Laird Goes Up by Three at Phoenix Open


Martin Laird carded his third round in the 60s to increase his lead from two strokes to three at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The $6.3 million event started Thursday at TPC Scottsdale during Super Bowl week in Arizona.

After opening with a pair of 66s, the 32-year-old Scot posted a 68 Saturday to reach 13-under 200, three shots ahead of Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (63) and Americans Brooks Koepka (64) and Zach Johnson (67).

Laird, a three-time PGA Tour winner whose last victory came at the 2013 Valero Texas Open, carded seven birdies and four bogeys.

"Today was a little bit of everything," said Laird, who lives in Scottsdale. "I hit some of my best shots and some of my worst. Obviously, I'm happy to extend my lead. I'm going to have to play better tomorrow."

Laird added he's ready for the usual big crowds on Sunday. "It shouldn't be a struggle to get your adrenaline going."

Matsuyama had the low round of the tournament. The 22-year-old posted three birdies on the front nine then birdied five of his final six holes.

After just one birdie on the front nine, Koepka birded six on the home half for a 6-under 30, pretty decent for the 24-year-old Floridian who hasn't played in competition for two months.

"It's just a little bit of rust, just not playing in two months," said Koepka, the 2014 Rookie of the Year on the European Tour. "Felt like today I was finally comfortable. Being out there the last two days, it was almost like I was trying to find the driver a little bit."

Trailing Laird by four are Ryan Palmer (68), Justin Thomas (69) and amateur Jon Rahm. Rahm, a Spaniard who's a junior at Arizona State and wore a Sun Devils' jersey Saturday, was impressive in carding seven birdies and two bogeys.

Tied for eighth at 205 are Scotland's Russell Knox, Italy's Francesco Molinari, Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Americans Russell Henley, Kevin Chappell, Robert Streb, Bubba Watson, Ryan Moore and Daniel Berger.

Molinari had the shot of the day. The 32-year-old from Turin aced the amphitheater-like par-3 16th. In response to the ball ending up in the cup on the 133-yard hole, Molinari raised his hands and the rowdy fans in the grandstands went wild, throwing beer cups and cans onto the course.

"No. 16 was just something really incredible," said Molinari, the ninth player to ace the 16th since the tournament moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987. "It's my third hole-in-one in my life and the reaction was really special."

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