Thompson, a 25-year-old from Atlanta, has played some great golf this season. Despite missing five cuts in 19 previous starts this year, Thompson has 10 top-25 finishes, three top-10 finishes and two runner-up performances, including last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

The Georgia Bulldog grabbed a share of ninth at the U.S. Open last month, his first made cut in a major championship.

On Saturday, Thompson sprinted out the gates with birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 before cashing in three more at the fifth, sixth and eighth to go out with a 5-under 30. After pars on 10 and 11, Thompson capitalized on a near ace on the par-3 12th and made another birdie.

After a 14-foot make on 13 and a great up-and-down on the drivable par-4 14th, Thompson was 8 under for the day, 20 under total and held a three-shot lead.

Eric Cole made eagle on the 17th to pull within a shot, but Thompson made birdie to push the margin back to two.

Thompson made a four on the closing hole to solidify his 9-under 62.

“I mean, last week I was four back going into Sunday. I didn’t really know what it would take to win that golf tournament,” he said. “I played really solid Sunday. Just came up one shot short. But, I mean, not really. It’s a new week. I feel like I’ve been playing well. Just tried to keep it going. Yeah, hopefully I got one more good one in me tomorrow.”

Rai has won twice on the DP World Tour. He’s made nearly 90 starts on the PGA Tour, finishing inside the top 10 eight times. He’s coming off a runner-up finish to Cam Davis at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.

Now, Rai has another opportunity to grab his first Tour win.

The Englishman played his first four holes Saturday 3 under thanks to birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 4, but gave one back at the sixth and made the turn with a 2-under 33. After putting another circle on his card at the 13th, Rai made a 27-footer for birdie on 15 to get to 18-under total, two back.

After hitting his approach to 12 feet on the final green of the day, Rai made a birdie to get to 19-under total and into a share of second.

“I think it’s very difficult to try and force great weeks,” he said. “I think a lot of those just happen as a result of playing good golf and doing the right things and just trying to roll with the momentum. So yeah, felt in a really good place coming into this week and just tried to approach it in the same way from Monday to Wednesday. Obviously played some really good golf in the last three days to put us in this position.”

Spieth’s first PGA Tour win came at the John Deere Classic in 2013. Two years later, the Texan won again at TPC Deere Run. He knows how to attack this track, and he did just that Saturday morning into the early afternoon.

After a birdie on the par-5 second, Spieth made five consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-8 and made the turn with a 6-under 29. Thanks to two more circles on 10 and 12, Spieth was officially put on 59 watch. But, a bogey on the 13th halted his momentum and he’d go on to play his final five holes at 1 under to cement his 8-under 63, his lowest round of the season.

“I would like to just improve on my back nine score tomorrow from today’s,” Spieth told the media after signing his card. “You know, so that’s certainly something as I make the turn regardless what I do on the front I’ll be sitting there going, man, I want to shoot the 4-under I felt like I should have shot yesterday.”

His previous nine starts coming into this week have been a struggle. Spieth missed three cuts and finished inside the top 40 just three times. But, he’s always loved links golf and he heads across the pond after the John Deere for the Scottish Open and The Open. If he’s found something in his game, he might be a good bet at The Renaissance Club and Royal Liverpool.

Davis Thompson (9-under 62, 1st)

Jordan Spieth (8-under 63, T-12)

Eric Cole (7-under 64, T-2)

Ben Griffin (7-under 64, T-12)

J.J. Spaun (6-under 65, T-6)

Sami Valimaki (6-under 65, T-9)

1st: Davis Thompson, 21 under (+100)

T-2: Eric Cole, 19 under (+400)
T-2: Aaron Rai, 19 under (+300)

T-4: Hayden Springer, 17 under (+2500)
T-4: C.T. Pan, 17 under (+2500)

T-6: J.J. Spaun, 16 under (+4500)
T-6: Michael Thorbjornsen, 16 under (+4000)
T-6: Luke Clanton, 16 under (+3000)

T-9: Carson Young, 15 under (+12000)
T-9: Sami Valimaki, 15 under (+12000)
T-9: Rico Hoey, 15 under (+11000)

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