Ernie Els, Doug Barron take third-round lead at Regions Tradition

Things to know

• World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els and Saturday’s low scorer Doug Barron share the lead entering the final round of the Regions Tradition.
• 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Padraig Harrington sits one stroke behind the co-leaders in third place.
• Two-time defending champion Steve Stricker carded 1-over 73 after holding the 36-hole lead and sits two strokes behind Els and Barron as he chases a three-peat at Greystone. Stricker is T4 at 11-under, along with Charlie Wi.

Ernie Els, 65-68-70 – 203 (-13)

• The 54-year-old seeks his fourth win on PGA TOUR Champions (88th start)
  • 2020 Hoag Classic
  • 2020 SAS Championship
  • 2023 Hoag Classic
• Seeks his first major title on PGA TOUR Champions (16th major start)
  • Has eight top-five finishes in senior majors
  • Best finish in a senior major: T2 (2023 Regions Tradition)
• Making his seventh start of the 2024 season, he has one top-10 finish (T3, Chubb Classic)
• This is his seventh time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 1-for-6 converting those into victories
  • Previous best 54-hole position in a major on PGA TOUR Champions: fourth (2022 U.S. Senior Open)
• Making his fourth appearance at the Regions Tradition, he has finished T2 (2023), T3 (2022) and T4 (2021)
  • His final-round scoring average at this event is 66.33 (three rounds)
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the second time this season
  • Is 0-for-1 converting those into victories
  • Note: previous instance was in the second round of the weather-shortened 36-hole Chubb

Doug Barron, 65-72-66 – 203 (-13)

• His 6-under 66 was the low round of the day on Saturday by three strokes
• The 54-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (82nd start)
  • 2019 DICK’S Open
  • 2021 Rogers Charity Classic
• Making his sixth start of the 2024 season, he has one top-10 finish (T2, Mitsubishi Electric Classic)
• This is his sixth time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 2-for-5 converting those into victories
  • Previous best 54-hole position in a major on PGA TOUR Champions: T8 (2022 U.S. Senior Open)
• Making his third appearance at the Regions Tradition, his best finish is T9 (2022)
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the first time this season

Other notes

• 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Padraig Harrington sits in third at 12-under after shooting 69 in the third round. The 52-year-old seeks his second win of the 2024 season (fifth start).
  • Won the Hoag Classic (March 22-24)
• Two-time defending champion Steve Stricker, who held the 36-hole lead, sits T4 at 11-under. He carded 1-over 73 in the third round with no birdies, his high 18-hole score at the Regions Tradition (27th round).
  • Previous high 18-hole score at the Regions Tradition: 71 (two times)
• Charlie Wi sits T4 at 11-under after shooting 70 in the third round. The 52-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (34th start).
  • Best finish: second/T2 (2023 Invited Celebrity Classic; 2023 TimberTech Championship)
• 2014 champion Kenny Perry and K.J. Choi are each T6 at 9-under.
• Making his second start since returning from an Achilles injury, two-time champion (2016, 2017) Bernhard Langer sits T10 at 7-under.
• Charles Schwab Cup leader Steven Alker sits T13 at 6-under.