Alex Noren has 11 international wins, he has played in the Ryder Cup and he has represented Sweden at the Olympics. But come Sunday, he’ll have a chance to do something he has never done before — win on the PGA Tour.
After rounds of 61-66 over the first two days, Noren shot a 4-under 67 around Port Royal Golf Course on Saturday and holds a one-shot lead at the 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship with 18 holes to play.
The Swede, who tied for third at the Shriners Children’s Open a month ago in Las Vegas, kept the bogeys off the card during his third round. Despite only hitting eight fairways (T-43 in the field), Noren was crisp with his irons, missing just four greens (T-12).
In 27 previous starts this season, Noren has six top-25 finishes and three top-10s. His last worldwide win came at the 2018 HNA Open de France.
If you missed any of the action on Saturday, no worries, we have you covered. Here are some takeaways from the third round of the 2023 Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal.
Camilo Villegas of Colombia plays his shot from the tenth tee during the third round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on November 11, 2023 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Villegas was tied for the lead through 54 holes last week in Mexico but was chased down by Erik van Rooyen and had to settle for a T-2 finish. Now, thanks to rounds of 67-63 over the first two days and a 6-under 65 on Saturday, Villegas is once again in prime position to earn his first PGA Tour win since 2014.
He’s alone in second with 18 holes to play, just one shot back of Noren. Villegas was 1 under through seven holes but birdied four straight from Nos. 9-12. He added one more with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th after a fantastic second.
“Be good.”
It was.@CamiloVillegasR is now tied for the lead after a two-putt birdie @Bermuda_Champ pic.twitter.com/qTCiKztTQI
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2023
If Villegas were to win Sunday, it’d be one of the best feel-good moments of the season.
Carl Yuan of China plays his shot from the ninth tee during the third round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on November 11, 2023 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)
Yuan and Whaley are each looking for their first wins on the PGA Tour, and thanks to matching 6-under 65s on Saturday, both are within striking distance with 18 holes left to play.
The unique-swinging Yuan missed the cut last week at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico, but tied for sixth in October at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Whaley finished T-28 or better in three straight starts before a T-59 finish in Mexico.
Yuan was bogey-free on Saturday, while Whaley was close to doing the same before a bogey at the finishing hole.
Both players are tied for sixth, four shots back of the lead.
Describe @CarlYuanGolf’s swing with one emoji. pic.twitter.com/MlUufDBglu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2023
Stewart Cink of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the third round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on November 11, 2023 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)
Stewart Cink, who has crossed the 50 threshold and played in four PGA Tour Champions events this season, is hanging with the kids down in Bermuda.
After opening with rounds of 64-67, Cink fired a third-round 5-under 66 and is 16 under for the week, alone in fifth and two shots back of the lead.
Over 25 previous starts this season, Cink has finished inside the top 25 just twice: T-21 at the Sony Open (January) and T-23 at the Open.
His last win on the PGA Tour came at the RBC Heritage in 2021.
George Bryan IV of the United States hits a tee shot on the tenth hole during the second round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on November 10, 2023 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Both of the Bryan brothers made the cut on the number this week, with George making his PGA Tour debut in Southampton.
The YouTube star fired a 2-under 69 on Day 3, while his brother, Wesley — who began his day with three straight birdies — was one better at 3-under 68.
Through 54 holes Wesley is tied for 46th at 8 under and George is tied for 54th at 7 under.
While neither brother will win this week, it’s safe to say they’ll be playing for bragging rights on Sunday.
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮’𝙨 closer 😂
It’s always a competition with @BryanBrosGolf. pic.twitter.com/4RFbNLgSAd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 11, 2023
| Position | Player | Score | Odds to win |
| 1 | Alex Noren | 19 under | (+140) |
| 2 | Camilo Villegas | 18 under | (+400) |
| T-3 | Matt Schmid | 17 under | (+700) |
| T-3 | Ryan Moore | 17 under | (+750) |
| 5 | Stewart Cink | 16 under | (+1800) |
| T-6 | Vince Whaley | 15 under | (+3000) |
| T-6 | Carl Yuan | 15 under | (+4000) |
| T-6 | Kramer Hickok | 15 under | (+3500) |
| T-6 | Adam Scott | 15 under | (+1600) |
| T-6 | Satoshi Kodaira | 15 under | (+5000) |
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