Harris English closed out the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open with a string of birdies to take a one-shot lead in San Diego.
Playing on the South Course at Torrey Pines, the American split seven birdies – including three in his final three holes – with a singular bogey to card a six-under 66 for a total of nine-under par.
That puts him one shot ahead of compatriot Andrew Novak, who did not drop a shot as he also finished with a 66 on Friday.
“I’ve played this place for a long time now and I feel like I know where to miss it, where to be aggressive and where to be patient,” English said.
“I feel like I picked my spots really well today and it’s nice when you’re seeing some putts go in.”
English went to a four-way playoff at the Farmers in 2015 before losing to Jason Day, and he finished third at the US Open held on this San Diego course in 2021.
“Winning in a place like this will be massive,” English said. “It’s one of my favourite places and the list of winners here is pretty incredible so I love being in the mix.”
Novak is chasing his first victory in his fourth season on tour and he added: “You want to win and anytime you want something, you might put pressure on yourself.
Andrew Novak trails English by one shot
“There’s going to be nerves. I’ve gone through Q-school. I’ve been sweating out cut lines. It’s all just nerves. I’ve been nervous a lot of times playing golf. It’s just part of it.
“You just have to step up and hit the golf shot.”
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South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter is also in the hunt, sitting on seven-under for the tournament thanks to a third-round score of five-under 67.
“Par threes probably aren’t my strongest out of the pars but I was hitting the ball a lot better today,” Potgieter said.
“Especially on those holes, I put myself in good spots to hole some putts.”
England’s Danny Willett is the best of the British contingent on two-under par.
Watch the fourth round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Friday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream the PGA Tour, majors and more with no contract on NOW.
