Hero World Challenge: Justin Thomas Seeks Tiger Woods' Approval With Potential Win

Justin Thomas would be thrilled to gain the seal of approval from Tiger Woods by going on to win the Hero World Challenge. (More Sports News)

Woods, a 15-time major champion, is hosting th🍎e e💃vent at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.

After three rounds, Thomas holds a one-shot lead over world number one Scottie Scheffler, who squandered a birdie putt on the 18th and sits at 16 under p🌸ar.

Asked🐓 how he would feel to r🗹eceive the trophy from Woods, Thomas said: "Yeah, yeah, that would be great.

"I've had a couple of ♛opportun🌄ities in the past, but it's something I'd love to check off my box in my career at some point."

Thomas has not won a title since lifting the PGA Championship in May 2022,ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ but is in a strong position after carding a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 on Saturday.

"I've been progressing nicely, 🌺and have been working on all the right things," the American said.

"I 🍷feel like I've been s🎉eeing signs of improvement, which is what you want and that's all I can do.

"I can't control everybody else or what’s going on, I've just got to keep playing as good as I possibly can and hope that it's enou💫gh come Sunday."

Tom Kim was one of Satu☂rday's big moves, as he went up seven places to third after scoring 62, with ꦫa double-bogey on the 17th quashing his hopes of equalling the course record of 61.

Kim sits two shots back from Thomas and two ahead of Keegan Bradley on 13 under, with Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala tied for fifth a shot fu๊rther back.

Cameron Young, who was the first-round leader, is down in 12th on f𝓀ive under, after he only managed a par sc🌠ore of 72.