Doug Barron is tied for the lead after 54 holes in what could be the biggest win of his career and quickly noted that it is Steve Stricker who will set the winning score. Padraig Harrington came off the golf course one back of Barron but didn’t know his place on the leaderboard.

“Where’s Steve,” Harrington asked in a post-round press conference.

For as long as Steve Stricker, winner of three of the last four Regions Traditions is lurking, there is only so much comfort at Greystone Golf and Country Club. He’s the name that a field of PGA Tour Champions golfers — some of which major champions — are watching for. Even as Stricker is two shots back of co-leaders Barron and Ernie Els, he’s still the man to beat.

Stricker, Kenny Perry and Bernhard Langer are the only golfers in the top 10, including ties, to have won the Tradition before.

Barron shot the low round of the day, a six-under-par 66 to vault seven spots up the board into the lead. He made birdie on four of the final seven holes including a birdie on the 18th to get to -13 overall for the Tradition. His round was three shots better than any golfer on the course.

Els’ score was much more conservative, a two-under-par 70 to get him to -13 overall as well. The four-time major champion has finished in the top four at the Regions each of the last three years. This year, after 54 holes, he’ll sleep into Sunday morning on the lead. He took the lead at -13 with an eagle on the par-5 2nd hole before two bogeys that, at one point led to a five-way tie at -11 midway through the third round. Els birdied the 13th and 14th to get back into the lead.

Harrington is one back of them at -12 overall. A birdie on the 18th hole gives him second place alone after 54 holes.

Those are the only three men ahead of Stricker. They all still want to know where he is.

Stricker is at -11, tied with Charlie Wi at that score.

Stricker was tied for the 36-hole lead, but he did not make a bride in a one-over-par third round. He is one of two players in the top 10 to shoot above par in the third round.

Stricker made 17 pars and one bogey on the 2nd hole. Playing in the final group together, the Els eagle and Stricker bogey made for a three-shot swing on the 2nd hole. Stricker never quite clawed that back.

But the two-time defending champion probably understands this course better than most. It’s why Barron still believes he’ll set the winning score. It’s why Harrington believes someone will have to go low to win tomorrow. He said a score like -13 or -14 probably won’t get it done. It may take closer to -16 or -17.

And with five golfers within four shots of the two men tied for the lead, this is unlikely to be the runaway Sunday that Stricker had last year here.

Below is the full top 10 after 54 holes:

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]