Or, maybe it should be called the BirdieBuilder Challenge.
There is finally an undisputed leader at the CareerBuilder Challenge and it is the comeback kid — Jason Dufner.
After a lackluster first nine at LaQuinta on Saturday, all Dufner did was birdie seven of his final nine holes for a 29 and a third round 64 that put him 23-under through 54 holes.
He’s already blown past the 22-under winning score that Bill Haas shot last year and with the way things looked during the third round, Dufner will have to keep making birdies to capture his first win since the 2013 PGA.
“I’ve been playing good,” Dufner said, undeterred by the first nine holes where he only managed to shoot one-under. “Told my caddie we would have a good nine.” It was better than good, it was great. “You just keep playin’,” Dufner said. “I feel relaxed out there. I’m just playin’ golf. I feel good about where my game is.”
As good as Dufner feels, he will have to go low on Sunday to fend off the players who are in striking distance of him.
Jamie Lovemark will start the final 18 just two back and Adam Hadwin made it three players at 20-under or better.
David Lingmerth and Kevin Na blistered the Nicklaus course with 62s to join the chase. Lingmerth is 18-under, Na in a big group at 17 under that includes Phil Mickelson.
It’s been a pure three-day birdie barrage in the California desert. It took nine-under par to make the cut.
The remaining field moves to the Stadium Course for Sunday’s shootout.
