2024 Charles Schwab Challenge leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler fires 63 in Round 3, trails Davis Riley by four

Riley is 14 under heading into Sunday's final round at Colonial

On a sad and somber day at Colonial Country Club, Davis Riley shot a 66 on Saturday to take a 4-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler into Sunday's final round at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

The day, unfortunately was about neither of them as it was announced that Grayson Murray -- who played in the event and withdrew during Friday's second round -- died at the age of 30. Murray's death obviously was the most important part of Round 3 and the broader golf world took notice.

On the course, Scheffler made his move, carding seven birdies and shooting his best round of 2024 with a 63 to move into solo second at the time he finished. At some point along the way, he became the favorite to win the golf tournament, even though he still has not led. That flipped back at the very end when Riley made a birdie at No. 17 to get back to 14 under.

We'll take a look at his round as well as what Riley needs to do to hold Scheffler off.

Leader

Davis Riley (-14): It looked for a while like Riley was going to run away with the tournament. He started with five birdies through his first eight holes, but then it seemed as if he was hit with the reality of what was happening and began falling back to the field. Bogeys at Nos. 9 and 10 were followed by two more birdies at Nos. 16 and 17 on the way in. As his reward for bouncing back, Riley will be tasked with the most difficult thing in golf right now — stopping Scheffler, who is only four back with 18 holes to play.

That lead could be gone early Sunday or it could last all day. It will be fascinating to watch somebody who has just eight top 10 finishes in 89 PGA Tour starts -- that's a smaller number than Scheffler has victories -- try to hold off the best player on the planet.

There are encouraging signs. 

Riley ranks No. 1 in this field from tee to green, and he hit it great for much of the day again Saturday save for that handful of holes starting in the middle of his round. Those two bogeys, though, were the first two he'd made since the fifth hole of his first round way back on Thursday afternoon.

Riley does have one win under his belt. However, it was a team event at the Zurich Classic. Beating Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor while playing alongside Nick Hardy is certainly going to have felt a bit different than when it feels like the entire crowd is running downhill straight at him as Scheffler tries to get his fifth win in his last seven events at a place where he's never held a trophy.

Other contenders

2. Scottie Scheffler (-10)
T3. Pierceson Coody, Hayden Buckley (-9)
5. Robby Shelton (-8)
6. Tony Finau (-7)

It's tempting to only list Scheffler here because it's difficult to envision anyone coming from behind him to win this tournament. That's how good he's playing right now.

As if it wasn't already unfair enough, Scheffler hit putts of 15 feet, 16 feet and 16 feet over three of his final four holes, all birdies. If that's happening, it's basically a wrap.

Scheffler's 63 tied his lowest score of the season, and now he's in perhaps not the driver's seat but definitely the passenger's seat for what would be his fifth win (including a major) since March 1. That's a full career -- five wins with a major -- and Scheffler has done it all in the span of just under three months.

It's been a remarkable run, which is also what Scheffler has been on since he left the 13th green Thursday. That was where he made a triple bogey that saw him 3 over and well back of the lead at that time. Since then, he has played the last 41 holes in 13 under and is on the precipice of yet another victory to add to what has already been an historic season.

2024 Charles Schwab Challenge updated odds, picks

Odds via Sportsline consensus

• Davis Riley: 20/21
• Scottie Scheffler: 11/10
• Pierceson Coody: 28-1
• Hayden Buckley: 28-1

Those are the only four shorter than 30-1. I actually love Finau at 35-1. He could absolutely catch a heater Sunday and only has five guys ahead of him, only one of whom is scary. If Scheffler has an off day (again, unlikely), Finau could shoot 63 or 64 and win this golf tournament.

[May 25, 2024 at 5:06 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Scheffler shoots 63

He's now solo second and just three shots back of leader Daivs Riley, who needs to close nicely just to maintain his current lead over the No. 1 player in the world. Scheffler is going to be a problem for Riley over the next 24 hours.

[May 25, 2024 at 4:05 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Don't let Scottie get hot

Scottie Scheffler just birdied the par-4 15th hole to move to 8 under par. He is currently tied for second with Pierceson Coody and Hayden Buckley. All three currently trail leader Davis Riley by six shot. Also, Keegan Bradley just joined them as I type this with birdies at his first two holes on the back nine to get to 8 under.

[May 25, 2024 at 2:46 pm ET · Kyle Porter]

Scottie Scheffler on the move

Scheffler shoots 3 under on the front to get inside the top six. The problem for him right now is that Davis Riley is galloping. He started seven shots ahead of Scheffler, and he's already 2 under on his day in Round 3. Scheffler could still win, but it looks like he'll need some luck.