Big drives and long putts give Justin Thomas a lead over Scottie Scheffler at the Hero World Challenge

NASSAU, Bahamas – Justin Thomas was long off the tee and made a few long putts on the back nine to pass Scottie Scheffler with a 6-under 66 and build a lead over golf’s best player on Saturday The Hero World Challenge is entering its final round.

Thomas tries out a 46-inch driver — just over an inch longer than normal — that he previously used to practice at home to gain speed and distance. On the par-4 seventh hole, he hit a 361-yard drive to 8 feet and led the field in driving distance.

But it was a few long putts that put him ahead of Scheffler, who had a 69.

Thomas was close to falling two shots behind when he made an 18-foot par putt on the par-3 12th hole. On the reachable par-4 14th, he found himself in a difficult spot in a sandy area and could only throw it out to nearly 50 feet.

He made a most improbable birdie, while behind him Scheffler botched a chip on the 13th hole and made his only bogey on a windy day.

Scheffler was never able to catch him and missed birdie opportunities on the reachable 14th and the par-5 15th. Thomas made a 3-foot approach for birdie on the 16th after a 343-yard drive. Scheffler made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 16th to bring the ball within one point.

Scheffler missed birdie chances on the final two holes from 10 feet and 15 feet, while Thomas missed an 8-foot birdie attempt on the last.

“I had a period at 13, 14, 15 where I felt like I lost a try or two, but beyond that I did a lot of really good things today,” Scheffler said.

Thomas hasn’t won since the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills and a win at Albany Golf Club wouldn’t count as an official win. But the two-time major champion has made steady progress in getting his game back on track.

Tee times and pairings for the final round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

“I drive it great. I had a lot of confidence,” Thomas said of his longer driver. “I feel like I’ve managed to get some pretty good pitches into the green. I still don’t take advantage of some of them as much as I would like, but that’s golf and we’ll always say that.”

Thomas was at 17-under 199 and will be in the final group on Sunday along with Scheffler, who is trying to end his spectacular season with a ninth title.

Tom Kim entered the mix in a way he might not have imagined Thursday when he was 3 over through six holes of the holiday tournament. Kim came back into play Friday with a 65 and then made 12 birdies for a 62.

He had a shot at the course record – Rickie Fowler shot 61 in the final round when he won at Albany in 2017 – until Kim found a bunker and fired two shots to reach the green on the par-3 17th made double bogey.

Still, he was only two strokes behind. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (68) was fourth defender.

“I feel like I’m seeing signs of improvement, that’s what you want and that’s all I can do,” Thomas said. “I can’t control everyone else or what’s happening, I just have to keep playing as best as I can and hope it’s enough on Sunday.”