BlogWM Phoenix Open Preview and Picks

WM Phoenix Open

February 8th – 11th, 2024

TPC Scottsdale

Scottsdale, AZ

Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,261

Purse: $8.8 milllion

with $1,584,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Scottie Scheffler

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

The field includes 59 of the top-100 players and 27 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings, with five players in the top-ten, #1 Scottie Scheffler, #6 Wyndham Clark, #8 Max Homa, #9 Matt Fitzpatrick, #10 Brian Harman. The other top 50 players are #16 Jordan Spieth, #17 Tom Kim, #19 Justin Thomas, #20 Sam Burns, #22 Sahith Theegala, #24 Cameron Young, #29 Rickie Fowler, #30 Sungjae Im, #32 Lucas Glover, #33 Kurt Kitayama, #34 Ryan Fox, #36 Emiliano Grillo, #37 J.T. Poston, #38 Eric Cole, #39 Min Woo Lee, #40 Harris English, #42 Byeong Hun An, #43 Denny McCarthy, #45 Corey Conners, #46 Si Woo Kim, #48 Adam Scott, and #49 Adam Hadwin.

Last year there was 37 top-50 players in the field

The field includes 16 players in the top 25 on this year’s FedEx point standings. #3 Wyndham Clark, #4 Byeong Hun An, #5 Scottie Scheffler, #7 Grayson Murray, #8 J.T. Poston, #9 Sahith Theegala, #13 Christiaan Bezuidenhout, #14 Justin Thomas, #15 Jordan Spieth, #17 Mark Hubbard, #18 Thomas Detry, #20 Eric Cole, #22 Tom Hoge, #23 Brian Harman, #24 Sam Burns, #25 Sungjae Im.

The field includes 7 past champions: Scottie Scheffler (2022 & ’23), Rickie Fowler (2019), Gary Woodland (2018), Hideki Matsuyama (2017 & ’16), Kevin Stabler (2014), J.B. Holmes (2008 & ’06), and Aaron Baddeley (2007).

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the WM Phoenix Open field is our performance chart listed by average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the WM Phoenix Open in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the WM Phoenix Open .

