Brooks Koepka will carry a four-shot lead over Ian Poulter into Sunday’s final round of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges with more than victory on the line.
Koepka, who missed this year’s Masters before defending his US Open title and then holding off Tiger Woods to claim the PGA Championship, will move past Justin Rose and finally Dustin Johnson to sit on top of the world rankings should he complete his demolition job on Jeju Island, Korea.
Eight straight pars to open his third round gave little indication of the fireworks that would follow as he continued to mix muscle with finesse resulting in a third-round 67 as he chases just his second non-Major victory on the PGA Tour.
His bogey-free day would see him grab the solo lead on the 10th after moving in red figures the hole before.
A birdie at the 14th and then two straight to close rounded off a successful day, one that saw Scott Piercy fire a 72 and drop four shots behind Koepka at -9 alongside Ian Poulter.
The Englishman made just one birdie and roared home in 32 for a 68 that has him as Koepka’s main concern to his rankings aspirations.
Half a dozen players lie five shots adrift including impressive Australian Cameron Smith and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello.
Louis Oosthuizen dropped four places to share 26th after a round of 70, one stroke ahead of Ernie Els who matched his countryman’s tally on Saturday.
Branden Grace joined Charl Schwartzel at +1 through 54 with Grace’s 69 the low round of the South Africans in action.
The lead is FOUR. ????@BKoepka is unfair right now.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/QeSSMtRXif
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 20, 2018
This hole is 330 yards to the front.
This is Brooks Koepka. ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/0TUIVxhpfj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 20, 2018
