Kim Si-woo finished three rounds one stroke behind the leader in a tie for second place, setting up a final-round showdown for the title.
Kim carded a 5-under-par 66 with one eagle, four birdies, and one bogey in the third round of the PGA Tour WM Phoenix Open ($9.6 million purse) at TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course (par 71) in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Friday.
He enters the final round at 12-under-par 201, tied for second place, just one stroke behind leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. Joining Kim in the tie for second are Maverick McNealy of the United States, Nicolai Højgaard of Denmark, and Ryo Hisatsune of Japan.
Kim briefly moved into a share of the lead after holing his second shot from approximately one meter for eagle on the par-5 third hole. A come-from-behind victory would mark his fifth PGA Tour win and first since the Sony Open in January 2023, a span of three years and one month.
"I think my swing is the best it's ever been in my career," Kim said. "My driver, iron shots, and course management are all much better than before, so I feel comfortable."
He added: "My putting has been consistently good, so I'm getting closer to a win."
Kim has now contended in three consecutive tournaments, following a tie for sixth at the American Express and a tie for second at the Farmers Insurance Open.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States sits tied for 16th at 8-under-par 205. Among other Korean players, Kim Seong-hyeon is tied for 37th at 4-under-par 209, while Kim Joo-hyung is tied for 46th at 3-under-par 210.