PADRAIG HARRINGTON FIRED a nine-under par third round 62 to take a commanding lead in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix in Arizona.
Harrington had registered opening rounds of 66 and 64 before he stormed five shots clear in the season-ending event of the Champions Tour.
New Zealand golfer Steven Alker, who leads Harrington in the overall money list, is in second place on 16-under with American Brian Gay a shot further back in third. Darren Clarke is in a tie for 21st on four-under.
One more day to go. Both of us have something to hold on to. @ChampionsTour @SchwabCupFinale pic.twitter.com/fvCBdAda8V
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) November 13, 2022
Harrington began the third round a shot behind Alker but began brightly with an eagle on the par-five 1st. Further birdies arrived on the 5th and 7th holes as Harrington reached the turn at four-under for his round.
The back nine was Harrington explode to life with four birdies on the bounce between the 11th and 14th, and he picked up another shot at the last to reach the 21-under mark.
This is a 72-hole event, unlike the normal 54-hole format for the Champions Tour, with Harrington teeing off at 7.30pm Irish time today in his final round and he will be alongside Alker.
Already this season Harrington has won three events on the Champions Tour – the US Senior Open in June, the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in August and the Ascension Charity Classic in September.
To win the Charles Schwab Cup series title he needs to win this tournament and have Alker finish outside the top five.