Akshay Bhatia -15 is four shots ahead of nearest challenger Denny McCarthy with one round to go in Texas

36 hole -11 leader Akshay Bhatia took a five-shot lead into Saturday’s third round. Bhatia played in Saturday’s final group with Russell Henley and Brendon Todd. Bhatia’s front nine of 35 included a birdie at the ninth hole. Denny McCarthy -6 was paired with Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy for day three. Bhatia’s lead at the top of leaderboard was reduced to two shots due to McCarthy playing 14 holes in -4. Bhatia stretched his lead at the top of leaderboard to three shots due to a two-putt birdie at 14.

McCarthy achieved his fifth birdie of day three at 15 to reach -11. Bhatia’s lead at the top of leaderboard returned to three shots due to holing a long-range birdie putt at 17. McCarthy settled for a par at 18 to shoot a round of 67 and will head into Sunday on -11. Bhatia held his birdie putt at 18 to shoot a superb round of 68.