THREE-WAY TIE FOR TOP

Max Homa, Tony Finau and Si Woo Kim lead American Express tourney in the desert.

Max Homa has the word “relentless” tattooed on his right arm so the Southern California native will see it every morning when he brushes his teeth.

Homa has been mercilessly chewing up the Stadium Course at The American Express with 17 birdies in the last two days — although it also bit him back with a few big numbers.

If he can keep up the relentlessness today, Homa could have his second career PGA Tour trophy in his arms.

Homa made nine birdies and shrugged off a double bogey on the way to a 7-under 65 in the third round Saturday,

joining Tony Finau and Si Woo Kim atop the leaderboard at 15-under 201.

Richy Werenski also shot a 65 and moved within a shot of the lead at PGA West near Palm Springs. Scotland’s Russell Knox shot the day’s low round with a 64 — one stroke off the course record — to join Brian Harman and Emiliano Grillo at 13 under.

Finau and Kim both shot 67 and finished strong in the rain, joining Homa in prime position for a win. The tournament is Homa’s first of the new year on a course he has played regularly since he attended high school in Valencia, about two hours away in the Los Angeles area.

“I wouldn’t say it’s ever easy to make birdies, but I’ve given myself a ton of looks,” Homa said. “I think we only missed a few greens today, which is good. You just want to keep staying in that rhythm on the greens when you’re rolling it well.”

After beginning the third round three shots off the lead, Homa surged up the board with four birdies in his first five holes — before he put his tee shot in the water and two-putted for that double bogey on the seventh. Homa made up for it with birdies on five of his next eight holes, including three in a row down the back stretch.

“There’s obviously a handful of very daunting holes, but I’ve been fortunate enough to play here a ton, so I have a pretty good feel for the place,” Homa said. “I’ve been able to put myself in a position to have good looks for birdie, and I’ve been putting great. It’s just something about these greens. It feels like home.”

Elsewhere

Danielle Kang played great, tying her career low with an 8-under 63 and protecting her lead in the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Lake Buena

Vista, Fla.

Jessica Korda owned the day.

A sizzling 28 on the back nine — 9-under par — at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando lifted Korda to an 11-under 60, just one shot off the LPGA Tour scoring mark.

Kang was at 21-under 192 through three bogey-free rounds. Her total tied an LPGA mark for raw score through 54 holes (shared by three others) and shattered the tournament’s 54-hole record (200). She will take a two-shot lead over Korda into today’s final round in the season opener:

Tyrrell Hatton’s overnight lead was reduced to one shot by Rafa Cabrera

Bello on Saturday morning as the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship was completed.

Cabrera Bello (67) was alone in second place at 10 under. Tied for third were Nacho Elvira (68), Lucas Herbert (68) and four-time major champion Rory Mcilroy (72), at 8 under.

Darren Clarke won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii by two strokes for his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory, playing the back nine in 6 under in a closing 8under 64.

Retief Goosen, tied for the second-round lead with

Jerry Kelly, closed with a 64 to finish second. Kelly had a 68 to finish third at 17 under.

Max Homa