Kim Si woo shoots 66 holds third round lead at RBC Heritage

MIAMI – After all his adventures during the third round of the RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas was not complaining about where he ended up on the leader board.

He is right there in contention.

South Korea’s Kim Si-woo shot a five-under 66 to move into the tournament lead on April 19 as Thomas, the second-round leader, encountered rough and wet patches before carding a 69 at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Kim, at 15-under 198, holds a one-shot edge on Thomas and Andrew Novak (66) going into the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 20, which ended after press time.

Thomas figures that is not so bad.

“When you win golf tournaments, you need to salvage under-par rounds when you don’t have your best stuff... I played well.

“I just fought and tried to stay patient and then was able to salvage a score to where I’m right there,” he said.

Kim was in a good frame of mind as well. He said: “I played great. Only missed (a par putt on) the last hole, so that’s not a big deal. So I play pretty much 35 holes really decent. So I’m not going to worry about the last hole.”

Thomas and Novak both own three sub-70 rounds in the event. Maverick McNealy (65) is fourth at 200.

Kim, 29, will aim for his fifth PGA Tour victory and his first in more than two years. His lead was reduced on the final hole when he had his only bogey.

Meanwhile, Thomas, who was in the final pairing with him, notched a birdie.

“It was nice to see an iron shot get up there pin-high and roll that putt in there,” Thomas said.

Brian Harman (66) and England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68) are tied for fifth at 201.