Scottie Scheffler had a superb back nine on day three of the 3M Open

Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) - World number one Scottie Scheffler surged with an eagle and five birdies on the back nine at the PGA Tour 3M Open on Saturday but faces an uphill battle to catch rookie leader Jackson Koivun.

Four-time major winner Scheffler had been seven shots behind overnight leader Michael Kim at the turn on day three of the event at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.

Scheffler admitted he had given himself a talking-to that featured language “I shouldn’t repeat if it’s being recorded,” after his bogey on nine.

Figuring he “needed to make as many birdies as I could coming in,” Scheffler suddenly hit a hot streak and carded a seven-under par 64 to finish on 14-under, tied for the clubhouse lead among early finishers.

Scheffler predicted he would “need another low number tomorrow if I want to keep the pace” on the final day.

It has been a year of consistently fine golf but multiple frustrating near-misses for Scheffler

He has won just one tournament, the American Express in January, despite multiple runner-up finishes, and no majors.

To win on Sunday, he will need to reel in Koivun, a 21-year-old Californian college prodigy who only made his first PGA Tour start this month following the US Open.

He posted a superb round of 61 featuring eagles on the 12th and 18th.

Koivun set a course back-nine record by going eight-under from the turn, including two eagles, to sit three clear atop the leaderboard on 20-under.

“I definitely grew up looking up to some (of these) players, but it’s definitely a mental change that now they’re my competitors,” said Koivun.

Scheffler is “obviously the best in the world for a reason and I’m sure he’s going to go up there and put a good number and get in contention,” he added.