Xander Schauffele Surges Into Contention with Third-Round 64 at WM Phoenix Open

Xander Schauffele put himself firmly in contention for his first PGA Tour victory of the season today, firing a bogey-free 8-under-par 64 to surge within two shots of leader Scottie Scheffler heading into Sunday's final round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. The 30-year-old Olympic champion was in complete control throughout his third round, hitting 16 of 18 greens in regulation while making eight birdies in what he described as one of his most solid ball-striking performances in recent memory.

Schauffele's round was highlighted by a spectacular eagle on the par-5 13th hole, where he hit a towering 5-iron from 201 yards to within four feet of the pin before rolling in the putt to the delight of the raucous crowd surrounding the green. The eagle was part of a back-nine charge that saw him play his final nine holes in 5-under-par, including consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes that moved him up the leaderboard. "I felt really comfortable with my distances today, and when you're hitting it that close, the putts start to fall," Schauffele said after his round.

Scheffler, who began the day with a four-shot lead, managed to maintain his position atop the leaderboard despite a more modest 2-under-par 70 that included six birdies and four bogeys. The world number one showed his championship mettle by bouncing back from early struggles with crucial birdies on the back nine, including a 25-foot putt on the 16th hole that brought the famous stadium crowd to its feet. At 17-under-par for the tournament, Scheffler holds a slim two-shot advantage over Schauffele heading into what promises to be a compelling final round.

The leaderboard features several other contenders within striking distance, including Hideki Matsuyama and Tony Finau, who are tied for third place at 13-under-par after solid rounds of 68 and 69 respectively. Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, has been particularly impressive with his iron play throughout the week, while Finau continues his consistent form that has made him one of the PGA Tour's most reliable performers. Both players will need something special on Sunday to catch the leaders, but their experience in big tournaments makes them dangerous contenders.

The famous 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale lived up to its reputation as one of golf's most intimidating venues, with the stadium-surrounded par-3 creating drama throughout the day. Schauffele navigated the hole successfully with three consecutive pars over the first three rounds, while several other contenders struggled with the pressure and unique atmosphere. The hole has been playing to an average of 3.2 strokes this week, making par a valuable score on what appears to be a straightforward short iron shot.

Sunday's final round promises to deliver excitement as Schauffele looks to end a victory drought that stretches back to the 2022 Olympics, while Scheffler aims to add another PGA Tour title to his already impressive resume. The weather forecast calls for ideal conditions with light winds and sunny skies, which should allow for aggressive play and potentially low scoring. "I need to stay patient and keep doing what I've been doing all week," Schauffele reflected. "Scottie is a great player and he won't make it easy, but I feel like my game is in a really good place right now."

The final round will begin with Scheffler and Schauffele playing in the last group, teeing off at 2:40 PM local time. With over 200,000 fans expected for Sunday's finale, the stage is set for another memorable conclusion to one of the PGA Tour's most popular events. The winner will earn $1.8 million from the $10 million purse and valuable FedEx Cup points as the tour continues its West Coast swing before heading to Florida for the next stretch of tournaments.