead evaporate midway through the round.

Despite sinking a birdie on the eighth hole for a three-shot lead, Choi's momentum sputtered after she committed three bogeys in the next four holes.

Choi’s slip paved the way for Yamashita to share the lead with Green when the Japanese fired in a close-range seventh birdie on the 16th hole.

Play was suspended for an hour because of dangerous weather conditions, with Green and Yamashita holding on to a one-shot advantage.

Choi stormed back into contention with her second birdie, on the 16th hole, enough to force a three-way playoff, before another rain stoppage.

The Maybank Championship is one of the most lucrative events on the Asian swing with a prize purse of $3 million.

Akie and Chisato Iwai were born just a minute apart and now the identical twins from Japan are making history together on the LPGA Tour.

Competing in their debut seasons on the top professional women's golf circuit, Chisato won the Riviera Maya Open in Mexico in May for her first LPGA title.

Not to be outdone, Akie – nominally the older of the twins – triumphed in Portland just three months later.

The 23-year-olds are the first twins to secure silverware on the LPGA Tour.

"I didn't think I would win on the Tour this year," Akie told AFP this week at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur.

"But my sister won first, and her victory inspired me. I did my best and felt the power in me to win.

"This is a special year for the both of us."

Chisato echoed Akie's sentiments as the siblings push each other on to even greater heights on their rookie seasons on the LPGA Tour.

"We inspire each other a lot, so it's a special feeling for both of us to win," she said.

The LPGA Tour has witnessed its fair share of title-winning siblings.

They include Sweden's Annika and Charlotta Sorenstam, Thailand's Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, and US sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda.

The Americans have 21 Tour titles between them, and counting.

As the first twins to win on the tour, the Iwais are a source of particular intrigue, even if they are actually quite different in some respects.

Akie is described as quieter and is more inclined to wear baseball caps. Chisato is more outgoing and prefers wearing a visor.

They also differ out on the course.

Chisato is said to be a stronger putter while Akie is known to hit the baller farther.

They like to leave the golf talk out on the course.

"We do not talk about golf. Just about life in general," said Chisato.

Going into Sunday's final round in Malaysia, Akie was tied for seventh. Her sister was out of the running in tied 28th.

Akie, who is enjoying the course atmosphere, was out to have fun after shooting her best round of 66 on Saturday.

"The results do not matter, I just want to smile and have fun," she said.

Hye-Jin Choi is closing in on her first LPGA Tour victory after recording a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Everyone showed out for moving day but Hye-Jin Choi still remains on 🔝

LEADERBOARD HERE ⬇️ https://t.co/wNtLcdR154 pic.twitter.com/ZNpKNQxfBh

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 1, 2025

Choi collected six birdies against one bogey on Saturday to reside at 19-under 197 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course.

"I've been waiting for this a really long and I'm going to try my best (on Sunday)," the 26-year-old South Korean said. "I think I will feel like I'm making the dream and I just imagine on it. I'm just looking for a victory (on Sunday)."

Choi placed second at the 2017 US Women's Open as a 17-year-old amateur.

China's Liu Yan carded seven birdies during her bogey-free round of 65 on Saturday to sit in second place at 15-under.

HYE-JIN CHOI LOCKS IN AND BIRDIES HOLE 18 💪

A four-stroke lead after round 3 of the Maybank Championship puts her in a strong position for her first LPGA win 👀 pic.twitter.com/EtlUsfx88L

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) November 1, 2025

"Well, I just feel very good in my game, from the driver to the putting. Everything feels great," Yan said. "I think today at the course I just really relax. Golf cannot be perfect, so I made some mistakes. ... So I just stay patient, yeah."

Yan is one stroke ahead of Australian Hannah Green (67), who collected eight birdies to overcome a double-bogey on No 3 and a bogey on No 18.

Green knows she needs her putting game to be on point if she wishes to catch up to Choi.

"I think she's going for her first LPGA Tour win so she might be feeling a little bit more nervous than I am," Green said. "She looked calm and collected, so who knows. Yeah, hopefully make some more birdies and give it my best shot."

Hye-Jin Choi is locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/s4iGrViPc9

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 1, 2025

A Lim Kim of South Korea ascended 20 places into a tie for fourth place at 13-under after she shot a 64 on Saturday. She highlighted her round by sinking a 25-foot putt for an eagle on the par-5 18th hole.

"Yeah, today I make a lot of putts and then read is better than first round, but I have one more day so keep working on it," said Kim, who had four birdies on her first five holes.

Kim is tied with World No 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, who collected birdies on her final three holes to finish with a 65 on Saturday.

