Tommy Fleetwood leads Honda Classic by one shot on brutally tough Champion Course

So, after three days of play, the leader in the Honda Classic finally became clear.

That would be the golf course.

The Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa, with the help of constant wind and some chilly temperatures, has absolutely punished the world’s best golfers for three days.

When all had concluded on Saturday, Tommy Fleetwood held the Honda lead by one stroke after his 3-under-par 67 put him at 5-under for the tournament with a 205 total for three rounds. Like many of his cohorts, please excuse Fleetwood if he shook his head in both relief and frustration after his final putt dropped, let out a deep breath and took some time to gather himself.

Fleetwood’s 205 was the highest three-round total in the history of the Honda Classic since it moved to PGA National 14 years ago.

After the trying afternoon, Fleetwood said, “Par is your friend out there. No matter what’s happening on the leaderboard, you have to know that par is a very, very good score.”

Fleetwood was asked about the difficulty of the course and refused to complain.

“That’s what golf should be at times,” he said. “These are the best players in the world and to win you should have to play the best golf.”

Fleetwood, 29, is an extremely accomplished player, ranked 12th in the Official World Golf Rankings, but has one thing missing from his résumé. He has never won a PGA Tour event and he hopes by defeating his competitors — and, of course, the Champion Course — on Sunday he accomplishes that goal.

“I’ve had chances before,” he said of winning a PGA Tour event, “and I’m looking forward to that challenge [Sunday].

“I’m going to wake up and will go out there with a chance to win my first PGA Tour event, and there’s nothing better. I’m really excited about it.”

Fleetwood said he would take a steadfast and calm approach into the final round.

“Whether you make eagle to double-bogey, you have to stand up on the next tee and hit a golf shot,” he said. “If there’s one good thing about the golf course being that hard, it’s that you literally have to stand up and hit the next shot. That’s just how it is.”

Fleetwood played as steady as anyone in the field on Saturday.

He had two birdies and a bogey on the front nine, then four birdies and two bogeys on the back. A nifty 45-foot putt on No. 14 provided him with one of his birdies.

One stroke back of Fleetwood was second-day leader Brendan Steele with a 68-67-71—206 to rest at 4-under. Tied for third at 3-under 207 were Luke Donald (70-66-71) and Lee Westwood (67-69-71).

One stroke further back at 4-under 208 were Daniel Berger (69), Charl Schwartzel (70) and Sungjae Im (70).

Of his play Saturday, Steele paradoxically said, “It’s amazing how the course gets really hard if you’re not hitting perfect shots.”

Then Steele said he was looking forward to being in the final group with Fleetwood.

“The final group is where you want to be on Sunday,” Steele offered. “This course, it’s going to come down to the last few holes, so if you put yourself in a position where you can hit a great shot to win, that’s all you can ask.”

That said, Steele admitted, “It’s going to be tough emotionally, physically and mentally.”

Needless to say, the Champion Course will make sure that’s the case.