World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els carded the low round of the day (63) to take a one-stroke lead over fellow South African Hall of Famer Retief Goosen entering the final round of the Sanford International.

Ernie Els, 66-63 – 129 (-11)

• The 55-year-old seeks his eighth win on PGA TOUR Champions (124th start).
  • Seeks his second win of the 2025 season (20th start)
  • Last win: Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (Jan. 16-18)
  • Entered the week No. 5 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings
• Looks to become the seventh multiple winner of the 2025 season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Miguel Angel Jiménez (4), Ángel Cabrera (3), Steve Allan (3), Padraig Harrington (2), Thomas Bjørn (2) and Stewart Cink (2)
• Looks to achieve his third multi-win season on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Previous multi-win seasons: 2020-21 (two wins), 2024 (three wins)
• Matched his low 36-hole score in an individual stroke play event on PGA TOUR Champions (129)
  • Previous instance: 2025 Mitsubishi Electric Classic (finished second)
• Matched his second-lowest round on PGA TOUR Champions (392nd round)
  • Previous instances of 63: 2021 Dominion Energy Charity Classic (Final Round), 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship (Round 1)
  • Low 18-hole score: 62 (2024 Principal Charity Classic, Round 1)
• This is his 14th time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA TOUR Champions (4-for-13)
• Will play in the last group of the final round for the fifth time this season (1-for-4)
  • Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (Won), Chubb Classic (11th), Mitsubishi Electric Classic (second) and The Ally Challenge (second – lost in playoff)
• Making his sixth appearance at the Sanford International, he has three top-10 finishes.
  • Previous top 10s at the Sanford International: T8 (2020), third (2022), T3 (2024)

Other notes

• World Golf Hall of Fame member Retief Goosen (second) carded 65 for the second consecutive day. The 56-year-old seeks his fourth win on PGA TOUR Champions (138th start).
  • Last win: 2024 Galleri Classic
• Rookie Bo Van Pelt (third) posted 65, including a front-nine 29, to match his low round on PGA TOUR Champions (28th round). The 50-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (10th start).
  • Best finish: T17 (two times; 2025 ISPS HANDA Senior Open, 2025 Stifel Charity Classic)
  • Previous 65: 2025 Ally Challenge (Final round)
• The 2020 champion and Charles Schwab Cup leader Miguel Angel Jiménez sits in fourth at 8-under.
• First-round leader Ángel Cabrera and reigning Q-School (Final Stage) medalist Søren Kjeldsen are T5 at 7-under.
• The 2021 champion Darren Clarke shot a bogey-free 64 and sits in seventh at 6-under.
• John Daly withdrew before the start of the second round; 2019 champion Rocco Mediate withdrew after the second round.