Garrick Higgo made a superb seven-under-par 64 on Saturday to vault 32 places up the leaderboard of the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open into 12th, just four shots off the lead going into the final round.
It was a near-faultless display for Higgo, as he made five birdies on the front none without dropping a shot, and, after a bogey on the 11th, he picked up three more birdies on the way in. The lead is held by a man playing on a sponsor’s exemption, Sahith Theegala of the United States, who signed for a two-under 69 to lead by one at 14-under from Brooks Koepka. Scottie Scheffler, who had the round of the day with his 62, Patrick Cantlay, Talor Gooch and Xander Schauffele were in a share of third on 12-under.
Higgo was one clear of compatriot Louis Oosthuizen, playing his first tournament of 2022 after he and his family recovered from Covid. The 2010 Open champion made a four-under 67 to climb 10 places on the leaderboard into a share of 13th. Also in 13th is South African turned Slovak Rory Sabbatini after a third-round 67.
Branden Grace battled to a one-over 72 and slipped to a share of 44th ahead of the final round.
Elsewhere, on the Korn Ferry Tour, MJ Daffue carded a one-over 72 in the third round of the Astara Golf Championship in Bogota, Colombia. That saw him slip 10 places down the leaderboard to a share of 12th behind leaders Joey Garber and Ben Griffin of the United States.
