Boca Raton, Fla. – Miguel Angel Jimenez shot 5-under 67 over the final four holes on Friday, giving him a one-shot lead over Paul Goidos and Rod Pampling at the Timberlake Championship.
The PGA Tour Championship event is the second of three in the postseason, with the top 36 players advancing to next week’s Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.
Jimenez is already locked in, this year the three-time winner came in the second post-season event at 5 in the Schwab Cup standings.
Steven Alker made a double bogey on the par-3 15th hole at Royal Palm Boat and Country Club by hitting into the water. He birdied the 18th with a 70 and is tied for seventh.
Alker had a big lead in the Schwab Cup, so he’ll confirm that he’s the No. 1 seed in the season finale and could claim the $1 million prize if he wins the TimberTech Championship.
Second-ranked Padraig Harrington shot 72.
The group at 69 includes 44th-ranked Tom Pernice Jr., who is expected to advance if he can hold his spot over the next two days. Scott McCarron (No. 54) also had a 69 and was projected outside the top 36.
Vijay Singh retired after nine holes with a leg injury. He will be ineligible for the Charles Schwab Trophy for the second time in the past three seasons.
