The third round of the 2025 RBC Heritage saw a dramatic shift at the top of the leaderboard, with Si Woo Kim taking the lead from Justin Thomas after an impressive round of 66. As the tournament heads into its final round on Sunday, April 20, 2025, Kim holds a narrow one-shot advantage over both Thomas and Andrew Novak, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion at Harbour Town Golf Links.
Kim's journey to the top began with a strong start, as he birdied the first two holes of the day, quickly tying Thomas, who faced an early setback. On the second hole, Thomas self-reported a one-stroke penalty after inadvertently moving his ball while attempting to clear impediments in the waste bunker. Despite this hiccup, Thomas managed to stay competitive, making four straight pars to keep pace with Kim.
The two players continued to battle through the front nine, each making birdies on the fifth and ninth holes, bringing their tournament totals to 14 under par. However, the pivotal moment came on the 11th hole when Thomas's tee shot found the water, leading to his first bogey of the day. This misstep allowed Kim to take the lead, and he never looked back.
Both players matched birdies again on the 13th hole, but the real swing came on the 15th, a par 5 where Kim's patience paid off. After both players missed the fairway, Kim chose to lay up from the waste bunker, setting himself up for an 18-foot birdie putt, which he confidently sank. Meanwhile, Thomas struggled, unable to keep his third shot on the green, resulting in a bogey that expanded Kim's lead to three strokes.
As the round progressed, it looked like Kim would head into the final round with a comfortable lead. However, the 18th hole brought another twist. Kim made his first bogey of the day after a poor approach shot, while Thomas redeemed himself with a mid-range birdie putt, narrowing Kim's lead to just one stroke.
Heading into the final round, the leaderboard is tightly packed. Si Woo Kim sits at -15, while both Justin Thomas and Andrew Novak are tied for second at -14. Maverick McNealy is in fourth place at -13, followed by Brian Harman and Tommy Fleetwood, who are tied for fifth at -12. Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley are tied for seventh at -11, while Patrick Cantlay and three others round out the top ten at -10.
Kim's performance has been solid throughout the tournament, but he noted that he left some opportunities on the course. "It's hard to call a 66 disappointing, but I could have gone lower," Kim said. "I missed a couple of birdie putts from inside eight feet on the front nine, and I just needed to finish strong on 18 to give myself some cushion for tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Thomas, who shot an impressive 61 earlier in the tournament, is looking to recapture that form. He acknowledged the challenges he faced on Saturday, stating, "I need to find something closer to the 61 I shot on Thursday if I want to win this thing. It’s going to be a battle, but I’m ready for it."
Novak, who has had a breakout season, also closed his round with a birdie on the 18th, putting him in contention for his first PGA Tour victory. "I’ve never been in this position in a signature event before, so I’m excited to see how I handle the nerves on Sunday," he said.
As for McNealy, he had the best round of the day at six under par, showcasing his ability to score well when it counts. "I started off slow, but I found my rhythm with back-to-back 65s," McNealy remarked. "I’m feeling confident going into the final round, and I know I can make a push for the title."
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler remains a threat, sitting four strokes off the lead. Despite not having his best stuff in the past two rounds, he has managed to keep himself in contention. "I’m not quite sure why I haven’t played my best, but I’m still in it, and anything can happen on Sunday," Scheffler said.
As the final round approaches, the odds reflect the competitive nature of the tournament. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Justin Thomas is favored at 12-5, followed closely by Si Woo Kim at 5-2 and Andrew Novak at 6-1. Maverick McNealy and Scottie Scheffler both sit at 9-1, while Tommy Fleetwood is at 12-1 and Brian Harman at 18-1.
Fans can catch the excitement of Round 4 live on CBS from 3-6 p.m. ET, with streaming options available on CBS Sports App and PGA Tour Live on ESPN+. With the leaderboard so tight and the stakes high, Sunday promises to deliver a thrilling finale to the 2025 RBC Heritage.
