Steele posts lowest round of PGA Tour career to lead Sony Open

Brendan Steele recorded the lowest round of his PGA Tour career as he claimed a two-stroke lead after the third round at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

American golfer Steele – who lost a play-off at last year's tournament – posted a nine-under-par 61 to rise six positions to the top of the leaderboard in Honolulu on Saturday.

A three-time Tour champion, Steele was flawless at Waialae Country Club, where he drained nine birdies, including his final two holes to be 18 under overall.

Steele holds the outright 54-hole lead for the second consecutive season at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He could become the first player to lose a play-off and win the same event the following season since Ryuji Imada in 2008.

The lowest round of his TOUR career. 61 and a 2-shot lead has @Brendan_Steele in position for redemption @SonyOpenHawaii. pic.twitter.com/8Eo4NsooFZ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2021

Kevin Na (61) and Joaquin Niemann are Steele's nearest challengers heading into the final round of the tournament.

Na equalled his career low-round, while the American is now tied with Brandt Snedeker and Justin Thomas for the most rounds (four) of 61 or better on Tour since 2014.

Peter Malnati (64), Charley Hoffman (64), Russell Henley (65), Chris Kirk (65) and Stewart Cink (65) are three shots off the pace.

Leaderboard thru 54 holes @SonyOpenHawaii: 1. @Brendan_Steele (-18) T2. Kevin Na (-16) T2. @JoacoNiemann T4. @PeterMalnati (-15) T4. @Hoffman_Charley T4. @RussHenleyGolf T4. @Chris_Kirk_ T4. @StewartCink T9. 4 players tied (-14)

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2021

Overnight leader and Canadian Nick Taylor, meanwhile, dropped down the leaderboard following his two-under-par 68.

Taylor ended the round tied for ninth on 14 under, alongside Marc Leishman (65), Keith Mitchell (63) and Daniel Berger (64).