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the WM Phoenix Open

Player AT&T Pebble Farmers Insur. American Express Dubai Desert Sony Open Dubai Invit. The Sentry Hero World Australian Open Australian PGA DP World Tour RSM Classic Bermuda Champ.
Scottie Scheffler
(183.67 pts)
T6
(60)
DNP T17
(33)
DNP DNP DNP T5
(46.67)
Win
(44)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Justin Thomas
(180 pts)
T6
(60)
DNP T3
(90)
DNP DNP DNP DNP 3
(30)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Wyndham Clark
(167.33 pts)
Win
(132)
DNP T39
(11)
DNP DNP DNP T29
(14)
19
(10.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
J.T. Poston
(157.67 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP T11
(39)
DNP 6
(40)
DNP T5
(46.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T44
(2)
DNP
Adam Scott
(155 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP T7
(55)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T4
(26.67)
6
(20)
DNP DNP T5
(23.33)
Kevin Yu
(146.67 pts)
T58
(0)
T6
(60)
T3
(90)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
T30
(6.67)
Byeong Hun An
(139 pts)
T31
(19)
DNP DNP DNP T2
(66.67)
DNP 4
(53.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Eric Cole
(133.67 pts)
T14
(36)
CUT
(-10)
T21
(29)
DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T3
(30)
DNP
Min Woo Lee
(127.5 pts)
DNP T43
(7)
T21
(29)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 3
(30)
Win
(44)
T15
(17.5)
DNP DNP
Sam Burns
(122.67 pts)
10
(40)
DNP T6
(60)
DNP DNP DNP T33
(11.33)
16
(11.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
(120 pts)
T20
(30)
CUT
(-10)
2
(100)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Mark Hubbard
(119.67 pts)
T4
(80)
T20
(30)
T47
(3)
DNP T57
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
T20
(10)
Cameron Young
(117 pts)
70
(0)
DNP DNP 3
(90)
DNP DNP T33
(11.33)
15
(11.67)
DNP DNP DNP T38
(4)
DNP
Emiliano Grillo
(107.33 pts)
T14
(36)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP T7
(36.67)
DNP T43
(4.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Thomas Detry
(104 pts)
T4
(80)
T20
(30)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T28
(7.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
Beau Hossler
(99 pts)
T14
(36)
T6
(60)
T47
(3)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Alex Noren
(96.67 pts)
T26
(24)
DNP T25
(25)
DNP T42
(5.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T23
(9)
2
(33.33)
Tom Hoge
(94.33 pts)
T6
(60)
T56
(0)
T17
(33)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T38
(8)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Jordan Spieth
(91 pts)
T39
(11)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 3
(60)
6
(20)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Sahith Theegala
(90 pts)
T20
(30)
T64
(0)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP 2
(66.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Akshay Bhatia
(89.67 pts)
DNP T13
(37)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T38
(4)
T20
(10)
Taylor Montgomery
(89.33 pts)
T39
(11)
T13
(37)
61
(0)
DNP T13
(24.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T8
(16.67)
DNP
Adam Hadwin
(88.33 pts)
T39
(11)
DNP T6
(60)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Brian Harman
(86.67 pts)
T54
(0)
DNP DNP T70
(0)
T18
(21.33)
DNP T5
(46.67)
T8
(16.67)
DNP DNP DNP T44
(2)
DNP
Si Woo Kim
(83 pts)
T14
(36)
DNP T25
(25)
DNP T42
(5.33)
DNP T25
(16.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T71
(0)
DNP
Jake Knapp
(80 pts)
DNP T3
(90)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T70
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Sungjae Im
(78.33 pts)
T66
(0)
CUT
(-10)
T25
(25)
DNP DNP DNP T5
(46.67)
T8
(16.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Michael Kim
(78.33 pts)
DNP T37
(13)
T6
(60)
DNP T42
(5.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Grayson Murray
(74.67 pts)
T66
(0)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP Win
(88)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Erik Van Rooyen
(73.67 pts)
T20
(30)
DNP T25
(25)
DNP T52
(0)
DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Max Homa
(73.33 pts)
T66
(0)
T13
(37)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T14
(24)
T13
(12.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Nate Lashley
(70 pts)
DNP T3
(90)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Ben Griffin
(69.33 pts)
T58
(0)
CUT
(-10)
T9
(45)
DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T8
(16.67)
T37
(4.33)
Denny McCarthy
(69.33 pts)
T26
(24)
DNP DNP DNP T24
(17.33)
DNP T43
(4.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T5
(23.33)
DNP
Luke List
(64 pts)
T26
(24)
T50
(1)
DNP DNP T66
(0)
DNP T22
(18.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T19
(10.33)
T20
(10)
Austin Eckroat
(60 pts)
DNP T37
(13)
T25
(25)
DNP T42
(5.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T8
(16.67)
DNP
Carl Yuan
(60 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T4
(53.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T68
(0)
4
(26.67)
Harris English
(58 pts)
76
(0)
T64
(0)
DNP DNP T10
(26.67)
DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T28
(7.33)
DNP
Matt Fitzpatrick
(55.5 pts)
T58
(0)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T14
(24)
T4
(26.67)
DNP DNP T27
(11.5)
DNP DNP
Hideki Matsuyama
(50.33 pts)
T71
(0)
T13
(37)
DNP DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP 58
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Andrew Putnam
(47.33 pts)
T39
(11)
DNP T47
(3)
DNP T10
(26.67)
DNP T40
(6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Keith Mitchell
(45 pts)
T54
(0)
CUT
(-10)
T9
(45)
DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Corey Conners
(43.67 pts)
T31
(19)
DNP DNP DNP T57
(0)
DNP T33
(11.33)
16
(11.33)
DNP DNP DNP T44
(2)
DNP
Tom Kim
(43.17 pts)
T31
(19)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T45
(3.33)
T10
(13.33)
DNP DNP T15
(17.5)
DNP DNP
Adam Schenk
(42.33 pts)
T47
(3)
T25
(25)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T29
(14)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T19
(10.33)
DNP
Kurt Kitayama
(42.33 pts)
T39
(11)
DNP DNP DNP T24
(17.33)
DNP T29
(14)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Brendon Todd
(42 pts)
T58
(0)
DNP DNP DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP T33
(11.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T28
(7.33)
T20
(10)
Shane Lowry
(41.67 pts)
DNP T25
(25)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP 18
(10.67)
DNP DNP T18
(16)
DNP DNP
Ryan Fox
(41 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP T31
(19)
DNP T14
(24)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T34
(8)
DNP DNP
Adam Svensson
(41 pts)
T47
(3)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T30
(13.33)
DNP T33
(11.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T5
(23.33)
DNP
Greyson Sigg
(39.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
T17
(33)
DNP T66
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T8
(16.67)
DNP
Alexander Bjork
(39.33 pts)
DNP T70
(0)
T11
(39)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T36
(7)
DNP DNP
Camilo Villegas
(38 pts)
DNP DNP T62
(0)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T50
(0.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP T58
(0)
Win
(44)
Matt Wallace
(36.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T52
(0)
DNP T40
(6.67)
DNP DNP DNP T2
(50)
DNP DNP
Tyler Duncan
(36 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
T34
(16)
DNP 65
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T3
(30)
DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the WM Phoenix Open

