Prior to the final round of the Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club on Saturday, Patrick Cantlay's lead was reduced to two shots as he stumbled late on his way to a one-under-par 70.

Cantlay, ranked seventh in the world, began the day leading by five shots as he pursued his ninth US PGA Tour victory and his first since 2022.

With two holes remaining, he was four ahead of his good buddy Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris, but a bogey at the par-five 17th saw him finish with a 54-hole total of 199, two strokes ahead of them.

Luke List, an American, signed for a 68-stroke ahead of Schauffele and Zalatoris, who both shot six-under-par 65s. Midway through Friday's second round, Tiger Woods, the tournament host, withdrew from his first official tour event in almost ten months due to sickness. As a result, Sunday's final pairing between friends and regular match play partners, Cantlay and Schauffele, will be the focus of attention.

Cantlay stated, "I had a good round of golf today." "I didn't make any long putts or anything, didn't really give myself too many chances, but all in all a solid day and in good position for tomorrow."

Cantlay's eight-foot birdie putt at the par-five first gave him a bright start to the day. After bogeying the third, he led by four shots after making birdies at the 11th and 13th holes. However, he discovered a fairway bunker off the tee at 17. On the second-easiest hole on the course, he made a bogey when his third shot missed the green and he mishandled the chip, leaving him at 14 feet.

The world number five, attempting to capture an eighth tour title, Schauffele, opened his round with a 13-foot eagle at the par-five first, marking his second consecutive round without making a bogey.

He added consecutive birdies at the 10th and 11th holes, as well as a pair at the 16th and 17th holes. At the 18th hole, he got up and down for par off the green.

The Tokyo Olympic gold champion, Corey Schauffele, stated, "To play good golf around Riviera you've got to sort of fire on all cylinders and I've been able to do that the last couple of days." I simply wanted to treat myself to a shot tomorrow."

Schauffele was excited to have Cantlay play with him. In both Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup competition, the two have shown themselves to be a strong team and practice together frequently.

- Self-confidence-

"There's nothing more that we like to do than compete in big events," Schauffele stated. "We've done it a few times in the past and taken shots at each other, it's something we talk about and something we want to keep doing."

On Sunday, he remarked, "a certain amount of self-belief" will be crucial.

Schauffele remarked, "I'm not going to look at the board too much." "I feel like if I can just keep doing what I'm doing, get some pressure on Pat or whoever's going to be in that group is the most important thing."


After recovering from back surgery that kept him out of the game for the most of last year, Zalatoris is in the hunt in just his fourth event.

He put further pressure on Cantlay with back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17, capping a second round 70 that included a hole-in-one at the 16th. His six-under performance comprised seven birdies and one bogey.

Before Sunday, American Harris English and Australian Jason Day were tied for sixth place on 10-under 203.

Day shot himself into contention at the 17th hole with an eagle that brought him to two under 69, while English made six birdies in his six-under 65.

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