Scottie Scheffler leads after third round

Nick Taylor is the third player in the final grouping with Scheffler, No. 2, and Rahm, No. 3. Taylor’s ranking? He’s No. 223, but he has earned his stripes this week, shooting 4-under 67 on Saturday to improve to 11-under 202.

“They’re obviously amazing players,” said Taylor, who is bidding for his third Tour title. “I’m just going to have to do my own thing tomorrow. Easier said than done. But if I keep playing like I have been playing I think I’ll have a decent chance coming down the stretch. But I can’t really pay attention to what they’re doing. If I get wrapped up in that it’s probably when I would struggle a little bit. I’ve been in a position where I’ve been an underdog, so I just got to keep my head down and keep playing.”

Taylor made birdie at the final two holes to leap into the final group. He ranks seventh in Strokes Gained: Putting this week, and said since switching to the claw grip in the fall, he’s seen improvements on the greens.

“It just gets my fundamentals in a better spot. Got my stroke a lot tighter,” he said. “Just gaining confidence.”

Rahm isn’t the only local resident in the final group. Taylor is a Scottsdale transplant, too, and calls TPC Scottsdale his home course, even if it hasn’t always been good to him during the tournament. He’s never cracked the top 40 in eight previous appearances in the WM Phoenix Open.

“I felt I’ve been building towards this,” he said. “I’ve had a couple nice rounds when I have played here in the last few months to kind of know that I can shoot a nice round. It’s been a bit of work out here, but it’s nice to see the ball going in, too.”