Scheffler holds Phoenix lead in his bid for repeat
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Scottie Scheffler held onto the lead Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open in a bid to successfully defend his title and regain the No. 1 spot in the world.
The second-ranked Scheffler shot a 3-under 68 in front of some 200,000 fans at TPC Scottsdale to get to 13 under, two strokes ahead of third-ranked Jon Rahm and Nick Taylor.
Rahm also had a 68, holing a curling 40-footer for birdie on the stadium 16th for his third birdie in four holes. Taylor shot 67.
Scheffler would take the No. 1 spot from Rory McIlroy — tied for 28th at 3 under after a 70 — with a victory, as long as McIlroy finishes worse than solo third. Scheffler also could get to No. 1 by finishing solo second if McIlroy is 36th or worse and Rahm doesn’t win.
Vic Open:
Former No. 1 Jiyai Shin shot a 6-under 66 to trail third-round leader Cassie Porter by two strokes going into the final round of the Vic Open. Porter concluded an otherwise mediocre round with an eagle on the 18th to finish with an even-par 72 and a three-round total of 15-under 202. Porter also eagled the 18th on Friday when she shot a course-record 64 to take a five-shot lead into the third round. Pavarisa Yoktuan of Thailand, who was tied with Porter after the first round, is level with Shin and also two behind after a 69. American Emma Talley shot 71 and was in fourth place, five strokes off the lead. The women’s and men’s Vic Opens are being played concurrently on a 36-hole layout in Australia’s Victoria state. New Zealander Michael Hendry shot 69 and will take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the men’s tournament. He has a 21-under total of 195.
DP World: Wang Jeung-hun and Alejandro del Rey both shot 6-under 66 to sit atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the Singapore Classic. They were both 14-under 202 overall. Englishman Richard Mansell was one shot behind after carding a 65. Four others were another shot off the pace: Tom McKibbin, Nathan Kimsey, Sami Valimaki, and Marcel Schneider. Wang had birdies on six of the last seven holes to grab a share of the lead.