Waste Management Phoenix Open: Day 3

Scotland’s Martin Laird fired a third round of 68 to carry a three-shot lead into the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.

Scotland’s Martin Laird fired a third round of 68 to carry a three-shot lead into the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.

Laird made crucial par saves on the 16th and 18th holes to score a 68 and extend his advantage at the top of the board to three strokes. His 54-hole total is 13-under-par. The Scot leads from young Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Brooks Koepka and Zach Johnson of the USA.

“Today was a little bit of everything,” said Laird. “Some of my best shots and some of my worst. I’m just happy to extend my lead and I’ll have to play better tomorrow.”

Matsuyama fired the lowest round of the week so far, a 63 that contained eight birdies and no mistakes. He’s at 10-under-par, together with Brooks Koepka from Florida who posted a 64 and Zach Johnson who carded a 67.

Surprise of the day was Spanish amateur Jon Rahm. He’s a junior at Arizona State who got into the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption. He posted a superb 66 to sit in a tie for fifth place on 9-under-par.

Roar of the day came for Francesco Molinari. The Italian made a hole-in-one on the famous par-3 16th at TPC Scottsdale. Some 15,000 spectators were there to witness the shot.

The tournament is still wide-open going into the final round, there are 15 players within five shots of the lead and, as Matsuyama and Koepka proved on Saturday, there’s a low-score out there.

Amongst those in contention is another Scot, Russell Knox from Inverness, who shot a third round 65 to reach nine-under-par.

Waste Management Phoenix Open – Scores after Round 3 TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona Jan 29 – Feb 1, purse: $6,300,000, par: 71

1    Martin Laird (Sco)            66    66    68    200 T2    Hideki Matsuyama (Jap)        69    71    63    203 T2    Brooks Koepka (USA)        71    68    64    203     T2    Zach Johnson (USA)        66    70    67    203   T5    Jon Rahm (Esp)            70    68    66    204 T5    Ryan Palmer (USA)        64    72    68    204 T5    Justin Thomas (USA)        67    68    69    204 T8    Russell Henley (USA)        69    71    65    205 T8    Russell Knox (Sco)        69    71    65    205 T8    Kevin Chappell (USA)        75    65    65    205 T8    Francesco Molinari (Ita)        70    71    64    205 T8    Robert Streb (USA)        66    70    69    205 T8    Angel Cabrera (Arg)        67    69    69    205 T8    Bubba Watson (USA)        65    71    69    205 T8    Ryan Moore (USA)        69    67    69    205 T8    Daniel Berger (USA)        65    69    71    205

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage