SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 01: Tony Finau plays his shot from the tenth tee during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 01, 2020, in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

By Christopher Powers
It’s almost impossible to believe, Tony Finau having only one PGA Tour victory. His length off the tee, touch around the greens and seemingly carefree attitude should be enough for him to win regularly. But struggles on the greens and an inability to close out on Sunday have kept him stuck on one W.

Should he be able to overcome that in the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, then he could be in line for an elusive second career win, the one and only coming nearly four years ago at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open. The 30-year-old shot himself to the top of the leader board on Saturday, posting a nine-under 62 to reach 16-under 197 for the week. Through 54 holes, he leads by one over Webb Simpson.

“I swung it nice today off the tee,” said Finau, who ranked first in the field in driving accuracy, hitting 12 of 14 fairways. “That took pressure off the other parts of my game, for sure.”

Finau made seven birdies and one eagle, which came at the par-5 13th hole, where he drained a 19 footer to climb into contention.

“I hit two perfect shots into the middle of the green, and read that one perfectly. About halfway there I knew it had a great chance and it rolled in. That was nice to pick up a 3 there.”

Throughout the week, Finau has worn a No. 8 Kobe Bryan L.A. Lakers jersey at the par-3 16th hole, and he’s birdied it the past two days. He’ll wear it again on Sunday, and he’ll attempt to channel the basketball legend late in his round in closing time.

But Simpson is lurking, having gone low himself, shooting a seven-under 64 that included a hole-in-one. He’s in search of his sixth career victory, the last of which came at the 2018 Players Championship.

J.B. Holmes, who led by himself after 36 holes, shot a two-under 70 and his tied for third at 14 under with Hudson Swafford. Xander Schauffele’s five-under 66 has him three off the lead.