Japan's Ayaka Furue (67) is also tied for fourth at 13-under.

Defending champion Ruoning Yin of China shot 69 to sit at 12-under, tied with New Zealand's Lydia Ko (68) and Linn Grant of Sweden (68).

Michael Brennan wrapped up an unforgettable week with a 5-under-par 66 on Sunday to seal his runaway win at the Bank of Utah Championship in Ivins, Utah.

 

From sponsor exemption to fully exempt PGA TOUR member.

Coming off three wins on @PGATOURAmericas, Michael Brennan earns his first TOUR victory @BOUChampionship. pic.twitter.com/fPx6S8sLjy

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 26, 2025

 

Brennan, 23, received a sponsor's exemption this week to make his third PGA Tour start, and his first since turning pro. The win guarantees him a full tour card for the next two years.

That inexperience didn't cause any nerves for the youngster, who credited his resolve to the people around him.

"I was probably more nervous eating breakfast this morning," he cracked.

But it feels amazing. I get that belief from my family and friends, my team. I mean, Jeff, my caddie believes in me I think more than anyone, maybe other than my parents."

Brennan finished at 22-under 262 over four days at Black Desert Resort, which left him four strokes clear of the Philippines' Rico Hoey (67 Sunday). The Wake Forest product seized the lead in the second round and kept it Saturday thanks to a round of 64.

On Sunday, Brennan stuck his approach at the par-4 second hole to 3 feet and his tee shot at the par-3 third to 6 1/2 feet to set up his first two birdies. He made five of his seven birdies on the front nine as he sped away from the pack and became the seventh player since 1970 to win a PGA Tour event within his first three starts.

Talking about his game's improvement, Brennan said, "A lot of mental maybe fortitude or focus has gotten a lot better. Definitely been some technical things that have improved a lot around the green and on the green. I think that showed this week."

Brennan gets to bypass the Korn Ferry Tour, where he was set to play in 2026. He received Korn Ferry eligibility by placing No 1 in the Fortinet Cup standings on the third-tier PGA Tour Americas this season.

"It really hasn't set in. It's an amazing feeling, really an amazing feeling. Winning golf tournaments is one of the better feelings in the world. I mean, it takes a lot to play professional golf, and I just have such a great team behind me."

Hoey, meanwhile, jumped a projected 30 spots to No 61 in the FedEx Cup Fall points race by earning 300 points with his second-place finish. Golfers who finish 51st to 60th in the FedEx Cup Fall points are guaranteed entry into the first two signature events of 2026. There are three tournaments remaining on the fall schedule.

"Start of the fall I was outside of the top 100 and I think now projected me up pretty high," Hoey said. "Kind of nice to know hopefully I have a secured card for next year and going to Sony next year. That will be fun."

Defending champion Matt McCarty – who, like Brennan, won this event in his third career start – posted a 70 and tied for third at 16 under with David Ford (67), Justin Lower (67), Pierceson Coody (69), Canada's Ben Silverman (67), and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (68).

Aldrich Potgieter said he withdrew from the Bank of Utah Championship due to illness, at least temporarily quelling rumours that the young South African is contemplating a move to LIV Golf.

Potgieter carded an opening round 71 on Thursday but withdrew before the start of the second round at Black Desert Golf Course.

He took to Instagram to explain the sudden withdrawal.

"Hey everyone, just wanted to clear things up since I've been getting a lot of messages. I had to withdraw after Round 1 because I came down with some pretty bad food poisoning (or a stomach bug)," he wrote. "Nothing serious, just need some rest to recover. Appreciate all the messages and support."

Potgieter, 21, has enjoyed a strong rookie season on the PGA Tour. The big-hitting young star finished runner-up in Mexico before claiming his maiden win on tour at the Rocket Classic in June.

The win secured Potgieter's status on the PGA Tour for the next two years, but his name has been tied to recent speculation about players who may be in discussions to sign with LIV Golf for 2026.

Potgieter, who sits outside the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking, has not publicly addressed the rumours.

 If he can rise into the top 50 by the end of the FedEx Cup Fall season, Potgieter would earn a spot in the first two signature events on the PGA Tour next season.

"I think to get into those first two big events, it's important to start off your year strong," Potgieter said in an interview with the PGA Tour.

"To get into those two big events would give me a head start against some of the other guys."

Meanwhile, the Sports Business Journal reported that Potgieter is expected to switch agencies from GSE Worldwide for Entertainment Sports Partners, which also represents fellow South African and World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els.

