Golf: An Leads At Phoenix In Search Of First US PGA Win

LOS ANGELES, Feb 5 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Feb, 2017 ) - South Korea's An Byeong-Hun fired six birdies in his six-under par 65 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead over Scotland's Martin Laird at the USPGA Tour Phoenix Open.

An, the overnight co-leader, is seeking is first USPGA Tour title, although the 25-year-old has notched a win on the European Tour, at the 2015 BMW PGA Championship, and has won as a professional on the Challenge and Korean tours.

His 16-under par total of 197 put him one stroke in front of Laird, who snaked in an 11-foot birdie putt at the 18th at TPC Scottsdale to cap his own 65 for 198. Laird had rebounded from a bogey at the second with four birdies in a row starting at the third, and picked up three more strokes coming in.

Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama remained within striking distance, carding his second straight 68 to head a group sharing third on 201.

Japan's world number five balanced three bogeys with six birdies, including a thriller at the par-three 16th where his tee shot settled less than two feet from the pin.

It drew roars of approval from the massive gallery at 16, where stadium-style seating makes for an atmosphere more like that of a football match than a golf tournament. Matsuyama was joined on 12-under by John Peterson, who carded a storming 63 to power up the leaderboard, along with Canada's Graham DeLaet (65) and American Michael Kim (66).

Peterson strung together four birdies in a row starting at the second before his momentum was slowed by a double-bogey at the par-four sixth. He got back on track with a birdie at the ninth, and nabbed three birdies and an eagle at the par-five 13th coming in.