Sam Ryder still holds Farmers Insurance Open lead, Jon Rahm in close pursuit

Sam Ryder maintained the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open and drew one step closer to winning on the PGA Tour for the first time, but in-form John Rahm is just two shots back.

Ryder is 12-under-par 204 through three rounds in San Diego after shooting 72 at the South Course at Torrey Pines, while Rahm posted a 66 to surge into second place at 10-under 206.

Tony Finau posted the round of the day, a bogey-free 64, to shoot into third on eight under.

Ryder had a three-stroke lead on the field entering the third round and limited his mistakes while missing opportunities to extend his edge. After a bogey at the par-four second hole and a birdie at the par-five sixth, the 33-year-old parred his final 12 holes.

Rahm did one better than his second-round 67. After playing the first five holes in even par, he went five under over the next four with three straight birdies and a 12-foot eagle putt at the par-five ninth. The world number 3 added another mid-range birdie putt at 15 while avoiding a bogey the rest of the way.

The Spaniard won each of his past two starts on the PGA Tour and four of his past six worldwide. After earning the Spanish Open and DP World Tour Championship titles at the end of last year, he started 2023 by winning the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui and The American Express last week.

Should he overtake Ryder in the final round, Rahm would be the first player towin three straight PGA Tour starts since Dustin Johnson in 2017. Tied for fourth at seven under are Sungjae Im of South Korea (67, Collin Morikawa (70), Max Homa (71) and Sahith Theegala (71).

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