COVERAGE: Familiar Pair Tied at Kaulig Companies Championship

AKRON, Ohio — Miguel Angel Jimenez and Steven Alker came into this week ranked first and third respectively in the Charles Schwab Cup money list. On Sunday, the two will be able to compare notes from a very close distance, with each tied for the lead after three rounds of the Kaulig Companies Championship.

Jimenez, a 16-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions, has already triumphed three times this season and would surpass Angel Cabrera for most on tour were he to come out on top Sunday.

The Spaniard also would claim his first major since 2018 when he won both the Regions Tradition and the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.

Jimenez now has five multi-win seasons as a member of PGA Tour Champions, but winning a fourth title on Sunday would give him his most victories in a single season.

“I played very well the first nine holes and was 3 under, and 1 under on the back nine,” Jimenez summarized. “I made a bogey but made two very good up and downs on 13 and 14. I missed the last birdie putt on 18, but that’s golf.”

Indeed, Jimenez entered the round a stroke off the lead but by the end of the front nine, the field as it has much of the year, was chasing him.

The bogey on 12 stalled his momentum, though he kept the lead by making a long par save on 13 and getting up and down from a bunker on the 14th hole, both nods to his countryman Seve Ballesteros.

“It is hard to pick one shot, I hit many good shots today, no,” pondered Jimenez. “But if I had to say one it would be the bunker shot on the 14th. Beautiful shot with the spin and I nearly holed it.”

Jimenez is used to sleeping on leads and co-leads out on tour, so his worry is minimal, rather true to himself he already had his evening plans determined.

“I’m going to go to a nice restaurant, have a nice bottle of wine, a beautiful big, fat cigar and enjoy myself,” he summarized. “Then whatever happens tomorrow happens.”

Alker is looking for his 10th win in his 86 starts, and a second major to pair with his 2022 Senior PGA Championship. The South African was earlier a winner at the Cologard Classic in March.

He shot a second consecutive 67, separating himself with a 3-under back nine, positioning himself for a potentially third multi-win season out on tour.

“I mean another tough day around here,” deduced Alker. “Boy the course didn’t give us a lot with the wind, it was a little bit stronger today and the course is drying out a bit. Pleased to get under par and tie for the lead. Just again go out and battle tomorrow.”

In 10 events this season, Alker has eight top 10 finishes and has a clear liking for Firestone Country Club evidenced by finishing tied for third in 2022, logging another top 10 in last year’s event and in 2023 tying for 16th place.

It is clear that based upon past experience, Alker has the ability to win, it is just keeping a consistent approach at the end to lift the trophy and secure an appearance in next year’s Players Championship.

“Just hang in there because you know you’re going to scramble for some pars,” Alker said. “Birdies are going to be tough to come by, so just hang in there. Hopefully if you make a bogey, just carry on, it’s not the end of the world.”

The pair’s closest pursuers are each two shots back in Freddie Jacobson and Michael Wright.

Jacobson tied for second earlier on this year at the Hoag Classic, his best finish in his first full season. He has an additional top five placement and another top 10 to go along with it.

The Swede hit 11 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, which tied for best in the field on Saturday. This matched his goal of hitting as many greens as possible, not the easiest thing to do at Firestone.

For Jacobson it shows he is getting more comfortable on the course and giving himself chances. He hopes that his 12th start is the one that gets him in the winner’s circle.

“(I’ve) just tried to get to stay a little more centered in the swing after the first day,” revealed Jacobson. “I had to kind of work on something, not moving off the ball too much stay there and kind of let the club go a little bit. A little bit like the putting, tried to just swing it freely, stay centered and put some speed on the club. That’s what I’ve been working on. Just stayed loose and body feels good, so been able to go after it pretty good this week.”

Also, two back is Michael Wright, who certainly felt momentum coming off two consecutive top 10 finishes and returning to a course which set up his rookie season last year.

“The more times I get into the top 10, top 5, the more comfortable I will be,” Wright settled. “Obviously last year I was a bit disappointed to not finish higher up, because I was playing so well, but these things happen. If I can fall back on that tomorrow, hopefully that will keep me in good stead.”

Wright’s best finish on tour is a T5 at the 2024 Sanford International.

The fourth round begins at 11:15 Sunday with first shots coming off in threesomes on split tees at 11:15.