Keith Horne holds a one-stroke advantage in the Senior PGA Championship.
BRADENTON, Fla. — South Africa’s Keith Horne managed to conquer his swing discomfort by delivering a 6-under 66, securing a one-shot advantage on Saturday in the Senior PGA Championship, positioning him for a potential career-defining victory.
Horne has never been a contender in a traditional major championship, as he has not participated in one. He boasts nine victories on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, but none during his two decades on the Asian Tour. His highest world ranking reached No. 173.
However, he was competing well against former major champions such as Stewart Cink and Vijay Singh.
“Thereβs nothing quite like participating in a significant golf tournament and feeling completely in control of your swing, but thatβs not how I feel this week,” Horne remarked. “Itβs not that itβs awful or anything, but it does make me anxious about just standing up and aiming at the target.”
He performed adequately, with his only bogey occurring on the first hole. He stood at 11-under 205, one stroke ahead of Cink (70), Steve Allan (68), Scott Hend (72), and Thailand’s Thammanoon Sriroj, who experienced both excitement and setbacks during his round of 66.
Sriroj recorded an eagle on the par-5 third hole, only to follow it with a double bogey on the par-5 seventh. He then achieved six birdies over the next seven holes and was tied for the lead until finishing with a bogey on the 18th at Concession Golf Club.
<p"At the start of the round, I had a par, par, and then an eagle. I was feeling quite good," Sriroj stated. "But after the double bogey, my mood shifted. Eventually, I ended up with a bogey on the final hole."
He omitted mentioning the six birdies in between, but it still allowed him to contemplate victory after arriving at the Senior PGA Championship with hopes of making the cut.
“If I win, I might faint,” he joked.
Cink has secured six victories on the PGA Tour Champions but has yet to claim a major title. He birdied both par 5s on the back nine to close the gap to one shot. He is the most accomplished player among the 10 competitors separated by three shots heading into the final round, having been named the PGA Tour Champions player of the year in 2025.
“Weβll need to be aggressive,” Cink noted. “It will require an excellent round tomorrow. I donβt think I can expect to replicate todayβs score and win this tournament.”
Horne expressed surprise at his leading position, primarily due to the competitive field and this being only his third appearance in the Senior PGA. His best result thus far is a tie for 28th. Additionally, his swing challenges keep him focused.
“It serves both as a help and a hindrance, as I must concentrate intensely on every single shot,” he explained. “I donβt allow myself to get ahead, because itβs not like Iβm playing so well that Iβm thinking, ‘This is amazing.’
“Iβm truly staying present, as Iβm concerned about my swing and what might go wrong,” he added. “So it keeps me grounded, but it also makes me a bit more anxious on many shots.”
