Rickie Fowler was stuck in neutral for most of the day, but then he remembered where he was.
Fowler, from Murrieta, birdied five of the last seven holes to shoot 4-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Jon Rahm of Spain, Bryson DeChambeau and Chez Reavie after three rounds of the Waste Management Phoenix at TPC Scottsdale, perhaps Rickie’s favorite course.
“It was a grind out there,” said Fowler, who is seeking his fifth PGA Tour victory. “I was just off in a few areas and trying to piece things together. I finally got things going in the right direction and took advantage of the last few holes, where the biggest scoring opportunities are.
“I’ve got to go out there tomorrow and get it done.”
Seventh-ranked Fowler, who was tied for the 36-hole lead with DeChambeau, sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the last hole to post a score of 14-under 199. He broke 70 at TPC Scottsdale for the 12th consecutive round.
DeChambeau, from Clovis and the 2015 NCAA champion while at SMU, had three straight birdies through No. 15, but made his only bogey of the day and second of the tournament at No. 17 en route to a 68.
“I learned a lot out there today, playing with Rickie and (Daniel) Berger,” said DeChambeau, whose only PGA Tour victory came last year in the John Deere Classic. “We had a great time out there.
“All I want to do is play the shot in front of me. I know it sounds like a cliché, but I want to play it one shot at a time tomorrow, make some more putts, and you never know.”
Rahm, a crowd favorite after playing at nearby Arizona State, birdied five of seven through No. 17 and thrilled the fans with a 65, while Reavie, another former Sun Devil,
sank a three-foot eagle putt at No. 13 and birdied the last two holes for a 67.
Phil Mickelson, yet another Sun Devil who has won in Phoenix three times and is playing in the tournament for a record 29th time, shot 66 and is two shots back in a tie for fifth with Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State, who also totaled, 66, and Daniel Berger, who had a 68.
Beau Hossler of Rancho Santa Margarita carded a 64 that included a 34-foot eagle putt at No. 13 and is three down in a tie for eighth with Brendan Steele (67) of Idyllwild and UC Riverside, Bill Haas (66), Chesson Hadley (68), Gary Woodland (67) and Chris Kirk (68).
Fourth-ranked Justin Thomas shot 71 and is tied for 26th.
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