Player AT&T Pebble Farmers Insur. American Express Dubai Desert Sony Open Dubai Invit. The Sentry Hero World Australian Open Australian PGA DP World Tour RSM Classic Bermuda Champ.
Hayden Buckley
(-30 pts)
77
(0)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Martin Laird
(-30 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
T59
(0)
Callum Tarren
(-30 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Cameron Champ
(-26.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T58
(0)
DNP
Andrew Novak
(-25 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T73
(0)
T45
(1.67)
Kevin Streelman
(-25 pts)
DNP WD
(-5)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Joel Dahmen
(-20 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T72
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Garrick Higgo
(-20 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T80
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Lee Hodges
(-20 pts)
T58
(0)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP 57
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
J.B. Holmes
(-20 pts)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

Back to Phoenix

The “Greatest Show on Grass” is back at TPC Scottsdale, but this year it’s not a “designated event,” with a $20 million, but with just $8.8 million. Yes, the field doesn’t have the same type of field as last year, but it’s still pretty impressive. Now, the last day on Sunday is also Super Bowl Sunday, as the big game is being played 200 miles in Las Vegas. Since the game was in the Phoenix area last year, and many players got to attend, only a few from this year’s field will show up unless they miss the cut.

The big thing about the TPC Scottsdale is the number of fans attending, as about 200,000 fans will attend each Friday and Saturday. Yes, they may not get 200,000 fans this year because of the poor weather, but there will still be a lot of folks, especially around holes 16, 17, and 18. Around those holes, they have close to 50 new suites. So there are a lot of ways to pack in even more people.

Sub-60 watch

Even though the average player who knows the TPC Scottsdale has a tight layout, for those on the PGA Tour with wet weather and no wind, the course could be nothing but a birdie and eagle feast. With rain predicted for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, along with hardly a breath of wind, the chances are high that a 59 or even a 58 can be shot. We saw Wyndham Clark shot 60 last week on Saturday, and with rain shortening the event to 54 holes, he was declared the victor.

So we could see record scores this week. For 72 holes, the PGA Tour low has come close to being broken, with Mark Calcavecchia shooting 256 in 2001 and Phil Mickelson shooting the same in 2013. In both cases, Calcavecchia and Mickelson shot 60 (There have been four 60s shot), with Mickelson coming the nearest as a birdie putt lipped out for 59 on his final hole. So, don’t be surprised to see the sub-60 barrier broken again. I can think of about a dozen other courses during the year in which this will pop up. In a way, people love to see it happen, but if it becomes the norm, the PGA Tour may have to do something or ask the courses to do something to prevent this from being more the norm. In 2021, we saw some folks coming close to the mark. Jordan Spieth had a 61 in the 3rd round, and they also had four 63s shot during the week. In 2023, Scottie Scheffler shot the low round, a 62 in the third round, while four rounds of 64 were shot by Sahith Theegala, Garrick Higgo, Sam Ryder, and Talor Gooch. Last year, the low score was 63 shot twice, first by Jordan Spieth in the 2nd round and by Beau Hossler in the final round. As for winner Scheffler, his low round was 64 in the 2nd round.

