A recurring theme throughout the week at the 2025 Procore Championship has revolved around the presence of 10 out of the 12 members of the United States Ryder Cup team, using the event as their concluding preparation for the significant international competition. Following three rounds of competition held in Napa, California, four of these Ryder Cup participants are positioned within the top 10 of the tournament standings.
Ben Griffin is still holding the leading position at 16 under par as he approaches the final round, although his momentum slowed down somewhat after a blazing start, with a third-round score of 70. This allowed other competitors to narrow the distance, notably including Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player.
Closely trailing Griffin is amateur player Jackson Koivun, who continues to make a strong impression, standing in second place, only one stroke behind at 15 under par. The Auburn University student has already achieved two top 10 finishes in PGA Tour events this season, successfully making the cut in seven out of nine appearances, marking an exceptionally remarkable year as an amateur. This particular event is focused on accumulating experience for Koivun as he transitions to the professional level next year, and competing for a potential victory in the final group will provide another novel experience for the 20-year-old.
The experience will be especially fascinating for the amateur golfer due to the presence of a prominent player now challenging those two from third position. Scheffler recorded a third-round score of 64, enabling him to advance 11 positions on the leaderboard and enter the final round just two strokes behind Griffin. This type of performance has become characteristic of Scheffler, as he has demonstrated an ability to recover quickly from errors and produce remarkable birdies.
Scheffler is heading into Sunday hoping to emulate his showing at the BMW Championship, where he overtook Robert MacIntyre in the last round. During that tournament, he successfully applied pressure from within the final pairing. This Sunday in Napa, he will aim to do so from the second-to-last group alongside Garrick Higgo (-13), with hopes that the cheers emanating from the crowd drawn towards the final group will heighten the tension.
J.J. Spaun and Russell Henley began the third day positioned within the top five, but they regressed to a shared ninth place at 9 under par, with respective scores of 72 and 74. The two Ryder Cup newcomers will be seeking to rebound with a noteworthy performance on Sunday, aiming to advance higher. Being seven strokes behind the leader (and five strokes behind Scheffler), their chances of winning are considerably diminished.
The remaining members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team are further back in the standings. Cameron Young (-7), Sam Burns (-5), Patrick Cantlay (-4), Collin Morikawa (-4), Harris English (-3) and Justin Thomas (-2) are unlikely contenders for the championship, but each will approach Sunday as an opportunity to refine their performance in a competitive environment prior to their trip to Bethpage Black in the weeks ahead.
