WM Phoenix Open leaderboard: Matsuyama and Si Woo Kim tied early in final round

The WM Phoenix Open tightened into a two-man race early Sunday as Hideki Matsuyama and Si Woo Kim moved to the top of the leaderboard while the final round unfolded at TPC Scottsdale. With much of the chasing pack still on the front nine, the tournament’s closing stretch is shaping up as a back-nine sprint rather than a slow grind—exactly the kind of finish the Phoenix Open crowds tend to amplify.

As of 1:39 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 8, 2026, live scoring showed Matsuyama and Kim tied at 14-under, with several contenders close enough to flip the standings with one swing.

Leaderboard snapshot (Round 4, in progress)

Behind them, a tight group remained within striking distance, including Maverick McNealy and Ryo Hisatsune as the pace shifted hole by hole.

Hideki Matsuyama: steady start keeps him in control position

For Matsuyama, the early tie at the top reinforced the same theme that carried him into Sunday’s final round: controlled scoring and avoiding the one mistake that turns a chase into a scramble at TPC Scottsdale.

Matsuyama’s path to a third win at this event has been built around making enough birdies without getting dragged into the big-number trouble that can show up quickly on this course. With the leaders only a hole or two into the round’s rhythm at the time of the snapshot, the key for him is less about forcing a surge and more about keeping the pressure on the group behind him—especially as the back nine, with its risk-reward moments, begins to decide the title.

Maverick McNealy: still close, but needs momentum

McNealy was listed tied for eighth at 11-under (through 4 holes) at the same update, a position that still leaves a clear route to contention—particularly if the leaders hesitate. At that margin, the comeback math is straightforward: he needs a run of birdies to get within one or two before the final handful of holes.

The challenge at the WM Open is that “one hot stretch” can come quickly, but it also has to be paired with clean par saves. A couple of bogeys while trying to force birdies can turn a realistic chase into a top-10 fight. McNealy’s best-case script is to attack the scoring pockets, then arrive at the final four holes with the lead within reach.

Ryo Hisatsune: from front-runner to chase mode

Hisatsune entered the weekend near the very top and carried the look of a legitimate breakout contender, but by early Sunday he was tied for 11th at 10-under (through 4 holes). That puts him a step behind the group dictating the pace, yet not out of it—especially given how fast the scoreboard can move on Sunday.

Hisatsune’s task is sharper now: he needs birdies in bunches, and he needs them without the kind of small mistakes that stall momentum. In the final round, being four shots back is manageable; being four shots back and trading pars with the leaders is not.

Why this WM Open finish could swing late

Even early in the final round, a few structural factors shape how Sunday often plays out in Scottsdale:

• The course rewards commitment: players who hesitate on approach shots can miss in the wrong places and turn birdie looks into scramble pars.

• Momentum clusters: a player can pick up two shots quickly with one hot stretch, especially if the leaders are making pars.

• Crowd energy affects pace: players can feed off it, but it can also tighten decision-making on a missed fairway or a nervy putt.

That mix is why “wm open leaderboard” searches tend to spike late: the tournament often turns into a rolling sequence of lead changes rather than a single runaway.

What to watch next

With the leaders just a few holes into their rounds at the time of the snapshot, the next major checkpoint is who arrives at the turn with momentum—and who has enough in the tank to attack the closing stretch. If Matsuyama or Si Woo Kim separates by two shots before the final six holes, the chase becomes much harder. If the gap stays at one, the door stays open for a cluster finish.

For fans tracking “pga leaderboard” updates, the key names remain clear: Matsuyama at the top, Kim alongside him, and a set of chasers—Bhatia, Thorbjornsen, Hovland, and others—trying to time their move without blinking first.

Sources consulted: ESPN, PGA Tour, Golf Channel, CBS Sports