So, could a 59 be shot? Anything is possible.

WM Phoenix Open history: 

It began in 1932 as the Arizona Open and has been played at the TPC of Scottsdale since 1987. After the first two years, the event took the name Phoenix Open in 1935. The only older tournaments on the PGA Tour are the British Open (1860), U.S. Open (1895), Western Open (1899), Canadian Open (1904), PGA Championship (1916), Texas Open (1922), and the Nissan Open (1926).

Due to a lack of local support, the tournament was discontinued after 1935. The competition was revived thanks to the energy and vision of one man, Bob Goldwater, Sr., who was an avid golfer. So, in 1939, Goldwater’s new fledgling golf tournament was the official rebirth of the Phoenix Open. Goldwater was left with most of the work, he printed the tickets, sold sponsorships, and obtained the use of Phoenix Country Club. He even invited some friends to tee it up at the tournament. Those friends were Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and a golfer named Ben Hogan. “I loved those early years,” said Goldwater. “I look back on those days with a sense of pride mixed with wonderment.” And, after a few more persuasive talks and the success of the 1939 Phoenix Open, The Thunderbirds came around and lent their full support. During that 1939 tournament, a 27-year-old up-and-comer named Byron Nelson won the $700 first prize. Hogan finished second, 12 strokes back, and collected $450. Since then, The Thunderbirds had been a part of the event every year except 1943, when wartime travel restrictions forced a one-year hiatus. The list of professional golfers who have won in Phoenix reads like the golf Hall of Fame: Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Miller Barber, Johnny Miller, Ben Crenshaw, and more recently Lee Janzen, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Mark Calcavecchia, and Kenny Perry to name a few. Over the tournament’s 81-year history, the Open has been known by many names, including the Western Open, the Arizona Open, the Ben Hogan Invitational, the Phoenix Open, the FBR Open, and now the WM Phoenix Open. The tournament has been played at Phoenix Country Club, Arizona Country Club, and the TPC Scottsdale, which has been the home course of the competition since 1987.  2018 will mark the 32nd consecutive year the tournament has been played at the Stadium Course at the TPC Scottsdale, and it has had a renovation to spruce it up and make it more challenging for the players. Thanks to the most fan-friendly tournament venue on Tour, it attracts the world’s largest galleries of any golf tournament. Compared to when the tournament was held at Phoenix Country Club, whose top attendance mark was 186,000 (1986), the event has grown by leaps and bounds. At the 2008 FBR Open, a PGA Tour record 538,356 fans attended the tournament, including 170,802 during Saturday’s third round alone. 2008′s Saturday attendance was a single-day PGA Tour record until 2013 when 179,022 fans came out for the third round. The 2016 event set a new attendance record when 618,365 fans came out. But in 2018, 719,179 went through the turnstiles, setting the record for the biggest attendance in tournament history. All told, four attendance records were broken in 2018 — the weekly attendance mark, plus record crowds on Wednesday (84,034), Friday (191,400), and Saturday (216,818). In 2019, poor weather made it impossible for these records to be broken, and the Thunderbirds stopped reporting attendance figures. We know that no attendance records have been broken since.

Course information:
  • Played at TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Az.
  • Par:  71 / Yardage: 7,261

Last year, the course was the 18th hardest course on the PGA Tour, playing to a 70.98 average.

The TPC of Scottsdale was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, with Howard Twitty and Jim Colbert serving as player consultants.  The course opened in 1986 and had some exciting features like a desert between the holes and fairways with many plants from the surrounding area. The layout also features mounding for spectators. The course can comfortably accommodate over 100,000 spectators, in 2018, 216,818 showed up for Saturday’s third round.  The green size is 6,770 square feet, which is slightly over the PGA Tour average. The course has 72 bunkers and six water hazards.

Surrounded by spectacular mountain views, the course was designed specifically to host the Phoenix Open, and the aforementioned mounding promises an excellent look to all of the 500,000+ in the galleries. Hole No. 16 will always be remembered as the site of Tiger Woods’ hole-in-one in 1998. Hole No. 17 will be recognized for the first and only hole-in-one on a par four during a PGA Tour event, which was recorded by Andrew Magee in 2001.