"Many have tabbed Potgieter as a player who may join LIV Golf this offseason. Els has been outspoken against LIV since its launch," the SBJ reported.

The Bank of Utah event has suffered from several withdrawals. Lanto Griffin withdrew during the first round, Potgieter and Vince Covello pulled out before the second round and Emiliano Griffin, Camillo Villegas and Gordon Sargent all withdrew during the second round.

Michael Brennan, in his first PGA Tour start as a professional, held a one-shot lead at the Bank of Utah Championship when play was suspended due to darkness on Friday evening in Ivins, Utah.

Brennan shot a 6-under-par 65 in the second round, boosting him to 10-under 132, one ahead of Jackson Suber (67 on Friday), Justin Lower (67) and Pierceson Coody (64).

The first round on Thursday did not finish before darkness fell at Black Desert Resort, either, leading play to be backed up on Friday. More than 50 golfers will conclude their second rounds Saturday morning starting at 8 a.m. local time. The projected cut line currently stands at 1 under.

Brennan, 23, played this season on the PGA Tour Americas, which feeds into the Korn Ferry Tour. Brennan finished No 1 in the third-tier tour's Fortinet Cup standings and will be fully exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2026.

However, he is playing the PGA Tour this week on a sponsor's exemption, and he is making the most of it. His Friday round included five birdies, an eagle at the par-5 ninth hole and just one bogey.

"I've been driving the ball really nicely, putting the ball in the fairway a lot, giving myself some good wedge and short iron opportunities," Brennan said. "I've also made some nice mid-range putts the first two rounds, which always great to see those go in.

"But just kind of looking to stay a lot of the same this weekend. Hopefully driver stays hot because if you're not in the fairway, it's trouble out here. So, yeah, putting the ball in play is important."

Coody carded a bogey-free 64 that was the low round of the tournament thus far. The 25-year-old is a three-time Korn Ferry winner but is seeking his breakthrough win on the PGA Tour. He also hopes to secure his spot on the top tour for next year.

"I still feel like there is the big goal of I can get in the top 100," Coody said. "I don't know what the points are, but I know I have at least three or four events to do that and some really nice weeks I could accomplish that goal. To retain my status for the first time on the PGA Tour would be really nice."

Defending champion Matt McCarty (65) and Japan's Takumi Kanaya (68) are tied at 8 under par along with David Ford, who had six holes to play in his second round.

McCarty shot a 7-under 28 on the front nine Friday, with seven birdies and two pars.

Defending champ is feeling it 💪@MattMcCarty21 birdies 6 of his first 7 holes to start Round 2 @BOUChampionship. pic.twitter.com/pL1SO6uoFJ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 24, 2025

"Made a few putts early and just had it going," he said. "Always fun to go, you know, sub-30. (A) 28 on the front was great. Yeah, fun day."

Sahith Theegala (67) is tied for eighth at 7 under par as he continues to come back from a neck injury that robbed much of his summer. Max Homa shot a 66 on Friday to get to 6 under par and ensure he will reach the weekend.

David Lipsky eagled his final hole and found himself part of a four-way tie for the lead when play was suspended due to darkness at the Bank of Utah Championship on Thursday in Ivins, Utah.

Lipsky posted a 6-under-par 65, as did Sweden's Jesper Svensson and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen. Austin Cook was 6 under through 13 holes when play was halted at 6:47 p.m. local time. The round will resume Friday morning.

The tournament at Black Desert Resort is in its second season as part of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall schedule. Players who finish the fall inside the top 100 are guaranteed full tour cards for the 2026 season.

That means Thursday's strong start is good news for Lipsky, who entered the week No 99 in the standings, as well as Svensson (No 115), Olesen (No 116) and Cook (No 204).

Lipsky, 37, has won on the European and Asian tours but not yet on the PGA Tour.

At the par-5, 610-yard finishing hole Thursday, his second shot traveled 292 yards and settled less than 9 feet from the pin, allowing him to sweep in an eagle putt to close a round with five birdies and one bogey.

Lipsky said of his approach shot on No 18, "Luckily (it) was a little into the wind, which actually helped the shot. So it sort of took (hitting too) long out of play, so I could hit it as hard as I wanted to. Pulled off the shot, got the right bounces."

He added, "I hit it close a lot today, so I had a lot of tap-in birdies. I also had quite a few like mid-range putts, like 10 to 15 feet, and burnt a lot of edges today. So I was really happy to see that last one go in and give me some confidence going into tomorrow."

Svensson had back-to-back birdies twice during his bogey-free round.

