The American finished the round on nine-under-par overall at Yokohama Country Club, recovering from a turbulent front nine to remain in contention ahead of Sunday’s final round.
Michael Brennan, Zach Bauchou and Jacob Bridgeman shared the lead on 13-under-par, leaving Schauffele with ground to make up as he pursues another victory at the PGA Tour event.
Schauffele battles through a roller-coaster round
Schauffele’s third round featured spectacular moments alongside costly mistakes.
The two-time major champion began with a bogey before finding his rhythm with two birdies and an eagle at the par-five fourth hole. However, a double bogey at the fifth threatened to derail his progress.
He responded immediately with another eagle at the sixth and continued to attack the course, adding four more birdies and another bogey to complete a round of 65.
Reflecting on his performance, Schauffele described it as a “weird day”, acknowledging that his round included both excellent shots and significant errors.
Despite the inconsistency, his six-under-par score brought him back into the tournament conversation with one round remaining.
Three players share the lead
Brennan, Bauchou and Bridgeman occupied the top of the leaderboard on 13-under-par after three rounds.
Bridgeman, who opened with a superb 63, remained in the hunt for another PGA Tour victory after following his opening effort with rounds of 68 and 69.
Brennan and Bauchou also delivered strong performances to join the American in a three-way tie at the summit.
Their advantage over Schauffele gives the leading trio a significant opportunity heading into the final day, although the defending champion remains within striking distance if he can produce another low score.
Adam Scott joins the chasing pack
Australia’s Adam Scott also strengthened his position with an impressive six-under-par 65.
Scott carded two eagles during his round, including a spectacular hole-out from 97 yards, and moved to 12-under-par overall, just one shot behind the leaders.
His performance placed him among the leading challengers heading into Sunday, alongside several other players within reach of the top position.
With multiple contenders separated by only a handful of strokes, the final round promises a competitive finish at Yokohama Country Club.
Schauffele faces a crucial final round
Schauffele claimed the Baycurrent Classic title in 2025 and will need another strong performance to defend his crown.
His third-round recovery demonstrated that he can make up ground quickly, but the four-shot deficit means he will need to combine aggressive scoring with greater consistency.
The final round on Sunday will determine whether Schauffele can complete a successful title defence or whether one of the current leaders will take the trophy.
With Brennan, Bauchou and Bridgeman setting the pace and Scott close behind, the battle for the Baycurrent Classic title remains wide open.