BEERS FLY as Rahm drains monster putt but Scheffler assumes control in Phoenix

Jon Rahm made the famous Stadium 16th Hole rain with beer cans in round three of the WM Phoenix Open after draining a monster putt, but it's defending champion Scottie Scheffler who assumes control of proceedings at TPC Scottsdale heading into the final round. 

Rahm battled hard for much of the day, saving pars seemingly from all over Arizona on the first 12 holes, but he stuck in there and salvaged a round of 68 to move to within two shots of Scheffler heading into the final round. 

The Spaniard's round was highlighted by burying a 40-foot putt for birdie on the rowdy Stadium Hole. 

WATCH IT RAIN WITH BEER BELOW: 

WHAT A PUTT!@JonRahmPGA drains the longest putt of the day on 16 @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/yPIFDfymyh

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2023

Scheffler's round of 68 puts him at 13-under par and two strokes clear of Rahm and Nick Taylor, who birdied the final two holes for a round of 67. 

The reigning Masters champion is bidding to become the first player since Hideki Matsuyama in 2017 to defend the WM Phoenix Open. 

Should Scheffler go on to win then he will also replace Rory McIlroy as World No.1. 

Related: Paige turns heads at Phoenix Open

Scheffler held the World No.1 ranking for 30 consecutive weeks in 2022 before being ousted by McIlroy in October.

The Northern Irishman has held top spot ever since, but McIlroy, who posted a dismal 70, is unlikely to have much of a say in the World No.1 spot given he finds himself down the board at 3-under par. 

Rahm, who is ranked third in the world, might also have something to say about the No.1 ranking as he too can move back to World No.1 with a fifth victory in his last eight worldwide starts on Sunday. 

Rahm was last World No.1 in March 2022 and he has held the post for a total of 43 weeks in his career. 

Elsewhere on the leaderboard, Jordan Spieth, a former World No.1 himself, finds himself just three shots off the lead at 10-under par thanks to a round of 69. Spieth is joined on that mark by Adam Hadwin, who carded a 71. 

England's Tyrrell Hatton (67) made an untimely three-putt bogey at 18 but he remains in contention on 9-under par alongside Sungjae Im (67), Rickie Fowler (67), Jason Day (68) and Xander Schauffele (70). 

WM Phoenix Open - 3rd Round Leaderboard

-13 S Scheffler (US)
-11 J Rahm (Spa), N Taylor (Can) 
-10 J Spieth (US), A Hadwin (Can) 
-9 T Hatton (Eng), S Im (Kor), J Day (Aus), R Fowler, X Schauffele (US) 

Poll Vote: Who do you think will win? 

Who wins the WM Phoenix Open?

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) February 12, 2023

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