The dial is going to be turned up a notch on the PGA Tour when one of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments of the year begins with the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Famed for its sixteenth hole which is as far away from a traditional golf hole as you could imagine, the Phoenix Open has developed a reputation for being raw and rowdy. Whilst some believe that the antics that surround the 16th has no place in a sport like golf, there are plenty who believe that scenes like the 16th are necessary and will help golf move the needle with younger audiences who may not necessarily be core followers of the sport.
With well over $1 million up for grabs for the winner, a high class field has gathered in the desert hoping that they will be able to add their names to the impressive list of former winners. Ahead of what is bound to be four days of intense competition, here is everything you need to know.
The Course
The Phoenix Open is one of the oldest tournaments on the PGA Tour circuit and this year’s event will be its 90th edition. The tournament’s current home is at the picturesque setting of TPC Scottsdale and this par 71, 7,261 yard course has everything that you would come to expect from a course that is set in the middle of the desert.
Containing desert wild and plant life, the fairways are surrounded by sandy wasteland and if a player doesn’t have their radar right off the tee, it could spell danger.
Although the course will be heavily watered, Phoenix is one of the driest parts of America and there is a huge chance that as the sun bakes the course, the fairways and greens could play really firm and fast.
Water is a feature that makes up six of the holes, but without doubt the star of the show is the sixteenth hole. A 165 yard par 3, the green is protected by several bunkers but what makes this hole one of the most captivating on the PGA Tour is the atmosphere that surrounds it.
With thousands able to sit in the stands that surround the green, the atmosphere is often one of a party and over the years we have seen wild scenes. With some fearing that the rowdiness had gone too far, the PGA Tour have taken measures this year to ensure that the golf remains the sole focus, however with every player in the field dreaming of making a hole in one at one of the iconic holes of golf, don’t be surprised if there is still plenty of drama this year.
The Favourites
Although the Waste Management Open isn’t one of the PGA Tour’s new Signature Events, it is always one of the best attended events and there are plenty of stars set to head to the desert this week.
Headlining the field is world number one Scottie Scheffler and to say that the Texan loves this event wouldn’t be an overstatement. The scene of Scheffler’s first ever PGA Tour victory in 2022, he then repeated the feat in 2023 before finishing third in 2024.
Everything about TPC Scottsdale is perfectly set up for Scheffler. With a course that greatly rewards accuracy off both the tee and fairways, there is no more accurate player in world golf than the Texan and you can be assured that after a decent first start to the season at the AT&T Championship where he finished ninth, both Scheffler and his hand should be far more confident back in the desert.
A third win in the last four years could well be on the cards.
Second in the betting comes Justin Thomas and the American will be hoping that this week will signal the arrival of his first title since 2022.
Once signalled as a generational talent, Thomas has lived up to that hype with two majors but since winning the PGA Championship back in 2022 he has been in the golfing wilderness but is slowly working his way back.
Seemingly having turned a corner, Thomas has three top five finishes in his last five starts and is playing some of his best golf in years. Whilst Thomas has never won at TPC Scottsdale before he did finish twelfth last season and will be hopeful of building on that effort this year.
Rounding out the top three in the betting is the second highest ranked player in the field, Hideki Matsuyama.
The world number five has enjoyed a great start to the year with his win at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and he returns to Scottsdale looking to win this tournament for a second time.
A previous winner of this event back in 2017, like Scheffler everything about the course plays to his strengths and as long as his putter is firing he could be another serious contender this week. Currently priced around 12/1, he could be the best value play of the week.
Value Bets
With scoring set to be at a premium this week, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a congested leaderboard as the tournament reaches the business end of proceedings.
Looking to defend the title that he won last year is Nick Taylor and the Canadian looks set to start the week at a big price of 50/1.
A winner via a playoff last season, back in 2023 he also finished as a narrow runner up to Scottie Scheffler so he clearly likes the setup of TPC Scottsdale. One of the form men at the course over the last few seasons, his chances can’t be discounted at all.
Sahith Theegala found himself in contention at this tournament’s season before falling away in the final stages but backing this birdie machine could be one of the best ways to bet this week.
Theegala is a character and seems to have thrived in the unique atmosphere that the Phoenix Open can generate. Theegala will hope to play a part in his first ever Ryder Cup later this season and will hope that this week could be the springboard to propel him towards the team.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
