SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — He spent his Thursday missing fairways and chunking chips. He spent his Friday grinding to make the cut, which he successfully did for a PGA Tour-leading 66th consecutive time. Scottie Scheffler then spent his Saturday working his way up the leaderboard. The question is: Did he do enough to contend Sunday at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open?
The World No. 1 started his third round tied for 28th, sitting at 4 under, seven shots Ryo Hisatsune’s lead. This is of note because when Scheffler secured the first of his two Phoenix Open victories in 2022, he was nine shots back after 36 holes.
After opening with seven straight pars, Scheffler birdied the eighth, made par on the ninth, chipped in for birdie from a greenside bunker on 10 and then poured in a birdie putt on 11. That fired up the huge gallery following him around the yard and got him to seven under, four shots back. Murmurs of “I hear footsteps” started to be whispered around the golf course.
ANNC: Scottie Scheffler needs something to happen fast
SCOTTIE: pic.twitter.com/kMVHJthfUn
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 7, 2026
He would take a step back after a three-putt bogey on the par-3 12th but birdied the par-5 13th. Another birdie at the par-5 15th got him to 4 under for the day and 8 under for the week but he missed an opportunity after a lipped-out eagle chip attempt stopped nine feet away. He then missed the birdie putt.
Scheffler closed out his round with a par on the 18th hole to sign for a 4-under 67. At that point he trailed tournament leader Hideki Matsuyama by three shots. Will it be enough come Sunday?
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Scottie Scheffler cuts into deficit at WM Phoenix Open. Is it enough?
