2024 Genesis Invitational leaderboard, scores: Patrick Cantlay will battle Xander Schauffele, Will Zalatoris

Cantlay has led through all three rounds of the Genesis Invitational

The third round of the 2024 Genesis Invitational may not have included the theatrics and drama of the first 36 holes, but it finished with the same man sitting atop the leaderboard. Patrick Cantlay at 14 under will head into the final round at Riviera Country Club with a two-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris after shooting 1-under 70 on Saturday.

Cantlay's Moving Day was decidedly different from his first two rounds. Commanding a tournament-record five-stroke lead after 36 holes, the eight-time PGA Tour winner saw pursuer after pursuer throw punch after punch.

Schauffele was the first to make a move as an eagle on the par-5 1st propelled the American's name directly under his Ryder Cup partner. he continued to pester with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 to get within three, but Cantlay held steady.

A birdie from the blade of Cantlay on the par-5 11th moments later extended his lead back to four. There would be ebbs and flows throughout the back nine as runs were made by Harris English and then Zalatoris. English finished the day four back, while both Schauffele and Zalatoris sit at 12 under with some clutch birdies falling near the end of their rounds.

The lead shuffled between three and four strokes for most of the back nine as Cantlay responded with a pitching wedge drawing from right to left to access a tucked pin location on the par-4 13th to set up a successful birdie conversion from 5 feet. He appeared keen on adding to his lead, but instead the edge got trimmed to two for the first time all day when Cantlay made an inexplicable bogey on the par-5 17th and injected new life into this tournament.

The three countrymen will now face off in the final round Sunday with Cantlay and Schauffele occupying the final pair. In unison throughout seemingly every aspect of life from career milestones to PGA Tour victories to even vacations in Napa Valley, Cantlay and Schauffele remain by one another's side. They'll shake hands on the first tee, share laughs and play 18 holes like they do most weeks, only this time the stakes will be higher as a title at the historic Riviera awaits.

The leader

1. Patrick Cantlay (-14): Cantlay's round was not littered the par breakers of his first two, but it was impressive most of the way. Never getting ahead of himself and seeing multiple players go on heaters, Cantlay stuck to his own game. He took what Riviera gave him and stood at a measly even par after a nice save on the short par-4 10th. Two back-nine birdies, including a bonus on the par-4 13th, gave the former FedEx Cup champion a chance to hold a four-stroke lead heading entering Sunday's final round. However, a birdie hole turned into a bogey, and Cantlay's comfortable edge of four shrunk to a sweaty two.

Other contenders

T2. Xander Schauffele, Will Zalatoris (-12)
4. Luke List (-11)
T5. Jason Day, Harris English (-10)
T7. J.T. Poston, Hideki Matsuyama, Corey Conners (-8)

Schauffele is now without a bogey in his last 36 holes, and he will need more of the same Sunday given the deficit. Working with his new swing coach, Chris Como, Schauffele is slowly getting more comfortable, and it has showed in a big way the last two days with rounds of 66 and 65. Schauffele and Cantlay last played in the final group together at the 2022 BMW Championship where Cantlay came out on top. Schauffele would love nothing more than to return the favor.

"It's a pretty comfortable pairing for us," said Schauffele. "We play a lot week in and week out and we both love to compete. There's nothing more than we like to do is compete in big events. We've done it a few times in the past and taken shots at each other; it's something we talk about and something we want to keep doing."

Is Zalatoris officially back?

Zalatoris' return to competitive golf following a back injury was -- to put it bluntly -- ugly. Carding a couple rounds in the 80s at the Hero World Challenge and missing the cut badly at the Sony Open, Zalatoris has now found his former quality in California. Torrey Pines allowed his tee-to-green prowess to shine, and Riviera is doing the same. He has always been a player to thrive on more difficult setups (just look at his major championship record), and this two-tournament stretch may be enough to suggest he is all the way back. He ranks fourth in strokes gained tee to green and first in strokes gained approach in vintage Zalatoris fashion.