Major renovations were done before the 2016 event, with four greens completely rebuilt while the other 14 resurfaced and reshaped.  45 yards were added, but three holes will play slightly shorter.  Every bunker was redone, in most cases bringing them more into play.  Also, 250 trees were added, so combining trees and bunkers coming into play off the tee will make the course slightly tighter.  Despite the change, average scores may be a bit higher but look for the winning score, which has averaged 18 under par for the last 23 years, to stay the same.

Let’s take a look at key stats that are important for those playing on the TPC Scottdale:

This is based on the most important stats for TPC Scottsdale, data from last year’s WM Phoenix Open, and data from all the field players for stats from 2023.

The field’s scoring average on TPC Scottsdale last year was 70.98, which is just about par. The course was the 18th hardest on the PGA Tour in 2023 out of 58 courses.
Here is a look at the scoring average of the WM Phoenix Open winners for the last few years:
2022 – The average was 70.29, and it was the 26th hardest of the 50 courses that year
2021 – The average was 69.45, the 42nd hardest of the 51 courses that year. It was the first time 70 was broken since 2013 when the scoring average was 68.95.
2020 – Average was 70.32, was 18th hardest of 41 courses that year
2019 – Average was 70.51, was 23rd hardest of 49 courses that year
The big question many will wonder is, why was there a difference of almost two and a half shots between 2023 and 2021? Of course, it’s the weather; in 2021, it couldn’t have been better with no wind all four days, while in 2023, the wind blew between 12 and 25 mph the first three days, and then it went down to 10 mph.

Our first category is Strokes Gained tee-to-green, which considers distance and accuracy off the tee and greens hit. Driving and greens hit are essential in looking at the stats for TPC Scottsdale in the last couple of years. With fast fairways in 2023, the course ranked 51st in driving distance with an average drive of 309.6 yards (out of 58 courses, seven courses saw drives further), 16th in driving accuracy, and 19th in Greens in Regulation. Going further from the ten TPC courses used on the PGA Tour in 2023, TPC San Antonio was the only TPC course harder to get into the fairway. As for winner Scottie Scheffler, he was T-20th in driving distance, averaging 310.1 yards per drive, T-45th in accuracy, hitting 30 of 54 fairways, and 3rd in Greens in Regulation, hitting 56 of 72 greens. Between the three stats, he ranked 1st in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green. So, as we see, it is crucial to keep the ball in the fairway, hit greens, and get it close to the hole. Again, the stats for most of the last 115 winners make this stat work, except for 2022 with Scheffler and in 2019 when Fowler struggled in poor weather.

Here is a look at the driving distance, accuracy, and greens hit for the WM Phoenix Open winners in the last few years:
2022 – The course ranked 36th in driving distance with an average drive of 311.3 yards (out of 50 courses), 10th in driving accuracy, and 35th in Greens in Regulation.
Winner Scottie Scheffler was T-4th in driving distance, averaging 327.9 yards per drive, T-18th in accuracy, hitting 35 of 54 fairways, and T-11th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 56 of 72 greens. Between the three stats, he ranked 13th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green.
2021 – The course ranked 39th in driving distance with an average drive of 304.8 yards (out of 51 courses), T-22nd in driving accuracy, and 44th in Greens in Regulation.
Winner Brooks Koepka was 7th in driving distance, averaging 315.7 yards per drive, T-27th in accuracy, hitting 35 of 54 fairways, and T-1st in Greens in Regulation, hitting 62 of 72 greens. Between the three stats, he ranked 2nd in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green.
2020 – The course ranked 28th in driving distance with an average drive of 303.4 yards (out of 41 courses), T-17th in driving accuracy, and 19th in Greens in Regulation.
Winner Webb Simpson was T-36th in driving distance, averaging 303.4 yards per drive, T-3rd in accuracy, hitting 40 of 54 fairways, and T-6th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 56 of 72 greens. Between the three stats, he ranked 2nd in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green.
2019 – The course ranked 34th in driving distance with an average drive of 299.9 yards (out of 49 courses), 10th in driving accuracy, and 22nd in Greens in Regulation.
Winner Rickie Fowler was 27th in driving distance, averaging 301.6 yards per drive, T-3rd in accuracy, hitting 39 of 54 fairways, and T-13th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 52 of 72 greens. Between the three stats, he ranked 19th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green.

