Crowded 2026 WM Phoenix Open leaderboard has international flair

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The WM Phoenix Open has produced two consecutive international champions, for a total of nine. Will 2026 bring another one?

The chances are good after Saturday’s third round, with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Hisashi Ryo, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and John Parry, Denmark’s Nicolas Hojgaard and his twin brother Rasmus, as well as South Korea’s Kim Si-woo, Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Australia’s Lee Min-woo all hovering at the top after 54 holes.

But don’t count on Americans Maverick McNealy, Michael Thorbjornsen, Jake Knapp, Akshay Bhatia, Chris Gotterup and Pierceson Coody, all of whom were among the 15 golfers who finished in the top 11 three days ago.

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Let’s not forget Scotty Scheffler. The world No. 1 shot a 4-under 67 and is currently tied for 16th, just five shots off the lead.

However, more important than the various flags next to all the names on the leaderboard are the numbers. With 18 holes left, nine golfers were within two strokes of the lead, 15 golfers were within four strokes and 21 golfers were within six strokes of the lead.

Who leads the 2026 WM Phoenix Open?

Matsuyama shot his third straight round of 60-plus on Saturday, but his 68 was close to 65, but some missed opportunities in the tournament allowed others to stay in the lead. He made birdie putts within 15 feet on the 14th, 17th and 18th holes, but failed to capitalize. Still, he’s on track to win the Phoenix Open for a third time. He became the fifth Triple Crown winner in the event’s history and the third since the event moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987.

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“Yes, today is a good day. Today for Japan, for the first time, two Japanese pros compete in the final group,” he said through an interpreter. “I hope we can do that tomorrow, but, again, I hope we can play well tomorrow and stay ahead.”

Players follow the leaders at WM Phoenix Open

Kutsune, who called playing in the same group as his fellow Japanese pro Matsuyama a “dream,” missed the chance to play with his idol again on Sunday. When Jiujing hit the 18th hole, he hit the ball into the bunker beside the green. He was unable to get up and missed an eight-foot par shot. That dropped him to 12 under, one of four golfers tied for second at 12 under, one shot behind. A week ago, Jiujing tied for second at the Farmers Insurance Open, a career-best finish for the 23-year-old.

But if he shoots par at 18, the WM Phoenix Open will be the first finals group in PGA Tour history to feature two Japanese players.

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“He won the Masters and [he’s a] An 11-time PGA champion, it’s very different for me,” Kutsune said. “But it will be more about chasing Hideki tomorrow. [Sunday]just like entering today. Yeah, what a show. “

McNealy, who is from Las Vegas, also tied for second on a course he knows and enjoys playing. He has finished in the top 10 each of the last two years at TPC Scottsdale and started Sunday’s final round with a shot back.

“It feels a little like home. Scottsdale and Summerlin are very similar,” he said. “This is a golf course that really tests two of the strengths of my game, which is driving and speed putting. I love it. It’s a lot of fun. Really love Scottsdale as a place to go for the week, but also just a fun atmosphere that we get once a year.”

Nicolai Hojgaard, who had five birdies in his final six games, shot 6-under 65 to reach 12-under and was third in the second-place group.

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Si Woo Kim was the fourth golfer to finish at 12 under. He nearly caught two eagles on Saturday. He shot three on the par-5 third hole, and after hitting the green on the 17th hole, he hit a 39-foot eagle shot but missed. Still, he made birdie to finish at 12 under and had a shot back.

The four golfers are two strokes back and tied for sixth at 11 under, including Matt Fitzpatrick, who hit every fairway and every green through his first 12 holes on Saturday. But he had one of three double bogeys on Saturday when he hit his tee shot into a bunker on the par-3 16th and needed to three-putt to hole out. However, he has 2 games left and 18 games remaining.

Also at 11 under through 54 holes were Michael Thorbjornsen, Jake Knapp and Akshay Bhatia.

Of the 15 golfers with a four-stroke lead, seven are seeking their first PGA Tour victory: brothers Hoggard, McNeely, Kujo, Tobjornsson, Parry and Cudi.

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2026 WM Phoenix Open Saturday Day Statistics

They made Saturday’s 16th hole the shortest hole of the week to lure Ace. The third round was 126 yards from the front pin, but there were as many birdies on the par-4 18th hole (12) as there were on the stadium holes in the third round.

There were no aces on par 16 for the third day in a row. Davis Thompson came closest to the pin on Saturday, with his tee shot ending up just three feet away, much to the delight of the crowd.