2021 CJ Cup: Round 3 Matchups

Oct 15, 2021

4for4 Illustrations

No-cut international tournaments like the CJ Cup are typically events when the cream eventually rises to the top and a high-ranked player takes home the trophy. Last year at this event, journeyman Jason Kokrak bucked the trend and captured his first PGA Tour victory down the road at Shadow Creek. This year, upstart Keith Mitchell appears to be following in Kokrak's steps. He followed up his career-low 62 from the first round with an 8-under 64 on Friday to build a five-shot shot lead going into the weekend at The Summit Club. With multiple players shooting 10-under 62s in the first two days, no lead is safe, but at 18-under par, Mitchell has a nice cushion to play with. Of course, the pressure has gotten to him in the past when entering one of the weekend rounds with the lead. But he does also have a PGA Tour victory to his name, winning the 2019 Honda Classic. Among the big-name contenders chasing him on the leaderboard include Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott at 13-under, Tyrrell Hatton and Rickie Fowler at 12-under, plus Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith and Paul Casey at 11-under.