In our ranking, we consider hitting greens one of the essential stats. Last year, the course ranked 19th in greens in regulation, again reflecting the easy scoring conditions with the weather. Still, for the previous 15 years, all of the winners have been in the top 13 in greens hit; taking it a step further, those same champions, eleven of them finished in the top four, so you can see the importance of hitting greens in winning this championship. Last year’s winner, Scottie Scheffler, hit 56 of 72 greens and ranked 3rd in his two-shot victory. But for our second category, we will take it a step further with proximity to the hole, which is the distance to the hole from shots hit from the fairway. Last year, the course ranked 4th as the field averaged 43 feet from the hole. Last year’s winner, Scheffler, ranked T-14th and averaged 39 feet, three inches from the hole.

Here is a look at greens hit along with proximity to hole for the WM Phoenix Open winners the last few years:
2022 – The course ranked 35th in Greens in Regulation (out of 50 courses) and T-9th proximity to hole, averaging 39 feet and no inches.
Winner Scottie Scheffler was T-11th in Greens in Regulation and 22nd in proximity to hole, averaging 36 feet and one inch.
2021 – The course ranked 44th in Greens in Regulation (out of 51 courses) and 18th in proximity to hole, averaging 37 feet and 8 inches.
Winner Brooks Koepka was T-1st in Greens in Regulation and T-6th in proximity to hole, averaging 33 feet and two inches.
2020 – The course ranked 19th in Greens in Regulation (out of 41 courses) and 5th in proximity to hole, averaging 39 feet and 10 inches.
Winner Webb Simpson was T-6th in Greens in Regulation and T-9th in proximity to hole, averaging 35 feet and one inch.
2019 – The course ranked 22nd in Greens in Regulation (out of 49 courses) and 10th in proximity to hole, averaging 38 feet and 10 inches.
Winner Rickie Fowler was T-13th in Greens in Regulation and 46th in proximity to hole, averaging 39 feet and eleven inches. We can give Fowler a pass when you consider the poor weather in the final round, with heavy rain during most of his round, which drove the final-round scoring average to 71.58 and led Fowler to shoot 74, the highest final-round by a winner on the PGA Tour since Steven Bowditch’s 74 in winning the 2014 Valero Texas Open. In Phoenix’s final round, Fowler hit 11 greens, which was the reason for his high ranking. Fowler ranked 19th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green with the lousy weather and the highest of the last few winners.

Our third important category is Par Breakers because making eagles and birdies is significant. Last year, TPC Scottsdale had 1,333 birdies, 16th in birdie average, and had 38 eagles made, which ranked 41st. Winner Scheffler was T-7th in the field with 19 birdies and T-8th with one eagle. He was T-6th in Par Breakers. Remember this: of the ten TPC courses, all except for TPC Southwind had fewer birdies (Southwind had 1,098 birdies), but remember this: 132 played at Scottsdale while only 70 played at TPC Southwind.

Here is a look at the Par Breakers at the WM Phoenix Open winners the last few years:
2022 – 1,422 birdies were made (29th hardest) and 42 eagles (T-35th) as 20.44% of the holes played under par, making it the 22nd hardest of the 50 courses that year
Winner Scottie Scheffler made 26 birdies (Best) but had no eagles as 36.11% of the holes played under par as he ranked 1st in Par Breakers.
2021 – 1,569 birdies were made (36th hardest) and 50 eagles (T-43rd) as 22.71% of the holes played under par, making it the 36th hardest of the 51 courses that year
Winner Brooks Koepka made 22 birdies (T-5th) and two eagles as 33.33% of the holes played under par as he ranked T-3rd in Par Breakers.
2020 – 1,473 birdies were made (26th hardest) and 47 eagles (T-36th) as 21.27% of the holes played under par, making it the 19th hardest of the 41 courses that year
Winner Webb Simpson made 21 birdies (T-2nd) and one eagle as 30.56% of the holes played under par as he ranked T-2nd in Par Breakers.
2019 – 1,474 birdies were made (34th hardest) and 41 eagles (T-39th) as 20.83% of the holes played under par, making it the 29th hardest of the 49 courses that year
Winner Rickie Fowler made 23 birdies (1st) and one eagle as 33.33% of the holes played under par as he ranked 1st in Par Breakers.
So the winner will have to make a lot of birdies and eagles.

