Crowded 2026 WM Phoenix Open leaderboard has international flair

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The WM Phoenix Open has had two straight international winners and nine overall. Will 2026 bring another?

After Saturday’s third round, chances were good, with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and John Parry, Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and his twin brother Rasmus, as well as South Korea’s Si Woo Kim, Norway’s Viktor Hovland and Australia’s Min Woo Lee all hovering near the top after 54 holes.

Hideki Matsuyama plays his shot from the fifth tee during the third round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.

But don’t count out Americans Maverick McNealy, Michael Thorbjornsen, Jake Knapp, Akshay Bhatia, Chris Gotterup and Pierceson Coody, who are all among the 15 golfers in the top 11 through three days.

And let’s not forget Scottie Scheffler. The world No. 1 is tied for 16th and just five shots back of the lead after a 4-under 67.

More important than the variety of national flags next to all the names on the leaderboard, however, are the numbers. There are nine players within two shots of the lead, 15 golfers within four and 21 golfers within six with 18 holes to go.

Who leads the 2026 WM Phoenix Open?

Matsuyama shot his third straight round in the 60s on Saturday, yet his 68 was close to being a 65 but some missed opportunities down the stretch kept the others in it. He had putts for birdie within 15 feet on holes 14, 17 and 18 but couldn’t capitalize. Still, he’s in position to win the Phoenix Open for a third time. He’d become the fifth three-time winner in the event’s history and the third since the tournament moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987.

“Yeah, it was a great day today. Kind of a first today for Japan to have two Japanese pros play in a final group,” he said through his interpreter. “I was hoping we could do it tomorrow, but, again, I hope tomorrow just to play well and stay on top.”

Players bunch up behind leader at WM Phoenix Open

Hisatsune, who on called playing in the same group as his fellow Japanese pro Matsuyama a “dream,” missed out on a chance to play with his idol again on Sunday. Hisatsune dumped his approach to 18 into a greenside bunker and couldn’t get up a down, missing an eight-footer for par. That dropped him to 12 under, one of four golfers tied for second at 12 under, one shot back. Hisatsune tied for second a week ago at the Farmers Insurance Open — a career best for the 23-year-old.

But had he made par at 18, the WM Phoenix Open would’ve had the first final group of two Japanese players in PGA Tour history.

“He’s won the Masters and [he’s a] 11-time PGA winner, so very different for me,” said Hisatsune. “But more chasing Hideki tomorrow [Sunday], like going into today as well. Yeah, really good play.”

Las Vegas-based McNealy is also tied for second on a course he is familiar with and enjoys playing. He has finished in the top 10 in each of the last two years at TPC Scottsdale and he starts Sunday’s final round one shot back.

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

Nicolai Hojgaard birdied five of his last six to shoot 6-under 65 and get to 12 under, the third member of the second-place group.

Si Woo Kim is the fourth golfer at 12 under. He nearly had two eagles on Saturday. He did get a three on the par-5 third and after driving the green on 17, he had a 39-footer for eagle but missed. Still, a birdie there got him to 12 under and a shot back.

The four golfers two shots back at 11 under and tied for sixth includes Matt Fitzpatrick, who hit every fairway and every green through the first 12 holes Saturday. But he also had one of the three double bogeys on the par-3 16th hole on Saturday after his tee shot went into a bunker and then he needed three putts to hole out. Still, he’s two back with 18 to go.

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

Of the 15 golfers within four shots of the lead, seven are seeking their first PGA Tour win: The Brothers Hojgaard, McNealy, Hisatsune, Thorbjornsen, Parry and Coody.

Stats of the day Saturday at 2026 WM Phoenix Open

They make the 16th hole the shortest of the week on Saturday in an effort to induce aces. It was playing 126 yards to a front pin in the third round but there were as many birdies (12) on the par-4 18th as there were on the stadium hole in the third round.

There were no aces on 16 for a third day in a row. Davis Thompson was closest to the pin Saturday with a tee ball that ended up three feet away, much to the delight of the crowd.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open 2026 led by Hideki Matsuyama, international players

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