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Steve Stricker, who has already clinched the
season-long Schwab Cup title, withdrew from the tournament at
Phoenix Country Club earlier this week when his father was
admitted to the hospital for a medical emergency.
The tournament field is vying for second place, and Els would
jump from fifth to second in the final standings with a victory
Sunday.
The South African started his round with three consecutive
birdies and rolled in four on each nine.
"Obviously, we want to finish off on a positive note," Els said.
"Obviously, Steve did his thing winning the Charles Schwab Cup
this year. There's a lot to play for, a lot of -- take some real
confidence out of this last event. The golf course is fantastic,
so it kind of forces you to bring your game. ... Let's see what
happens at the end of the week."
The 54-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer has won three times on
the PGA Tour Champions, including last March at the Hoag
Classic.
Frazar, who entered the week No. 12 in points, birdied four of
his final five holes for a late push. He won in a playoff last
month at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, his first PGA Tour
Champions title.
"A lot has transpired since" that win, Frazar said. "Yeah, I
still feel good, I feel confident. I feel like I belong and I
feel comfortable out here."
Retief Goosen of South Africa and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain
are tied for fifth at 5-under 66. Steven Alker of New Zealand,
last year's Charles Schwab Cup winner, is tied at 4-under 67
with Marco Dawson, Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and South
Korea's K.J. Choi.
Padraig Harrington of Ireland, who won the season finale in
2022, opened with a 2-under 69.
--Field Level Media
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