An leads the crowd at Phoenix
The first few thousand fans rushed to fill the general admission seats on the stadium 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale when the gates opened at 7 a.m. Saturday. A few hours and about 30 degrees later, the Waste Management Phoenix Open had attracted a golf-record crowd of 204,906.
Byeong Hun An led the way inside the ropes in his first appearance at the game’s biggest party, shooting a six-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Martin Laird at Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Bogey-free again today. I think that was pretty big,” An said. “I don’t care how many shots’ lead I have in the final round, I’m just happy with today’s round. My goal will be bogey-free again and just play smart.”
An estimated 596,780 fans have attended the event the first six days. With 70,000 to 90,000 expected Sunday in perfect warm conditions, the event will shatter the overall record of 618,365 set last year.
Known as Ben, An had a 16-under 197 total. The 25-year-old South Korean player had opened with consecutive 66s to share the second-round lead with Brendan Steele.
Laird, a Scot who lives in Scottsdale, made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-four 18th for a 65.
“I played really nicely all day really today, tee to green,” the three-time tour winner said. “I putted really nicely again. It felt good to be out there today. I felt like I had control of my golf ball today,”
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama had a 68 to join John Peterson, Canadian Graham DeLaet and Michael Kim at 12 under. Peterson shot a 63 for the best round of the week. Steele dropped into a tie for seventh at 11 under after a 70.
Phil Mickelson was six strokes back at 10 under after a 65. Sergio Garcia took a three-shot lead halfway through the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates when the second round was completed Saturday. High winds had stopped play Friday.
Garcia added a five-under-par 67 to the 65 he shot Thursday to reach 12 under. Nacho Elvira shot a 68 to move into second place with a nine-under-par 135.
Henrik Stenson moved into contention by shooting a 68. That left him tied with South Africa’s George Coetzee.