Arizona State alums Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm are within striking distance after they both shot a 6-under 65 in the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Saturday in front of a golf-record crowd of 204,906.
The 22-year-old Rahm, who won his first-ever PGA Tour event at the Farmers Insurance Open last weekend, went 6-under on his first nine holes Saturday before shooting even par on the back nine to end the day at 9-under for the tournament.
"I started off amazing," said the Spanish-born Rahm, who once again donned a Pat Tillman ASU jersey during his round Saturday.
"I don't play that good often. I made all the putts I had to make ... hopefully tomorrow it all falls into place again."
Mickelson, a three-time Phoenix Open winner, finished Round 3 at 10-under for the tournament, six strokes behind the leader.
Byeong Hun An took a one-stroke lead into the final round by shooting a 6-under 65 at TPC Scottsdale to reach 16-under 197. The South Korean won the 2009 U.S. Amateur at 17 to become the youngest winner in event history, and took the European Tour's 2015 BMW PGA Championship for his biggest professional victory.
An said he never encountered a crowd as rowdy as Saturday's at TPC.
"It was crazy," he said. "I think it was pretty cool. I've never seen people like this."
Scotland's Martin Laird was second after a 65. Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (68) was 12 under along with John Peterson (63), Canadian Graham DeLaet (65) and Michael Kim (66).
The event has drawn 596,880 for the first six days, setting records each day. With 70,000 to 90,000 expected Sunday, the tournament will shatter the overall record of 618,365 set last year.
ASU alum Jon Rahm talks after shooting a 6-under 65 in the third round of the @WMPhoenixOpen. https://t.co/bCt8by8ZTL
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) February 4, 2017
Tourney leader Byeong Hun An talking now. #WMPhoenixOpen https://t.co/N5UtVFYZs9
— Shane Dale (@ShaneDaleABC15) February 4, 2017
