2020 WGC-Mexico Championship leaderboard: Justin Thomas grabs lead after Round 3 with host of chasers

Thomas wasn't even the biggest story of the day as Jon Rahm set a new course record with a bogey on the card

Another day, another great round at the WGC-Mexico Championship. I'll expound on how I feel about this event below, but for now let's jump into a third round that included a new course record, new top of the leaderboard and sets up for what should be yet another entertaining Sunday in a year full of them.

First place -- Justin Thomas (-15): He's played great at this course throughout his career, but after a bogey at the first hole on a day when the field average was a half stroke under par, things didn't look great. So of course he played the next 16 holes in 8 under before bogeying the last for a 6-under 65. It wasn't the round of the day (we'll get to that below), but it was tied for a second-best. Given J.T.'s starting spot on this board coming into Sunday, it was plenty.

Round of the day -- Jon Rahm (61): Rahm snagged the new course record at Golf Club de Chapultepec with his 10-under 61 that included an ace on the 17th hole. Incredibly, Rahm's 61 included a bogey. Unsurprisingly, it vaulted him into a tie for fourth on the leaderboard. The 27-hole heater he's on is the best of the tournament. After making the turn on Friday (not Thursday but Friday) at 4 over, Rahm has played his last 27 holes in 15 under and is suddenly four back of the lead. I don't think he can sustain that on Sunday in the final round, but it's been an absolute show.

Who can catch Thomas -- Patrick Reed (-14), van Rooyen (-14), Bryson DeChambeau (-11), Rory McIlroy (-11), Jon Rahm (-11): McIlroy is the most dangerous of the bunch obviously, but he's also four back with three guys in front of him. He remains fifth in the field from tee to green but his putting has fallen off the last two days. Reed seems like Thomas' biggest threat here. He's hitting it really well for him, and he'll be, uh, extra motivated because of all the chatter around him and his play over the last few weeks.

Shot of the day: Has to be Rahm's ace, right?

Closing time: J.T. is a certified closer. Not everybody wants the ball late on Sundays when the air gets a little thinner (not just because of the altitude this golf course was built at), but Thomas does. That's why his 54-hole lead numbers look like this. That's why he's the -110 favorite, according to William Hill Sportsbook.

What a win would mean for Thomas: It would be his third of the season and 11th in the last 38 months. His trajectory as a 26-year-old is ludicrous and one I'm not sure we totally appreciate. This would also be his second WGC win (to go with Bridgestone) after three straight top 10s here at this course, including a playoff loss to Phil Mickelson two years ago.

Underrated Mexico: Listen, I know it's not Riviera, but for the fourth straight year we've gotten a terrific tournament here. First year, it was Dustin Johnson vs. Tommy Fleetwood. Then we got Mickelson-Thomas in a playoff. Last year, D.J. lapped Rory. This year, it's J.T. again with an armada of chasers. Interestingly, this course often causes separation at the top of the board, which is the characteristic of a great course (which it is not). I remain confused about how to feel about all of this other than the fact that I know I love this tournament.

Prediction for Day 4: I'm definitely going to regret this, but I'm kind of feeling a Reed 66 tomorrow with Reed-Rory-Thomas finishing 1-2-3.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 5:47 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Justin Thomas shoots 65 and co-leads currently with Patrick Reed. That will be a fun duo on Sunday with van Rooyen one back and Rory, Rahm and Bryson four back. Has all the makings of another JT victory lap, but I think it would be a lot of fun if Reed spoiled the party.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 4:57 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Bryson has lost his lead. This isn't a huge surprise. He's outside the top 20 in strokes gained tee to green and first in putting. That feels unsustainable throughout an entire week against the best players in the world. Also, Jon Rahm just made an ace on 17, shot 61, broke the course record and jumped into the top five on the leaderboard.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 4:14 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

JT ties it up at -13. It makes sense that he would play well here even though he missed the cut last week at Riviera. He co-holds the course record of 62 at Chapultepec. He also never has two bad weeks in a row. I'm here for any iteration of JT-Reed, JT-Bryson or JT-Rory.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 3:43 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Bryson makes a double on the front nine, and the tournament is back on. What's going to be really interesting here is if Rory or JT sneaks into it and co-leads going into Sunday. That's going to be problematic for either Bryson or van Rooyen.

Both of those guys are under par on the day and within three of the lead.

[Feb 22, 2020 at 2:42 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Wow, both van Rooyen and Bryson birdied the first and eagled the second. Not sure if I've ever seen that. They're up three on those that are T3 (Reed, Thomas, McIlroy).

[Feb 22, 2020 at 2:03 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Bryson and Erik van Rooyen both birdie the first, and the top four on the board are all separated by one stroke.

Bryson: -12
Van Rooyen: -11
Reed: -10
Matsuyama: -9
Thomas/Rory: -8