Hyo-Joo Kim fired an 11-under 61 in Saturday’s third round to break the LPGA 54-hole scoring record and take a four-shot lead at the Ford Championship in Arizona.
The 30-year-old’s bogey-free round featured nine birdies and an eagle, leaving her at 25 under par and one shot better than the previous 54-hole mark. With Sei Young Kim’s 72-hole total of 257 (31 under) from the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic still the Tour benchmark, Hyo-Joo needs a 65 or better on Sunday to eclipse that 72-hole record.
Kim arrives at the final day chasing back-to-back titles after winning last week’s Fortinet Founders Cup in California, where she beat Nelly Korda by one stroke. Her third-round form at Whirlwind Golf Club — which included seven consecutive one-putt greens — has put her well positioned to defend the Ford Championship.
Nelly Korda is second at 21 under after a flawless 5-under 67 on Saturday. Reflecting on the contrast between their rounds, Korda said she wouldn’t complain about a bogey-free, five-under performance even while praising Kim: “Playing with someone like Hyo-Joo today, it didn’t feel like that good of a round. She played unbelievable golf.” She added a reminder to herself and others: “It’s just Saturday. There are still 18 more holes left.”
England’s Mimi Rhodes produced a sensational 9-under 63 to move into a five-way tie for third at 16 under. The 24-year-old, a three-time Ladies European Tour winner in 2025, mixed eight birdies with an eagle and one dropped shot. At nine shots back, Rhodes will need something special and some slips from the leaders to claim a maiden LPGA title.
Kim summed up her day simply: “All round everything was great — putter, iron, driver, everything was as I would want it to go.”
The final round of the Ford Championship is scheduled for Sunday; broadcast coverage begins live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 11pm, with streaming options also available.