Quite the golf tournament is unfolding at TPC Scottsdale this week at the annual festival known as the WM Phoenix Open. Sahith Theegala leads after he backed up his 66 with a 64 in Round 2, and he takes a two-stroke lead over Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele into the final 36. Those two are followed closely by Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Hideki Matsuyama with Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm lurking a bit further back. A big-boy leaderboard with storylines everywhere.
This could be the two biggest days of Theegala’s life if he holds on. The PGA Tour rookie could lock up all kinds of future rewards — including a 2022 Masters bid — with a victory here, but last year’s winner at this event, Koepka, just shot back-to-back 66s and seems to be feeling it a little bit.
Schauffele is maybe the most intriguing of all. His caddie tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, so he’s being tested heavily for the duration of the event, which means he could hold a Saturday night lead and then potentially test positive at some point.
Rahm and J.T. are perhaps the most interesting players in the top 25. Both are hitting the lights out, and both are in the top seven in strokes gained from tee to green but have been unable to capitalize so far, which could happen with crazy rounds on Saturday in which all the putts fall.
We got one of those a year ago when Jordan Spieth baptized himself in the canals that wind through TPC Scottsdale and shot a 61 en route to a rebound year. With Theegala trying to hang on and loads of superstars chasing, it looks like we could be in for an equally exciting Round 3 this year at the WM Phoenix Open.
Keep it locked here as CBS Sports will be keeping track of everything with live updates and analysis throughout Round 3. You can watch the third-round action live on CBS, CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app from 3-6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
