2022 Zurich Classic scores: Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay continue blistering run at TPC Louisiana

The pair have a five-stroke lead after three rounds and are heavy favorites to go wire to wire

Another round of the 2022 Zurich Classic is in the books, but the leaders are the same. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay torched the field at TPC Louisiana on Saturday, resetting the 54-hole tournament scoring record at -27. Now, they take a massive five-stroke lead into the final round of this team event.

We'll get to how they did it on Saturday in a moment, but the important part is how big the lead is going into the finale and how short the former Ryder Cuppers' odds are with just 18 holes to go. They followed their 59 on Thursday in the best-ball format and 68 on Friday in alternate-shot with an equally impressive 60 in Round 3 best-ball. They need to just hang on to that massive margin in alternate-shot as they head into the final day.

Let's take a closer look at their round and what lies ahead over the final round at the Zurich Classic.

The Leaders

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay (-29): Sometimes things go exactly according to script. The pre-tournament favorite has been absolutely blistering through 54 holes and seems to be enjoying their demolition in the process.

After going out in a decent-but-catchable 32, they left no doubt on the second nine by making eight birdies, shooting 28 and not posting a score worse than 4. The result? That five-stroke lead over the South African duo of Garrick Higgo and Branden Grace. Even though the event is essentially over, Schauffele and Cantlay are trying to keep talk of winning at bay for the time being.

"It's the third quarter," said Schauffele. "We finished a really good three quarters here and we have one more to go."

"Yeah, I think it's exactly what X said," added Cantlay. "We're going to stay patient and try and hit the right shot all day and stay really present. We did a good job of that today. Even when we got off to a slower start, we just stayed really present and tried to do the best we could. It's all cliches at this point, but that's really what it is."

Other Contenders

2. Garrick Higgo/Branden Grace (-24)
T3. David Lipsky/Aaron Rai, Sam Burns/Billy Horschel, Jason Day/Jason Scrivener (-23)

To win this event, one of these teams is likely going to have to shoot something preposterous to overcome two golfers who posted a pair of points in alternate-shot at last year's Ryder Cup. That's not completely impossible, of course, but there's a reason the odds are currently -800 in favor of the current leaders. Burns and Horschel have the most firepower out of this group and could feasibly post 67 (or something like that) in case the top duo stumbles, but all the control currently resides with Cantlay and Schauffele.

Two takeaways

Difficulties of holding a lead: It is perhaps more difficult at this tournament than any other on the PGA Tour to win by going wire to wire. There are so many low numbers out there that holding off every team for three straight days is an extraordinary feat. Cantlay and Schauffele are now within one round of doing just that, and while winning this tournament in and of itself is impressive, doing so in this fashion would be even more so.

Schauffele's eclectic set of wins: I'm sure we'll discuss this more if Schauffele and Cantlay go on to win on Sunday, but this would fit perfectly in Schauffele's strange mixture of victories over the course of his career. Though he hasn't won a stroke play event on the PGA Tour since the start of 2018, he has won an Olympic gold medal, the Tour Championship without starting strokes (which the OWGR recognizes as a win) and perhaps now a tournament with a partner. I don't know if this is evidence that he needs to win more in regular events or if it's evidence that he can win anywhere at any time, but it's certainly worthy of discussion as the event wears on.

New odds and pick

Here's a look at the new odds after three rounds, courtesy of Ceasars Sportsbook.

• Patrick Cantlay/Xander Schauffele: 1-8
• Sam Burns/Billy Horschel: 14-1
• Garrick Higgo/Branden Grace: 16-1
• David Lipsky/Aaron Rai: 25-1
• Jason Day/Jason Scrivener: 28-1

I laughed out loud when I saw this number for Cantlay and Schauffele, but it's not unwarranted. They shot the lowest round on Thursday, the lowest round on Saturday and the sixth-lowest round on Friday in alternate-shot. Burns and Horschel are worth a little something at that 14-1 number, I suppose, but this one is as good as over.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 5:38 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Cantlay and Schauffele get to 27 under with just two holes to go. Might be time for Vince Carter because this thing is about over.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 4:41 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Four consecutive birdies on the second nine from Schauffele/Cantlay, and they could potentially challenge the 59 they shot on Thursday to set the new tournament scoring record.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 4:13 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Three straight birdies for Cantlay/Schauffele to get to -24, and this thing is teetering on being over.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 4:02 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Two-shot swing just now as Cantlay/Schauffele birdie the 11th and Higg/Grace bogey the 12th. Former is now -23, and the latter is now back to -21.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 4:01 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

What a sport.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 3:35 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

There have been five 63s so far today, including Scottie Scheffler and Ryan Palmer, who ran their score to -17, five back of the current leaders (and probably a lot more than that by the end of the day).

[Apr 23, 2022 at 3:34 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Normal sport.

[Apr 23, 2022 at 3:18 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Billy Horschel and Sam Burns -- my one and done pick -- making a nice move this afternoon as they get to 20 under, within one of the co-lead shared by Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay and Garrick Higgo and Branden Grace.