SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rickie Fowler took a share of the lead into the weekend in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He knows from experience the party is just getting started.

“Just keep the gas pedal down,” Fowler said.

Fowler has had a lot of success at TPC Scottsdale without winning. 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.

“From the first couple times I played it, I knew it was just kind of a matter of time before I would win here,” Fowler said. “I know I can win here.”

Fowler was tied with Bryson DeChambeau, with each shooting his second straight 5-under 66.

The festive tournament drew an estimated Friday-record crowd of 191,400 fans, bringing the week total to 439,088. The third-round mark of 204,906 set last year is expected to be shattered Saturday, and the week record of 655,434 from a year ago could fall with a day to spare.

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DeChambeau birdied the final two holes, hitting a wedge to 8 inches on the par-4 18th late on another 80-degree afternoon.

Daniel Berger and former Arizona State player Chez Reavie were a stroke back.

Berger had a bogey-free 65.

Matsuyama withdrew from the tournament before his second-round tee time because of a left wrist injury, ending his bid to match Arnold Palmer’s record of three straight victories in the event.

Matsuyama opened with a 2-under 69 on Thursday at TPC Scottsdale. The 25-year-old Japanese star has five PGA Tour victories, also winning the World Golf Championships’ HSBC Champions and Bridgestone Invitational last year. He tied for 12th last week at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

Matsuyama won the last two years on the fourth hole of playoffs, beating Rickie Fowler in 2016 and Webb Simpson in 2017. Palmer won the Phoenix Open three times in a row from 1961-63.

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MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP: Lee Westwood sank 11 birdies in scoring a low-round-of-the-day 62 to lie one shot behind the leaders halfway through the tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Westwood won the Malaysian Open here at Saujana Golf and Country Club 21 years ago, and was also the club’s touring pro.

Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand and Nino Bertasio of Italy shared the lead after matching 65s in the second round.

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR: Australian Minjee Lee shot a 6-under 67 to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Vic Open at Barwon Heads, Australia.

Lee, who had a two-round total of 9-under 137, has played all 36 holes without a bogey – 18 holes Thursday on the Creek Course and 18 Friday on the Beach Course at the 13th Beach Golf Links.

Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and Jenny Haglund, who both shot 69, amateur Lin Tze-han of Taiwan (68) and Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord (69) were tied for second.

Cheyenne Woods, niece of Tiger Woods, dropped well off the pace after shooting a second-round 80.


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