Late birdie run keeps Fowler in front at Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rickie Fowler birdied the last three holes to take a one-stroke lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, overcoming a sluggish start in front of the largest crowd in golf history.

Justin Thomas went the other way, wasting a brilliant opening run with another late meltdown.

Fowler shot a 4-under-par 67 on Saturday to reach 14-under 199 with a round left at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, the fan-friendly layout packed with an estimated 216,818 fans on an 80-degree afternoon.

The fourth-ranked Thomas, the PGA Tour player of the year after winning five times last season, birdied the first six holes to take the lead.

But instead of making a run at his second sub-60 round in a little over a year, Thomas had to fight for an even-par 71 that left him eight shots back.

He dropped six strokes in a threehole stretch, making a bogey on the par-4 14th, a triple bogey on the par-5 15th and a double bogey on the rowdy par-3 16th. On Thursday in the first round, he had a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17.

Former Arizona State players Jon Rahm and Chez Reavie were a stroke back along with Bryson DeChambeau. Phil Mickelson was two shots behind, another former Sun Devils star riding the crowd support.

The crowd pushed the week total to 654,906, just short of the record of 655,434 set last year.

Fowler is trying to finally win in the desert. He finished a shot behind Hunter Mahan in 2010, lost to Hideki Matsuyama on the fourth extra hole in 2016 and tied for fourth last year.

“It’s just a matter of time,” Fowler said. “It would just be nice if it was sooner rather than later.”

The four-time tour winner began his birdie run with a 17-footer on 16 and connected from 9 feet on the par-4 17th and 18th holes. He also birdied 13 after playing the first 12 in even par with a birdie and a bogey.

■ European PGA: At Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jorge Campillo of Spain and Dylan Frittelli of South Africa both shot 6-under 66 for a 15-under 201 total and a tie for the Maybank Championship lead heading into the final round.

Second-round leader Lee Westwood (70) managed three birdies and is three strokes back.

■ Ladies European: At Barwon Heads, Australia, Minjee Lee shot 2-over 75 for a 7-under 212 total and a one-stroke lead over fellow Australian Karis Davidson atop the season-opening Vic Open leaderboard.

Cheyenne Woods, niece of Tiger Woods, shot 69 and was five shots back, tied for fifth.

Patrick Breen The Associated Press Rickie Fowler follows through on his shot from the 17th tee Saturday in the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.