Daniel Berger, left, Rickie Fowler, and Bryson DeChambeau, right, finish the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament TPC in Scottsdale, Ariz., Saturday. Cheryl Evans  The Arizona Republic via AP
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. >> Rickie Fowler birdied the last three holes to take the lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, overcoming a sluggish start in front of the largest crowd in golf history.
Justin Thomas went the other way, wasting a brilliant opening run with another late meltdown.
Fowler shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to reach 14-under 199 with a round left at TPC Scottsdales Stadium Course, the fan-friendly layout packed with an estimated 216,818 fans on an 80-degree afternoon.
I really made some good swings coming in, Fowler said. I just wasnt getting the ball close enough and finally on the last few there I was able to get some good looks.
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The fourth-ranked Thomas, the PGA Tour player of the year after winning five times last season, birdied the first six holes to take the lead. But instead of making a run at his second sub-60 round in a little over a year, Thomas had to fight for an even-par 71 that left him eight shots back. He dropped six strokes in a three-hole stretch, making a bogey on the par-4 14th, a triple bogey on the par-5 15th and a double bogey on the rowdy par-3 16th. On Thursday in the first round, he had a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17.
Thomas left the course without speaking to the media.
Former Arizona State players Jon Rahm and Chez Reavie were a stroke back along with Bryson DeChambeau. Phil Mickelson was two shots behind, another former Sun Devils star riding the crowd support.
It means a lot to me, Mickelson said. Its very helpful and very important to my success. I think its been a big instrument in allowing me to get into the round and play and have fun and get out of the technical side.
The crowd pushed the week total to 654,906, just short of the record of 655,434 set last year.
Fowler is trying to finally win in the desert. He finished a shot behind Hunter Mahan in 2010, lost to Hideki Matsuyama on the fourth extra hole in 2016, and tied for fourth last year.
Its just a matter of time, Fowler said. It would just be nice if it was sooner rather than later.
The four-time tour winner began his birdie run with a 17-footer on 16 and connected from 9 feet on the par-4 17th and 18th holes. He also birdied 13 after playing the first 12 in even par with a birdie and a bogey.
I just kind of had to fight through it, Fowler said. The swing was just a fraction off. It wasnt bad, still made some good swings out there, but just had to try and get the ball in the short grass, get some looks and try not to make many mistakes.
Rahm had a 65, playing alongside Mickelson and Schauffele for the third straight day. The 23-year-old Spaniard had five birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the back nine. He won two weeks ago in the California desert at La Quinta to jump to No. 2 in the world.
I hit the ball really well off the tee, gave myself a lot of opportunities, Rahm said. But the main key today was my iron play. My game was a lot more accurate than the first few days and thanks to that I had a couple better birdie chances and a couple more went in.
Reavie birdied the final two holes for a 67.
To win tournaments out here is great, but to win one that you grew up going to would be very special, Reavie said. For me, this is a fifth major.
DeChambeau shot 68. He lost the lead with a bogey on 17 after driving into the water.
Tempo and rhythm, DeChambeau said. If I can control that and control my golf swing like I have been the past three days I think that Ill be fine.
Mickelson birdied the final two holes for a 66. Hes making his record-tying 29th start in the event he won in 1996, 2005 and 2013.
If you look at it, it looks like a very simple, solid bogey-free round, 5 under, Mickelson said. It was anything but that. I made some really nice up-and-downs to keep the round going and when I did hit some good tee shots and hit some good shots into the fairway I was able to get aggressive and make some birdies.
Xander Schauffele and Daniel Berger also were 12 under. Schauffele shot 66, and Berger had a 68.
Im getting the full experience playing with Phil and Jon, Schauffele said. Especially when all of us are playing well.
Fowler is wearing a pin on his hat with a picture of Griffin Connell, the area boy he befriended at the event who died last week at age 7. Griffin was born with a rare airway disorder.
We actually had a ball go a little left on 11 today and we joked about it that Griffin took one in the chest and kept it out for us, Fowler said.