LA QUINTA, California — Sepp Straka has showcased a strikingly clean game during his impressive performance at The American Express tournament, mirroring his new bald look after opting for a head shave in the offseason. On Saturday, he fired an 8-under 64, marking his third consecutive round without a bogey, which has placed the Austrian player four shots ahead of competitors Charley Hoffman, Jason Day, and Justin Lower.
Straka’s round included an impressive display of skill, particularly on the front nine at La Quinta Country Club, where he managed six birdies. He tacked on two more birdies in the later stages of his game, wrapping up the day with an overall score of 23-under 193. This remarkable achievement has made him only the third player to complete the first 54 holes of the tournament bogey-free since the event adopted a three-course rotation in 2016.
The 31-year-old golfer’s significant appearance change has sparked conversations among his peers. After successfully breaking into the top 20 on the tour last year, Straka decided to take charge of his hair loss by shaving it all off. “I was kind of losing my hair, so I figured I would get in front of it, so yeah, just (went) ahead and shaved it off,” he shared with a smile.
He started the tournament with a score of 65 on the Nicklaus Course, followed by a 64 on the Stadium Course. However, he needed to execute a precise wedge shot and sink a 10-foot putt to save par on his final hole Saturday after missing the fairway with his drive. A trailblazer in his home country, Straka was the first Austrian to secure a PGA Tour card and to claim a tournament victory.
As he prepares for the final round at PGA West on the Stadium Course, Straka remains focused, knowing the competition is fierce but not overly anxious. He planned to enjoy the evening with friends while watching the NFL playoff game between the Commanders and the Lions. “I think Stadium is the type of course where no lead is safe,” he noted, reflecting on his experience. He acknowledged that during his first win at the Honda Classic, he was five shots behind at the beginning of the day, demonstrating that any lead can easily dwindle. He aims to maintain solid ball-striking in his final round to secure the win.
The leaderboard is not just a showcase for Straka but also for seasoned golfers like Day, who has only one victory since 2018 despite being a former PGA Championship winner, and Hoffman, who, at 48 years old, is hunting for another title at the tournament where he achieved his first win in 2007. Lower, meanwhile, is striving for his inaugural tour victory.
“It’s amazing,” Straka remarked about the competitive field. “It’s a very fun leaderboard to look at. I played with Charley last week (at the Sony Open). He said he’s feeling good, so anytime his body is feeling good, he’s kind of dangerous.”
Hoffman had a solid start, sharing the lead at the beginning of the day and maintaining a clean card with a bogey-free round of 69. Although he faced challenges due to the tricky firmness of the greens, he expressed pride in his performance. “I didn’t get my head sort of around it until the back nine, and then I was able to make a couple putts coming in,” he mentioned.
Day’s experience on the course was filled with excitement as he recorded seven birdies and two bogeys in front of enthusiastic fans who came to watch him play alongside two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas. The Australian golfer feels a special connection to the Palm Springs area, mentioning how much he enjoys returning every winter to compete on the fantastic courses.
On the other hand, Thomas finished with a 68, standing at 17-under 199, just one shot behind fellow competitors Patrick Cantlay and Mark Hubbard. Lower, who also started the last two rounds close to the front, contributed a 68 and remains in contention for a breakthrough win, reaching 20 under with two birdies but stumbling with bogeys on the 14th and 17th holes.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap successfully made the cut at 9-under 207, while 17-year-old Blades Brown fell short, recording a 74 in his third round, thus missing the cut in his professional debut. Brown aims to qualify for the Farmers Insurance Open set for Monday at Torrey Pines.
Notably, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, the runner-up from last year’s tournament, also found himself missing the cut, marking a surprising turn in this year’s competition.
