Si Woo Kim tops crowded American Express leaderboard after 54 holes

South Korea's Si Woo Kim shot 6-under par 66, and he claimed a one-shot lead through the third round of The American Express on Saturday at La Quinta, California.

Kim is at 22-under 194 going into Sunday's final round.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and third-round co-leader Blades Brown both shot 68s on the Pete Dye Stadium Course. They're one shot behind Kim and tied for second place.

Scheffler scrambled for par on the final hole, with his second shot into the greenside rough. He used a 25-foot par putt to salvage the hole and avoid his second bogey on the backside.

Brown, 18, posted birdies on his final three holes, including a 43-footer on the par-4 18th a day after recording 60.

Kim's round at LaQuinta Country Club included seven birdies with a bogey as he bids for his second championship in the tournament, which he won in 2021. He rolled in three straight birdie putts on his back nine.

Eric Cole (66) and Wyndham Clark (66) are tied for fourth place at 20 under. Cole had the lead earlier in the round after a chip-in.

At 19 under, Tom Hoge (65), Matt McCarty (68) and Andrew Putnam (65) are within range. Putnam, who had a 60 on Friday, followed that with a solid round on the Nicklaus Tournament Course.