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Stefan Tonev
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American Scheffler holds lead, McIlroy’s top spot under threat
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Scheffler would take the No. 1 spot fwith a victory, as long as McIlroy finishes worse than solo third

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler held onto the lead Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open in a bid to regain the No. 1 spot in the world.

The second-ranked Scheffler shot a 3-under 68 in front of some 200,000 fans at TPC Scottsdale to get to 13 under, two strokes ahead of third-ranked Spain’s Jon Rahm and Canada’s Nick Taylor.

Scheffler would take the No. 1 spot from Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy — tied for 28th at 3 under after a 70 — with a victory, as long as McIlroy finishes worse than solo third.

Last year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay here in a playoff for his first PGA Tour title. Scheffler added victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC-Match Play and Masters and was the PGA Tour’s player of the year.

Rahm also had a 68, holing a curling 40-footer for birdie on the stadium 16th for his third birdie in four holes. Taylor shot 67.

The 26-year-old Texan Scheffler also could get to No. 1 by finishing solo second if inconsistent McIlroy is 36th or worse and Rahm doesn’t win.

Rahm, the former Arizona State star, would go to No. 1 with a victory if McIlroy finishes worse than a three-way tie for second, or by finishing solo second if McIlroy finishes worse than solo 47th and Scheffler doesn’t win.

American Jordan Spieth and Canada’s Adam Hadwin were 10 under.