Our last category is scrambling, and you can see why. Since the course is a shot-maker delight, you can see that if you miss a lot of greens, you better get it up and down to play well. Last year, TPC Scottsdale ranked 23rd in scrambling out of 58 courses, while winner Scheffler was ranked 1st, getting it up and down in 14 of the 16 greens he missed.

Here is a look at the scrambling at the WM Phoenix Open winners the last few years:
2022 – TPC Scottsdale finished 19th in scrambling, getting it up and down 57.40% of the time
Winner Scottie Scheffler was ranked T-53rd, getting it up and down in 8 of the 16 greens he missed.
2021 – TPC Scottsdale finished 24th in scrambling, getting it up and down 58.91% of the time
Winner Brooks Koepka was ranked T-50th, getting it up and down in 5 of the 10 greens he missed.
2020 – TPC Scottsdale finished 17th in scrambling, getting it up and down 57.11% of the time
Winner Webb Simpson was ranked 14th, getting it up and down in 11 of the 16 greens he missed.
2020 – TPC Scottsdale finished 25th in scrambling, getting it up and down 59.35% of the time
Winner Rickie Fowler was ranked T-6th, getting it up and down in 15 of the 20 greens he missed.
The winner must do a great job getting it up and down on the greens he missed.

So, this isn’t a bomber’s course since accuracy is such a key. Another important thing is if the weather is good, and the only problems stem from freezing mornings in which frost creates delays. This year will be a repeat of last week at Pebble. Even though they are in the desert, which gets very little rain, the same system that caused the AT&T only to play 54 holes is sticking around in Arizona. Every day will see rain except on Sunday when it will be a nice, sunny day. The rain won’t be as bad and cause delays, but it will be wet, giving players something to consider. The good news is that the winds will be below 10 mph each day with the rain. But it won’t be warm; it will be 50 degrees on Thursday, 59 on Friday, 56 on Saturday, and 61 on Sunday. The good news is that with wet conditions, scores will be super low, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see scores in the 50s this week. So look for players who make a boatload of birdies and eagles.
One last thing to think about other than Koepka, Rickie Fowler, and Phil Mickelson: the previous 12 winners aren’t what you call great putters, so I can see an average to below-average putter winning this event. Last year, Scottie Scheffler was 13th in Strokes Gained putting and 58th when he won in 2022.

So here are our four choices for the most critical stats from players to do well at TPC Scottsdale using stats from 2023:

*Strokes gained Tee-to-Greens: Important because it shows how TPC Scottsdale ranked T-24th in this stat, meaning that a combination of driving distance, driving accuracy, and greens hit is important

*Proximity to hole: Hitting greens is important, but proximity to hole, which tells how close players get to the hole, TPC Scottsdale ranked T-9th last year, 16th in 2021, and 5th in 2020 as the players averaged getting it 37 feet and 8 inches.

*Par Breakers: Desert courses always seem to give up a lot of birdies and eagles, last year TPC Scottsdale ranked 22nd last year and 36th in 2021 in that stat. Making birdies and eagles at TPC Scottsdale could be a chore on some holes.

*Scrambling: Of the 51 courses on tour in 2022, TPC Scottsdale got it up and down 57.40% of the time, ranking 19th. So it’s important for players to make sure to get it up and down on those holes that they miss the greens.

109 of the 132 Players from this year’s field with stats from last year:

Click any column title in the table header to sort columns.

Link to all of the player stats for the Phoenix Open key Fantasy Stats

DraftKings tips

We have put together a database beginning at the start of the 2023 season and going through the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach, a total of 60 events. The database includes how many points a player won during the event and his cost. Out of the database, we can determine the total DraftKing points earned, and the players’ average points earned per event and average points based on the number of rounds played.

