WM Phoenix Open: Ryo Hisatsune Surges Into Lead as Weekend Play Begins
The weekend is officially underway at the WM Phoenix Open, but it didn’t start without a bit of a delay. With play suspended Friday night due to darkness, a trio of players had to return to the course early Saturday morning to wrap up their second rounds. Once those final putts dropped, the 36-hole cut was made, and just like that, Moving Day at the People’s Open was on.
And if the first two rounds were any indication, we’re in for a wild ride at TPC Scottsdale.
Ryo Hisatsune Takes the Lead in Electric Finish
Ryo Hisatsune closed out his second round with a stretch of golf that could only be described as electric. The 21-year-old from Japan went eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie in his final six holes on Friday, a blistering finish that catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard at 11-under par.
That late charge nudged him just ahead of fellow countryman Hideki Matsuyama, who had set the pace earlier in the day with a smooth 64. Matsuyama held the solo lead for most of Friday afternoon until Hisatsune’s fireworks lit up the desert sky.
It’s not often you see two Japanese players battling it out for the lead in a PGA Tour event, but that’s exactly what we’ve got heading into the weekend. Hisatsune and Matsuyama are 1-2 on the board, and they’ve brought a bit of international flair to the party in Phoenix.
Leaderboard: Top of the Pack After Two Rounds
Here’s how things stand at the top heading into Saturday’s third round:
- 1. Ryo Hisatsune: -11 (F)
- 2. Hideki Matsuyama: -10 (F)
- T3. Pierceson Coody: -8 (F)
- T3. Chris Gotterup: -8 (F)
- T5. Si Woo Kim: -7 (F)
- T5. Sahith Theegala: -7 (F)
- T5. John Parry: -7 (F)
- T5. Akshay Bhatia: -7 (F)
- T5. Matt Fitzpatrick: -7 (F)
It’s a tightly packed leaderboard, with nine players within four shots of the lead. That kind of congestion at the top sets the stage for a dramatic weekend, especially with a course like TPC Scottsdale that can yield birdies in bunches-or punish even the slightest misstep.
Saturday’s Notable Pairings and Tee Times
Now that the cut is in, all eyes turn to Saturday’s third round. Here are some of the key groups to watch:
- 11:23 a.m. ET (10th tee): Keith Mitchell, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young
- 11:34 a.m. ET (1st tee): Scottie Scheffler, Ryan Fox, Zecheng Dou
- 11:34 a.m. ET (10th tee): Rickie Fowler, Neal Shipley, Adrian Sadler
- 1:24 p.m. ET (1st tee): Chris Gotterup, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim
- 1:35 p.m. ET (1st tee): Hideki Matsuyama, Ryo Hisatsune, Pierceson Coody
- 1:51 p.m. ET (10th tee): Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Hank Lebioda
That 1:35 p.m. ET group is the one to circle.
Matsuyama and Hisatsune, the two Japanese stars leading the field, will be paired together alongside Pierceson Coody, who’s just three shots back. That’s a heavyweight trio with plenty of firepower-and plenty of storyline.
How to Watch Saturday’s Action
Here’s how fans can follow the third round of the WM Phoenix Open:
- Golf Channel: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET
- CBS: 3 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET
- PGA Tour Live on ESPN+: 11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET
- Sirius XM Radio: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET
Whether you’re tuning in from home or tracking the leaderboard on the go, Saturday’s shaping up to be a pivotal day at TPC Scottsdale. With the leaderboard this tight and the course primed for scoring, expect plenty of movement-and maybe a few surprises.
Stay locked in. The People’s Open is just getting started.