SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.– Scottie Scheffler kept the lead Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open in a proposal to efficiently safeguard his title and also gain back theNo 1 place on the planet.
The second-ranked Scheffler fired a 3-under 68 before some 200,000 followers– consisting of WNBA celebrity Brittney Griner– at TPC Scottsdale to reach 13 under, 2 strokes in advance of third-ranked Jon Rahm and also Nick Taylor.
“Something I talked about at the beginning of the week was I felt like I’ve been on the outside looking in on Sundays,” Scheffler claimed. “To be in the final group with a two-shot lead, I believe, is definitely a position I want to be in. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Rahm additionally had a 68, holing a crinkling 40-footer for birdie on the arena 16th for his 3rd birdie in 4 openings.
“A couple of swings that weren’t that bad put me in some bad situations,” Rahm claimed. “I was able to scramble really well.”
Griner saw the activity on wild 16th. The Phoenix Mercury facility is hanging out at residence to recuperate from her time in a Russian prison. She was sold a significant detainee swap in December.
Taylor shot 67.
“It’s fun being in this environment,” Taylor claimed. “I think if you’re not having fun, you probably shouldn’t be doing what we’re doing. It’s a lot of fun.”
Scheffler would certainly take theNo 1 place from Rory McIlroy with a success, as long as McIlroy ends up even worse than solo 3rd. McIlroy was linked for 28th at 3 under after a 70. Scheffler additionally might reachNo 1 by completing solo 2nd if McIlroy is 36th or even worse and also Rahm does not win.
Rahm, the previous Arizona State celebrity from Spain, would certainly most likely toNo 1 with a success if McIlroy ends up even worse than a three-way connection for 2nd, or by completing solo 2nd if McIlroy ends up even worse than solo 47th and also Scheffler does not win.
Jordan Spieth and also Adam Hadwin were 10 under.
Spieth had the most effective rating in the postponed 2nd round, rounding off a 63 in the early morning. He included a 69 in the 3rd round, highlighted by a 77-yard shelter shot to 3 feet to establish a birdie on the par-4 17th.
“I could drop a bucket of balls and not hit another one inside of 10 feet,” Spieth claimed. “I feel like a strength of my game is those kind of in-between bunker shots that are normally some of the most challenging shots in golf. For whatever reason, I just feel comfortable in the uncomfortable in those kind of situations.”
Hadwin had a 71, playing in the last team with Scheffler and alsoRahm He struck to 1 1/2 feet for birdie on the 16th, the closest of the round on the par-3 opening on the last tee shot of the day.
In the early morning, Hadwin– on the 11th environment-friendly Friday when second-round play was put on hold as a result of darkness– rounded off his 2nd straight 66 for a share of the lead with Scheffler at 10 under.
Last year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff for his initial PGA Tour title. Scheffler included triumphes in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC-Match Play and also Masters and also was the PGA Tour’s gamer of the year.
The 26-year-old Texan bogeyed the par-5 13th, his initial bogey because his 4th opening Thursday, however adhered to with a birdie on the par-4 14th, striking a 5-iron shot 210 lawns to 4 feet. He additionally birdied the 17h.
“Feel good,” Scheffler claimed. (*2 *)
He mosted likely to the driving variety after the round.
“I just wanted to hit a couple drivers, a couple irons,” Scheffler claimed. “Nothing specific. I hit about five balls and five putts and came back here.”
Rahm opened up the year with successive triumphes in the Sentry Tournament of Champions and also The American Express.
“Hopefully, tomorrow I can get off a better start, play a good front nine and go into that back nine with a solid chance of getting it done,” Rahm claimed.
Rickie Fowler, the 2019 victor, had a 67 to sign up with Tyrrell Hatton (67 ), Sungjae Im (67 ), Jason Day (68) and also Xander Schauffele (70) at 9 under. Schauffele bogeyedNos 15 and also 16.
“Just managing our way around,” Fowler claimed. “Obviously, I know I can play well at this place. Love the atmosphere. Love the fans. So, trying to draw from them as much as I can.”
