Just Five on the Board as Phoenix Heads for a Monday Finish

Mark Wilson had a two shot lead when play was halted due to darkness at the Waste Management Phoenix Open with just six holes to play in his final round and he’ll now have to work Monday morning to get his second win of this young PGA Tour season.

Wilson won the Sony Open in Hawaii just a couple weeks ago and the books have anointed him their heavy favourite to close the deal at (3-10).

Wilson hasn’t made a bogey on the final six holes at TPC Scottsdale over his first three rounds so it appears someone will have to make some birdies to catch him.

Jason Dufner and third round leader Tommy Gainey come in second with the books at a distant (6-1).

Dufner, with Gainey, is two back and he’s got just four holes to play so unless he gets some help from the leader it’s going to be tough for him to manufacture birdies on the closing holes.

Furthermore, Dufner has only three birdies on the closing stretch this week with two of them coming on the short par-4 17th.

Gainey, meanwhile, stumbled a bit before play was called posting bogeys on both 11 and 12 and it could be the pressure is starting to get to the journeyman.  Not a good sign as he needs a run tomorrow if he’s going to catch Wilson.

At (18-1) is long hitter Chris Couch who  is three off the lead with five holes left in his round.

He’s had plenty of birdies on the closing five holes this week, including an eagle on the par-4 17th in the third round.  He’ll need to match, or even exceed, these successes tomorrow, but with his length nothing is impossible especially if Wilson gives a shot back as he tries to close things out.

Finally, Geoff Ogilvy is four back with four to play and is really the longest of long shots in this scenario even with his sparkling resume.  Time is ticking and it’ll probably take birdies on at least three of his final four holes to have any sort of chance.

The secret of golf is to turn three shots into two   - Bobby Jones