Steve Stricker chips in twice in five holes for one-stroke lead over Ernie Els at Kaulig Companies Championship

Things to know

• Looking to win the Kaulig Companies Championship for the third time in four years, Steve Stricker chipped in twice over his final five holes to take a one-stroke lead into the final round.
• World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els, looking to become the first three-time winner of the 2024 season, and Robert Karlsson, seeking his first win on PGA TOUR Champions, each sit one stroke behind Stricker.

Steve Stricker, 66-68-67 – 201 (9-under)

• This is Stricker's 20th time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions.
  • Is 12-for-19 converting those into victories (6-for-8 in 72-hole events)
• The 57-year-old seeks his 18th win on PGA TOUR Champions (73rd start).
  • A win would move him into T14 on the all-time PGA TOUR Champions wins list.
  • Last win: 2023 Sanford International
• Stricker seeks his eighth senior major title, which would move him into T3 on the all-time list.
  • Last senior major win: 2023 Kaulig Companies Championship
• He looks to become the second three-time winner of the Kaulig Companies Championship (2021, 2023).
  • Would join Bernhard Langer (2014, 2015, 2016)
• Has led/co-led after nine of the last 15 rounds at the Kaulig Companies Championship, including finishes
• Has been inside the top five after 14 of the last 15 rounds at the Kaulig Companies Championship, including finishes
• Making his 10th start of the 2024 season, he has eight top-10 finishes and entered the week No. 4 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings
  • Best finish of 2024: Second (American Family Insurance Championship)
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the fourth time this season
  • Is 0-for-3 converting those into victories

Ernie Els, 70-68-64 – 202 (8-under)

• Matched his low 18-hole score of the 2024 season (40th round)
  • Previous instances: KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship (second Round); American Family Insurance Championship (second Round)
• The 54-year-old seeks his sixth win on PGA TOUR Champions (94th start).
• Seeks his third win of the 2024 season (13th start)
  • Previous wins: Principal Charity Classic; American Family Insurance Championship
• With a win, he would become the first three-time winner of the 2024 season on PGA TOUR Champions.
  • Entered the week No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Making his fifth appearance at the Kaulig Companies Championship, he has finished T5 (2020), fifth (2021), T3 (2022), T3 (2023).
• Seeks his first major title on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Best finish in a senior major: T2 (2023 Regions Tradition)
• Has top-10 finishes in each of the first three senior majors of the 2024 season
  • T3 (Regions Tradition); T6 (KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship); T8 (U.S. Senior Open)
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the sixth time this season
  • Is 2-for-5 converting those into victories

Robert Karlsson, 70-66-66 – 202 (8-under)

• The 54-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (80th start).
  • Best finish: Second/T2 (five times)
• Making his 10th start of the 2024 season, he has one top-10 finish.
  • Best finish of 2024: T10 (DICK’S Open)
• Making his third appearance at the Kaulig Companies Championship, his best finish is T14 (2020).
• His best finish in a senior major is T2 (2023 Regions Tradition).
• Made 132 starts on the PGA TOUR, most recently in 2015
  • Best finish: Second/T2 (2010 FedEx St. Jude Classic; 2011 FedEx St. Jude Classic)
• Earned 10 wins on the DP World Tour (410 starts)
  • Last win: 2010 DP World Tour Championship
• With a win on Sunday, he would snap a winless streak of 13 years, 7 months, 16 days (or 4,977 days), dating back to the 2010 DP World Tour Championship.
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the first time this season

Other notes

• Two-time champion (2020, 2022) Jerry Kelly sits T4 at 6-under after carding 67 as he looks to become the second three-time winner of the Kaulig Companies Championship. The 57-year-old seeks his 12th win on PGA TOUR Champions (166th start).
  • Last win: 2022 Rogers Charity Classic
• Fourth alternate Michael Wright carded the low round of the day with 7-under 63 to move from T23 to T4 on the leaderboard. The rookie, who turned 50 on February 21, seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (12th start).
  • Best finish: T17 (2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship)
  • Was one of five players to earn his card via Q-School (Final Stage) in December 2023 (finished second)
• K.J. Choi, who finished T3 at this event last year, sits T4 at 6-under after carding bogey-free 67. The 54-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (79th start).
  • Last win: 2021 PURE Insurance Championship
• Y.E. Yang and Paul Stankowski each sit T7 at 5-under.
• Thirty-six-hole leader Steven Alker posted 4-over 74 and sits T10 at 3-under.
• Mark Calcavecchia (back) withdrew during the third round.