He admitted that his game wasn't in the best shape entering the tournament, but he added, "Sometimes it's quite nice to go in and it's not really feeling well. You have no expectations of really doing anything good. Like my short-range putts still didn't feel great today. Rolled in a few good little longer putts which made up for it."

Olesen birdied five of his last seven holes after beginning his round on the course's back nine.

"It was a nice surprise," Olesen said of his hot finish. "... Felt like the body and the swing was a lot better than last couple of days. Yeah, felt like I hit a lot of good iron shots, rolling some nice putts, especially on the last nine holes."

One stroke off the pace, a seven-way tie included former PGA Tour winners Cameron Champ, Nick Dunlap and Ryan Gerard at 5-under-par 66.

Sahith Theegala, working his way back from a neck injury that disrupted his summer, opened his tournament with a 3-under 68, as did Australia's Jason Day.

Matt McCarty, the tournament's inaugural champion, shot a 2-under 69 on Thursday.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said the recent change in invitation criteria announced by the Masters was driven by the increased international representation at the tournament.

Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A jointly announced on 26 August a change in qualification criteria to ensure "strong international pathways into both major championships."

That included removing automatic Masters qualification for winners of FedEx Cup Fall events, while awarding invitations to the winners of six national opens beginning in 2026.

Speaking ahead of this week's Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Dubai, which also grants a place in the Masters and Open Championship fields to the winner, Ridley said the Masters tournament committee was compelled to reward "historic" national opens.

"International competition has always been a big part of the Masters Tournament. That representation internationally has grown over the years to where it's pretty much 50/50, and maybe even a few more, international players," Ridley said on Thursday at the Emirates Golf Club, per Golf Digest.

"So, we thought it was appropriate to sort of carry on that tradition and the culture that we've established at the Masters."

Masters invites are now extended to the winners of the Australian Open, Scottish Open, South African Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open and Hong Kong Open. England's Marco Penge earned a spot in the 2026 Masters by winning the Spanish Open while last week's Japan Open was won by Naoyuki Kataoka, who entered the tournament ranked 500th in the world.

"Golf is a global game, and I think we always want to recognise that," Ridley said. "We felt that not only were we living true to our values, but we also were hopefully maybe just as this championship has inspired young amateurs around the Asia-Pacific region, we hope that that incentive of awarding the winners an invitation, a spot in the Masters Tournament as well as The Open Championship, would also generate additional interest in those countries.

"I know that in Japan recently that was the case. I think it will be the case in all these countries. So we are very excited about that change in our qualifications."

The R&A qualifies golfers for The Open Championship through the R&A's Open Qualifying Series, which consists of 15 tournaments across 13 countries.

"We (also) believe golf is a global game and we want the strongest international fields at our respective tournament and championship," R&A CEO Mark Darbon said.

The 90th edition of the Masters is scheduled for 9-12 April, 2026.

The 154th Open will be played 16-19 July at Royal Birkdale in England.

Drought conditions impacting the Plantation Course at Kapalua led the PGA Tour to cancel the annual event in Maui scheduled for January.

Not long after the Tour announced the event's cancellation, Kapalua Golf said the Plantation Course would re-open 10 November.

No replacement course was available, leading the Tour to revise its schedule and open the 2026 season with the Sony Open in Honolulu – played at Waialae Country Club – from 15-18 January . 

The PGA said in September the event would only be held if it could be relocated.

"Since it first became a possibility that the PGA Tour would not be able to play at The Plantation Course at Kapalua due to the ongoing drought conditions on Maui, we worked closely with our partners at Sentry to assess options for contesting The Sentry in 2026," PGA Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis said on Tuesday in a statement.

"While it is unfortunate to arrive at this decision, we are appreciative of the collaboration and dedication from Sentry Insurance, a tremendous partner of ours."

Recent drone footage of the area showed the extent of the unwatered course, contrasted from its usual brilliant bursts of green and blue to the current shades of tan and yellow.

A star-studded field is the norm at The Sentry. It was scheduled to include the top 50 in the 2025 FedEx Cup final standings and all winners from the previous season. Previous Sentry winners exempt only through that victory are now added to the RBC Heritage field.

Drought conditions prompted restrictions on all irrigation and required restoration efforts for many surfaces on the popular and scenic Plantation Course.

Recent improvement led to officials modifying the restrictions to "Tier 2," which allows the course "60 per cent" irrigation.

Kapalua Golf closed the Plantation Course and Bay Course on 2 September before informing guests on Tuesday afternoon of plans for a soft re-open on 10 November. 

The Plantation Course will be open despite ongoing work to restore two greens.

However, the Bay Course will remain closed.