2023 WM Phoenix Open leaderboard, scores: Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Jon Rahm in the mix in windy Scottsdale

The first round of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open will be leaked on Friday as the game was delayed by more than an hour due to frost before the start of the first round on Thursday and darkness, causing the game to be suspended for the rest of the day. With the entire afternoon wave still needing to complete its opening rounds after play was suspended, it was Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin who ended the day at the top of the leaderboard with a bottom five.

Xander Schaufele sits alone in the back at 4 below as he continues to thrive in the desert. With a low scoring average at TPC Scottsdale among those who have played 20 rounds, Schauffele is poised to right his wrongs of the past years. While this trio was able to perform well in cold and windy morning weather, they ended up with a short stick end.

Playing 1.65 over par in the morning, TPC Scottsdale was susceptible to a few more birdies later in the day and kept the average close to par during the afternoon wave. Keegan Bradley, Max Homa and John Rahm were among the many who were able to take advantage of more favorable winds and will try to maintain momentum as they head into the red figures Friday morning.

Leaders

T1. Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor (-5)

While the Canadian flag flies next to their names, they are both from Scottsdale, Arizona, transplants and putting their local knowledge to good use. Despite Taylor leading the number of strikes won on Thursday, it is actually Hadwin who may have more stamina on this leaderboard. A desert regular, Hadwin has shown a tendency to decline, as demonstrated by his 59 six years ago at the La Quinta Country Club in Palm Springs, California.

“Canadian golf has been around for a long time, Corey. [Conners] and Mackenzie [Hughes] kind of leadership,” Hadwin said. “We had Adam Svensson win this year along with Mackenzie. This is a great group to be a part of. I’m very disappointed that I didn’t get into the 6-under category because I saw Nick there and wanted to hold him over him today. But yes, it’s fun. It’s a great group to be a part of and we laugh a lot together.”

Other contenders

T3. Xander Schauffele, Jason Day, Jim Herman (-4)

T6. Max Homa, John Rahm, Keegan Bradley, Charlie Hoffman, Scott Stallings, Taylor Moore, Wyndham Clarke, Chesson Hadley (-3)

Schauffele probably should have had a couple of WM Phoenix Open trophies as he’s been reeling from his last lead in each of the past two years. By failing to cross the finish line, the 29-year-old once again secured himself a good position to fight. In a two-man battle now at the top of the world of golf, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how consistently good Schauffele was.

“It wasn’t easy,” Schauffele said of the wind. “They moved one pin 15. It was the front left pin and it was blowing 30 from left to right, so they moved it to the right. There were some really hard ones. I’d say there’s no good way to set a heading up when you have a bunch of side winds blowing through all those holes. I thought everything was fine.”

What happened to Rory McIlroy?

In the first round of the first racket of the world there was a mixed situation. Signing for 2 for 73, McIlroy hit four ghosts against two birdies and hit the field both from the tee and on the approach. A rarity for a rider of his caliber did not escape the attention of the Northern Irishman. Thursday marked McIlroy’s fifth round of his TPC Scottsdale career as he historically chose to sit out the event.

“I wouldn’t say this golf course suits me very well,” McIlroy said. “I’m fighting you here. I feel like all the fairway bunkers are right in my landing zones. But it’s a challenge, and again, it’s like I’m trying to take on the challenge. Yeah, look, this isn’t the tournament I’ve historically played in, but I feel like I’m a good enough player to figure it out and fight and win on any golf course.”

Were there dramas on the 16th?

Several tee shots almost hit the bottom of the cup on a noisy 16th par-3. Tony Finau, Kevin Kisner and Sungjae Yim all had realistic looks to make the ace, but unfortunately fans at the stadium hole will have to wait another day to be able to hit the hole.

2023 WM Phoenix Open odds and picks updated

Odds via bookmaker Caesars

• John Ram: 3-1
• Xander Schauffele: 6-1
• Max Homa: 9-1
• Scotty Sheffler: 11-1
• Jason Day: 11-1
• Keegan Bradley: 18-1
• Adam Hadwin: 20-1
• Victor Hovland: 22-1
• Tony Finau: 22-1
• Tom Kim: 28-1
• Wyndham Clark: 35-1
• Sungjae Im: 40-1
• Justin Thomas: 45-1
• Matt Fitzpatrick: 50-1
• Nick Taylor: 50-1

Sheffler has been relatively quiet this week due to Rahm and McIlroy. The defending champion will face a 6-footer on the 12th to start his Friday and if he converts, he will be left 1 short and just four strokes off pace. With the number 13-17 birdie opportunities still ahead of him, don’t be surprised if Scheffler signs for something like 3 under in the first round. With the score at 11–1, this could be the last chance for a world number two. with a two-digit ratio.

Joe Musso, Rick Gehman and Kyle Porter cover Thursday’s events live from the WM Phoenix Open. Follow and listen to The First Cut at Apple Podcasts And Spotify.