Sahith Theegala takes a one-shot lead into the final round of the WM Phoenix Open after firing a 2-under-par 69 on Saturday at Scottsdale, Ariz., as he searches for his first career PGA Tour victory.
Theegala, who also had the lead through two rounds, is at 14-under 199, with two-time tournament winner Brooks Koepka looming one shot back at 13 under following his 3-under 68.
There is no shortage of top talent in contention through three rounds of the massively attended event at TPC Scottsdale, known for its rowdy beer-soaked crowd at the par-3 16th hole. Scottie Scheffler (62), Patrick Cantlay (68), Xander Schauffele (69) and Talor Gooch (67) all are another shot back at 12 under.
The shot of the day Saturday came from Sam Ryder, whose hole-in-one at the 124-yard 16th had fans launching adult beverages onto the green and surrounding bunkers, causing a clean-up delay. But Ryder stumbled to an even-par 71 and fell into a tie for 29th at 6 under.
Theegala, 24, delivered a routine two-putt par at 16 but was 2 under over his final six holes, including a birdie at the par-4 17th hole when he drained a 15-foot putt. The three-time All-America performer at Pepperdine who helped the Waves to a national title, is in his first season on tour and entered this week’s event on a sponsor’s exemption.
A Los Angeles-area native, Theegala has held the lead after all three days. He had a slim advantage when play was halted because of darkness in the first round Thursday then gave up his advantage when he resumed his opening round Friday. But he followed that with a 7-under 64 in the second round.
Koepka is far more familiar with the challenges of the course that sits north of Phoenix but stumbled to a three-putt bogey at 16 that cost him a share of the lead through three rounds. Koepka had an up-and-down front nine with four birdies and two bogies. Like Theegala, he had a pair of birdies over his final six holes.
Koepka, a two-time major winner, is the defending champion of the event and also won it in 2015 for his first career victory.
Scheffler’s 9-under 62 was two shots better than anybody else in the field Saturday. Starting on No. 10, he put together seven birdies for a 29 going out. His two pars came on the two par-3 holes: Nos. 12 and 16.
Scheffler, who also is searching for his first victory on the PGA Tour, capped his third round with a 48-foot putt on the 18th green.
A five-way tie for seventh place at 11 under includes two-time Phoenix Open winner Hideki Matsuyama from Japan. Matsuyama won both the 2016 and 2017 events in a playoff.
–Field Level Media
