Steve Palmer's Phoenix Open final-round preview, best bets, free golf tips

Where to watch

Sky Sports Golf, 5pm Sunday

Best bets

Hideki Matsuyama top-five finish
2pts 6-4 general

Hideki Matsuyama to win 5.43pm threeball
2pts 5-4 general

Advised outright on February 8
Scottie Scheffler
3pts each-way 25-1 Betfair, Hills, Power

Advised outright on February 12
Brooks Koepka
3pts 4-1 BoyleSports

Story so far

The Phoenix Open is beautifully poised with 18 holes to play - a host of superstars featuring on a tightly-bunched leaderboard at TPC Scottsdale.

The PGA Tour action looks set to provide the perfect pre-Super Bowl starter for sports fans. The atmosphere in Arizona has been incredible - the highlight coming after a hole-in-one by Sam Ryder at the famous 16th hole - and a thrilling finish seems likely just after 11pm UK and Ireland time.

Sahith Theegala led by two shots going into round three - and quickly surrendered his advantage with a double-bogey at the second hole - but the Californian youngster rallied to edge in front by one going into Sunday.

Brooks Koepka is alone in second place, having holed a long par putt at the 18th, while a quartet are tied for third spot, including Scottie Scheffler, who fired a magnificent Saturday 62 to set up another crack at a maiden PGA Tour title.

Theegala, Koepka and Scheffler are scheduled to tee off in the final threeball at 6.05pm UK and Ireland time. Another sunny, calm day is forecast for Phoenix, with temperatures reaching 27C.

Leaderboard
-14 Sahith Theegala
-13 Brooks Koepka
-12 Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay, Talor Gooch, Xander Schauffele
-11 Hideki Matsuyama, Tom Hoge, Max Homa, Alex Noren, Adam Hadwin
-10 Garrick Higgo

Best prices
7-2 B Koepka, 6 S Theegala, P Cantlay, 7 X Schauffele, 15-2 S Scheffler, 11 H Matsuyama, 12 T Gooch, 28 M Homa, T Hoge, 30 A Noren, 35 A Hadwin, 80 G Higgo, 100 bar

Final-round preview

Sahith Theegala rode his luck in round three, overcoming some wild driving to retain his lead, but the suspicion remains that this is too difficult an assignment to use for a PGA Tour maiden success.

The Phoenix Open has become a tournament won by an elite player - one who typically resides in the top 20 of the world rankings - and it would be a remarkable effort should Theegala repel the top-class chasing pack to become Scottsdale champion.

The golfing gods were smiling on Theegala at times - particularly when a TV camera cable saved his approach to the 11th from a watery grave - and he will need to tighten up from tee to green if he is to take this chance.

The leader is clearly talented, but raw and inexperienced, and preference is for those just behind him. Scottie Scheffler was one of two Racing Post Sport pre-tournament recommendations, at 25-1, and hopes are high that this awesome ball-striker can go close to making his PGA Tour breakthrough from only two shots off the pace.

Scheffler carded nine birdies and nine pars in round three, his putter coming alive, and the maiden's moment may have come if he carries that flat-stick form into Sunday. On his Ryder Cup debut last year, Scheffler went unbeaten, thrashing Jon Rahm in the singles. The Scheff has proven his bottle at the highest level.

The main obstacle to Scheffler may come from Brooks Koepka, who deserves favouritism as he chases a Phoenix Open hat-trick from only a shot behind. Koepka loves the course - and the atmosphere - for this event. The four-times Major champion has looked fully invested in this tournament from the off - and that spells trouble for his rivals.

Punters getting involved at this stage are pointed towards Koepka at 7-2 and Scheffler at 15-2. Koepka was recommended yesterday at slightly bigger odds and the cocksure Floridian must be hugely respected going into Sunday.

The principal threat to Koepka and Scheffler may come from another dual Phoenix victor - Hideki Matsuyama. The Masters champion is only three shots off the pace and full of confidence after winning the Sony Open in grand style a month ago.

Matsuyama can be fancied to register a top-five finish - and to win his 5.43pm threeball against Max Homa and Tom Hoge.

Xander Schauffele blew a golden chance of winning the Phoenix Open last year - and has an edginess about him as he attempts to end a long PGA Tour victory drought. It must also be noted that his usual caddie, Austin Kaiser, tested positive for Covid earlier in the week and had been staying in a house with Schauffele. It would not come as a shock if Schauffele, who had to rush over a replacement caddie, tested positive before round four and had to withdraw.

Patrick Cantlay has been consistent this year, but let down by poor putting in contention. His Phoenix Open debut has been going well, but a missed tiddler at the 15th, followed by a drive into water at the 17th and a bogey at 18th was not a convincing finish to round three. Koepka and Scheffler are much preferred.

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