SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Nick Taylor finished only six holes on Saturday at TPC Scottsdale, electing to mark his 6-foot par putt at the seventh green and wait until play resumes in the morning. He chose to do so despite leading the field at the WM Phoenix Open in putting this week and having drained a 48-foot bomb just two holes earlier to the take the tournament lead at 13 under, one stroke ahead of 36-hole leader Sahith Theegala. Asked why he chose to wait despite riding such a red-hot putter, Taylor said, “Because I couldn’t see the hole.”
Good reason, indeed. The horn blew suspending play for darkness at 6:11 p.m. local time, and setting up a marathon Sunday, which presents the distinct possibility of stretching into Monday.
Taylor, a native of Canada who makes his home not far from the tournament and practices here regularly, has good vibes here after finishing second last year.
“A lot of years in a row I didn’t,” said Taylor, who never had finished in the top 10 before last year but now has shot 62 in 2023 and tied the course record on Friday with a 60. “I’m definitely in good position to try to finish it off.”
Here are four more things to know from Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open.