SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Hideki Matsuyama has built a career on finishing what he starts, and heading into Sunday's final round at the WM Phoenix Open, the Japanese superstar finds himself in familiar territory: alone at the top with 18 holes to play.

Matsuyama carded a steady 3-under 68 in Saturday's third round to reach 14-under par and claim a one-shot advantage over a quartet of pursuers at TPC Scottsdale. The two-time Phoenix Open champion has now positioned himself for a piece of history, as a victory on Sunday would make him just the fifth player to win the tournament three times.

Perhaps more impressive than his position on the leaderboard is the statistic that should strike fear into every competitor chasing him: Matsuyama has never lost a tournament when holding the solo lead after 54 holes. He is a perfect 5-for-5 in those situations, converting every single opportunity into a trophy.

Tied for second at 12-under are Nicolai Hojgaard, Maverick McNealy, Si Woo Kim, and Ryo Hisatsune, all of whom will need to produce something special to unseat the leader. The presence of Hisatsune adds an intriguing Japanese storyline, as two of his countrymen could potentially battle for the title in the Arizona desert.

Lurking further back but never to be dismissed is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. After a rough opening round that left his weekend in doubt, Scheffler demonstrated the resilience that has made him the best player on the planet by rallying to make the cut and then firing a third-round 67 to climb to 8-under par. Five shots is a significant deficit, but Scheffler has proven time and again that he is capable of posting low numbers when it matters most.

Matsuyama's path to this position was a masterclass in controlled aggression. His 68 on Saturday featured the kind of patient, precise golf that has defined his career. The 2021 Masters champion has always thrived in pressure situations, and TPC Scottsdale has become something of a second home for him on the PGA Tour.

The iconic stadium hole at the 16th will provide the ultimate test of nerves on Sunday, as tens of thousands of fans create the most raucous atmosphere in golf. Matsuyama has navigated that chaos before, twice walking off the property with the trophy, and his experience could prove invaluable down the stretch.

For those chasing, the math is simple but daunting. Hojgaard, McNealy, Kim, and Hisatsune need to find at least two shots on the leader while hoping Matsuyama falters. Scheffler, meanwhile, would need a career-defining final round combined with a collapse from those ahead of him.

As the sun sets on Saturday in Scottsdale, one question dominates the conversation: Can anyone break Matsuyama's perfect conversion rate? History suggests the answer is no, but golf has a way of writing its own script. Sunday promises drama at the WM Phoenix Open, with one of the game's most consistent closers standing between the field and victory.