2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson leaderboard, scores: Taylor Pendrith leads Jake Knapp

Despite dealing with a nagging shoulder injury, Taylor Pendrith is in line for his first career victory on the PGA Tour. The big-hitting Canadian made the most of his Moving Day on Saturday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson and utilized a third-round 63 to propel his name to the top of the leaderboard at 19 under. Pendrith’s 194 total ties the tournament record for lowest 54-hole score.

Pendrith will take a one-stroke lead over Jake Knapp into the final round at TPC Craig Ranch after enduring a frustrating start to his spring. Beginning his year with quality outings at the Sony Open and Farmers Insurance Open, Pendrith hit a snag when tendonitis in his left shoulder flared up.

With his greatest superpower – his speed – affected, the 32-year-old struggled. Pendrith missed five of six cuts including four straight at one stage and looked like the shell of his usual self. Measures were made to alleviate the stress and has allowed Pendrith to perform like a player of his caliber can over the last month.

Back-to-back T11 finishes the last two weeks set the stage for Pendrith’s coming out party at TPC Craig Ranch where he entered the weekend three strokes off the pace. He made up the deficit and then some in the first third of his round not because of his vaunted long game but because of his short game.

A chip-in eagle on the par-5 5th pushed Pendrith to 3 under on the day and a pitch-in eagle on the very next put his name atop the leaderboard by itself. With this stretch, Pendrith became only the third player this year to card back-to-back eagles on the PGA Tour.

“Obviously a bonus for both of those to go in,” Pendrith said. “Two really good shots. First one had a little bit of steam so maybe got a little lucky to drop. You know, I was just thinking, just keep going. I hit a really nice shot on the next par-3 and hit a good putt; just didn’t break enough. But this is kind of a course you can get an a run and make a lot of birdies, and the guys behind me I’m sure were doing the same. Just got to keep the momentum going and try and make as many as you can.”

While Knapp opened with two birdies across his first five holes, the overnight leader stalled in the middle portion of his round. Pendrith took advantage and kept his foot on the gas pedal with birdies on Nos. 9, 12 and 13. There were missed opportunities coming in on Nos. 14 and 18, but Pendrith persisted and is alone in pole position heading into a potentially career-altering final round. 

The leader

1. Taylor Pendrith (-19)

The talent has always been there for the Canadian, but unfortunately so have the injuries. He enjoyed a really nice rookie season in 2022 that saw him nab a number of high quality results and a spot on the International Presidents Cup team despite a three-month layoff at one point during the summer. The sky was the limit in his sophomore campaign, but it did not amount to much until this year’s FedEx Cup Fall. This year is following a similar trend…