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Padraig Harrington, Steven Alker share 36-hole lead at Simmons Bank Championship
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Things to know
- Steven Alker and Pádraig Harrington, who have combined to win four of the last seven Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs events (and five of the last nine), share the 36-hole lead at the Simmons Bank Championship presented by Stephens following a rainy Saturday in Little Rock, Arkansas.
- Weather delay: Play was suspended for 11 minutes with players staying in position from 2:27 p.m. to 2:38 p.m. (CT) due to heavy rainfall and course conditions.
Pádraig Harrington, 67-65 – 132 (-12)
Charles Schwab Cup standings – Start: 11th / Projected: fourth
- This is his ninth time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions.
- Is 6-for-8 converting those into victories.
- The 53-year-old seeks his ninth win on PGA TOUR Champions (48th start).
- Last win: 2024 DICK’S Open.
- He seeks his third win of the 2024 season (14th start).
- Previous wins in 2024: Hoag Classic (March 22-24); DICK’S Open (June 21-23).
- Would match Ernie Els (3) and Stephen Ames (3) for the most wins by any player this season on PGA TOUR Champions.
- With a win on Sunday, he would extend his streak to three consecutive years winning a Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs event.
- Previous wins in Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs events: 2022 Charles Schwab Cup Championship; 2023 TimberTech Championship.
- He will play in the last group of the final round for the fifth time this season.
- Is 2-for-4 converting those into victories.
Steven Alker, 62-70 – 132 (-12)
Charles Schwab Cup standings – Start: second / Projected: first
- This is his eighth time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions..
- Is 5-for-7 converting those into victories.
- The 53-year-old seeks his ninth win on PGA TOUR Champions (74th start).
- Last win: 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
- He seeks his second win of the 2024 season (21st start).
- Has 15 top-10 finishes this season.
- He entered the week No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings and is projected to take the lead.
- With a win on Sunday, he would become the sixth multi-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions.
- With a win on Sunday, he would extend his streak to four consecutive years winning a Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs event.
- Previous wins in Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs events: 2021 TimberTech Championship; 2022 Dominion Energy Charity Classic; 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
- In three previous appearances in the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, his final standing by season: 18th (2020-21), first (2022), second (2023).
- He will play in the last group of the final round for the fifth time this season.
- Is 1-for-4 converting those into victories.
Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs implications
- After Sunday’s final round, the top 36 players in the standings will qualify for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
- After the first round of the Simmons Bank Championship, Hiroyuki Fujita is projected to move into the top 36.
Other notes
- Rod Pampling (T3) carded the low round of the day with 64 and sits T3 at 10-under. The 55-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (114th start).
- 2024 U.S. Senior Open runner-up Hiroyuki Fujita sits T3 at 10-under after carding 67. The 55-year-old is currently projected to advance to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship moving from 51st to 36th in the standings.
- World Golf Hall of Fame members Retief Goosen and Vijay Singh also sit T3 at 10-under along with Miguel Ángel Jiménez and club professional Jason Caron. Caron is currently projected to move to 38th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, two spots shy of advancing to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
- Reigning Q-School (Final Stage) medalist Cameron Percy is among the players T9 at 9-under. He is currently projected to move to 37th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, one spot shy of advancing to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
- K.J. Choi (T9) and Caron (T3) are the only two players in the field who are bogey-free after 36 holes.
- Charles Schwab Cup leader Ernie Els carded 71 and sits T22 at 4-under. He is projected to move to No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
- Arkansas native Ken Duke is T41 after shooting even-par 72 for the second consecutive day.