SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—The first few thousand fans rushed to fill the general-admission seats on the stadium 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale when the gates opened at 7 a.m. Saturday. Several hours and about 30 degrees later, the Waste Management Phoenix Open had attracted a golf-record crowd of 204,906.
Byeong Hun An led the way inside the ropes in his first appearance at the game’s biggest party, shooting a 6-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Martin Laird.
An estimated 596,780 fans have attended the event so far. With 70,000 to 90,000 expected Sunday in perfect warm conditions, the event will shatter the overall record of 618,365, set last year.
“It was crazy,” An said. “Last couple holes, that many people around the course is insane. Sixteen, obviously, but 17 and 18, when you walk to the green, it was absolutely packed around the green, left and right of the green, everywhere.”
Known as Ben, An had a 16-under 197 total. The 25-year-old South Korean player opened with consecutive 66s to share the second-round lead with Brendan Steele. Laird, a Scot who lives in Scottsdale, made an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for a 65.
Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama had a 68 to join Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., John Peterson and Michael Kim at 12 under. Last year, Matsuyama beat Rickie Fowler in a playoff.
“I just need to keep making birdies,” DeLaet said after a round of 65. “I’m playing well. I believe in it, but you’ve got to just keep the pedal down out here.”
An won the 2009 U.S. Amateur at 17 to become the youngest winner in event history, and took the European Tour’s 2015 BMW PGA Championship for his biggest professional victory.
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