2024 Genesis Invitational updated odds, picks

• Patrick Cantlay: 6/5
• Xander Schauffele: 3-1
• Will Zalatoris: 4-1
• Luke List: 14-1
• Jason Day: 20-1
• Harris English: 28-1

Cantlay looks in total control and will have the luxury of playing from ahead. A four-stroke lead would have been much nicer, but a plus-money price on the steadiest player of the bunch seems like the right play even though the lead was trimmed to two. Schauffele and Zalatoris will be difficult to skirt past, but Cantlay's well-rounded game should allow him to prevail at a course he's been knocking at the door at for years.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 6:07 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Schauffele and Zalatoris get in the house

The two Americans finish the day at 12 under after matching 65s. Patrick Cantlay is on the 16th green at 15 under and will face 25 feet for birdie. Cantlay will likely two putt and head to the par-5 17th with a good chance to regain a four-stroke lead. Four seems like an awfully lot more than three when it comes to a 54-hole lead.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 5:41 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Schauffele and Zalatoris trying to make a move

Patrick Cantlay tacked on a birdie on 13 to get to 15 under and just knocked in a nice par putt on 14 to remain there. Up ahead, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris both made birdies on the par-3 16th to get within four. They both have real chances to get with three on the par-5 17th. It's a rice between them to get into the final group alongside Cantlay tomorrow. Schauffele has the inside lane since he will finish first.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 5:18 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Another big putt from Cantlay

Our leader connects from 11 feet on the difficult 12th to stay at 14 under after a birdie on the previous hole. Cantlay went from rough to rough and was able to get up-and-down to maintain his four-stroke lead. Despite players throwing some punches, the lead is still four and Cantlay looks steady as ever.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:48 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Cantlay salvages par on No. 10

Our leader makes a 5-foot par effort on the short 10th to remain at 13 under and three clear of the field. Xander Schauffele, Harris English, Will Zalatoris and soon to be Jason Day all find themselves at this number. Cantlay needs to pick one up on the par-5 11th to give himself a little more wiggle room before the difficult run of holes from Nos. 12-15.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 4:21 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Here they come!

There are now six players at 9 under and four behind Patrick Cantlay including Will Zalatoris. Back-to-back birdies around the turn have Zalatoris in second place with eight holes to play. Xander Schauffele is at 9 under as well and just reached the surface in two on the par-5 11th. He has roughly 30 feet for his second eagle of the day and to cut Cantlay's lead in half.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:57 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Harris English makes his move

He was as long as 200-1 overnight and Harris English now finds himself in a share of second place. He's 5 under on his day and just converted a huge par save on the par-4 12th to keep his momentum rolling. Cantlay looks to be stuck in neutral as the front nine is proving a little more difficult than days past. If English can skirt past this difficult stretch and tack another birdie to his card on the par-5 17th, his 10-under number may look awfully good.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:34 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Cantlay drops one

The leader failed to get up-and-down on No. 3 and has since added a par to his scorecard to stand at 13 under. I'll be interested to see how close some of those on the back nine of Riviera can get come the end of the day. Russell Henley is making his way through the most difficult stretch right now at 7 under. If he can get to 9 under, he may be sitting pretty.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 3:06 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

List misses chance to cut into lead

It was a beautiful mid iron into the 2nd hole from Luke List but he is unable to convert. Missing his 5-foot birdie bid, List remains at 9 under and five behind Patrick Cantlay as they exchanged birdies on the first. 

[Feb 17, 2024 at 2:37 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Cantlay to begin final round

He is paired with Luke List and still holds a five-stroke lead despite some early movement. Cantlay is 0 for 7 in his career converting the 36-hole lead into a victory, but never has he held such a margin.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 2:22 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Schauffele makes big leap on No. 1

That's how you begin Moving Day. Xander Schauffele looks to track down his good pal, Patrick Cantlay, and he gets off to a dream start with an eagle-3 on No. 1. Schauffele is now at 8 under and among the cluster of pursuers in a share of second place five off the pace. Up ahead, Adam Scott is surging.

[Feb 17, 2024 at 1:58 pm ET · Patrick McDonald]

Scheffler squanders chance on No. 1

You can't be making par on No. 1 and expect to make up ground. Scottie Scheffler makes par after being greenside in two and remains nine off the pace of Patrick Cantlay. We are seeing scores be had with players like Seamus Power getting to 5 under on his round.