James Hahn of Alameda and Cal carded a bogey-free 6-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Rickie Fowler of Murrieta and Danny Lee of New Zealand halfway through the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Hahn, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory last year in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera, collected three birdies on each nine while backing up an opening 67.
“I started well with a chip-in for birdie on the 10th hole and just kept it going,” said Hahn, who made a 25-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat Dustin Johnson and Paul Casey of England for his only PGA Tour victory.
“I had a lot of opportunities and I took advantage. I just played smart.”
Fowler, who had a share of the first-round lead at 65, followed that up with a 68 that included a four-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to get him into the final group in the third round, while Lee recorded five birdies on the back nine in a 66.
“I was able to post a good score and get into the last group,” said Fowler, who missed the cut last week in the Farmers Insurance Open after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship a week earlier. “I knew I had to make that putt on the last hole to get into that position.”
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Shane Lowry of Ireland, who also were tied for the first-round lead at 65, followed with 70s and were three shots back in a tie for fourth with Harris English, who sank a 10-foot birdie putt on his second-to-last hole, No. 8, en route to a 67.
William McGirt recorded a bogey-free 67 and was another stroke back in a tie for seventh with Chad Campbell, who had a second straight 68 that included a hole in one from 215 yards on the seventh hole.
Bubba Watson recorded a second 69 and was in a tie for 13th that included Brandt Snedeker, who posted a 71, while three-time tournament winner Phil Mickelson was tied for 37th after also coming in at 71.
