Last year, going into the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Hideki Matsuyama trailed Danny Lee by three strokes. Matsuyama shot a 65 in the opening round and a 68 in Round 3. Matsuyama went on to shoot a 67 in Round 4 and beat Rickie Fowler in a playoff.

This year, Matsuyama trails leader Byeong Hun An (16 under) by four strokes going into the final round after shooting a 65 in Round 1 and a 68 in Round 3.

Sound familiar?

The similarities are striking, and Matsuyama hopes the end result is as well. This time around the defending champion has more golfers to fend off. At 15 under, Martin Laird is three clear of Matsuyama as well, and Matsuyama is tied at 12 under with John Peterson, Graham DeLaet and Michael Kim.

Winning the 2017 edition will be much more difficult than in 2016, but Vegas still considers Matsuyama one of the favorites (he's currently +500). This is mostly because of his success at this event (a win and two top fives in three appearances) but also because An and Laird have a combined three PGA Tour wins between them (all by Laird) and only one since 2012.

On Saturday, Matsuyama went out in 33 before nearly making an ace at the famous par-3 16th hole. Then he stumbled a bit coming home for the second straight day. On Friday, it was No. 18 that got the best of him when he left his approach shot short in the sand and could not get up and down. On Saturday, it was No. 17 where he made bogey.

Matsuyama is No. 1 in the field this week in approach shots, which is nothing new for him. Unfortunately, being No. 42 in putting is nothing new for him either. If he can get hot with the flat stick on Sunday, An and Laird could be in some trouble.

Others will chase. Matt Kuchar is 11 under. Phil Mickelson and Webb Simpson are 10 under. Jon Rahm and Rickie Fowler are 9 under. Jordan Spieth is 8 under. But only Matsuyama has a legitimate shot to upend the big lead An and Laird have built.

Sunday should be wild.

"It was crazy," said An of the record-setting Saturday crowd. "Last couple holes, that many people around the course is insane. No. 16 obviously, but Nos. 17 and 18, when you walk to the green, it was absolutely packed around the green, left and right of the green, everywhere. I think it was pretty cool. Never seen people like this."

An, Matsuyama and Laird will try to give them a show in Round 4. If last year was foreshadowing for this year, we could be in for a classic.