Of the players in the field, here are the top-60 playing in at least ten events:

So it makes sense that the top players on this list are guys that will make lots of points this week

DraftKings Picks

*Here are the guys that are very costly:
  • Scottie Scheffler – $11,600
  • Justin Thomas – $10,000
  • Max Homa – $9,800
  • Sam Burns – $9,600
  • Jordan Spieth – $9,500
  • Matt Fitzpatrick – $9,400
  • Sungjae Im – $9,300
  • Cameron Young – $9,200
  • Sahith Theegala – $9,100
  • Wyndham Clark – $9,000

What a great field and a lot of choices. I realize that Scottie Scheffler at $11,600 is a lot of money, but week in and week out, he always seems to give good value. Last week at Pebble, he earned 82 points for three rounds, again showing he is a points machine. The question that we have to answer is if Scheffler is still struggling with the putter. Can his game carry him for a hat trick this week? I like Justin Thomas at $10,000 a lot this week. First, he is playing well and telling writers he is very close. His record is excellent in Phoenix, with four top tens in nine starts, and he was 4th last year. Bet the farm on Thomas winning this week. Max Homa at $9,800 was a major disappointment. His game struggled in 2024, and he made cuts at Phoenix, but he only played great once, finishing T-6th in 2020. I don’t think he is the answer for this week. Sam Burns at $9,600 is a good choice, he returned to Pebble after his American Express disaster and finished T-10th. He was T-6th last year at Phoenix, so he should be there on Sunday. Jordan Spieth at $9,500 is a good choice despite disappointing us last week at Pebble (T-39th). I fear his putting is a problem, so stay focused on him this week, but remember he was T-4th in 2021 and T-6th last year and can go low in good conditions. I don’t like Matt Fitzpatrick at $9,400. His game has not been strong this year, and he has played okay in his two Phoenix starts, but there is nothing worth writing about. Pass on Matt this week. Sungjae Im at $9,300 is a hard call. Has an excellent record in Phoenix, including two top tens in four starts, including a T-6th last year. But it is a bit concerning that he was T-25th at the Amex, missed the cut at Farmers, and T-66th at Pebble. Cameron Young at $9,200 is a big pass for me. After playing well in Dubai, he fell flat at Pebble, finishing 70th. He has made two cuts in Phoenix, but nothing to talk about, like a 64th last year and T-26th the previous year. Sahith Theegala at $9,100 is long remembered for what he did in 2022 in finishing T-3rd. I will root for him, but his game is not ready. After finishing 2nd at the Sentry, he missed the cut at the Sony, T-64th at the Farmers, and T-20th at Pebble. As for DraftKings, his price is too high to take him. I’m stunned to see Wyndham Clark at $9,000, thought he would be higher. He has the firepower to go low; his putter is his new secret weapon, but after what happened in Pebble, shooting a final round 60 to win, it may be a lousy week to pick him.

*Players in that $7,500 to $8,900 price range, which ones are worth the money?:

Still like Byeong Hun An at $8,800. Yes, he didn’t play well at Pebble last week (T-31st), but he is playing too well to pass up on. He has played well at TPC Scottsdale in five starts, made five cuts, and was 6th in 2017. Min Woo Lee at $8,700, is worth a try, There is nothing fancy in his two PGA Tour starts of 2024, but he won the Australian PGA and was 3rd at the Australian Open. I just think he has a surprise for us. I will take another stab with Tom Kim at $8,600. He struggled in 2024 and finished T-50th last year in Phoenix. I think he is close to playing well. Again, you can’t go wrong with Eric Cole at $8,500. He played in Phoenix for the first time, but I like his finishes since the fall. He was T-14th at Pebble, and you must put him on your list of good picks for this week.  The same with Hideki Matsuyama at $8,400.  His record at Phoenix is nearly flawless, including two wins, and he was T-29th last year. At worst, he will make the cut and post some good numbers for a very cheap price. At $8,300 Adam Scott is a reasonable price for a player who always makes the cut and has played well; he was T-20th last week at Pebble. Rickie Fowler at $8,200 is a tough choice. Yes, he has won in Phoenix and has shown he can win on the PGA Tour again. I have to take him for his Phoenix past, but he has not played great since his Rocket victory in July. Adam Hadwin at $8,000 is another good choice; he plays well at Phoenix and was T-10th last year. Also, he has played well in 2024; he will make the cut and do well for you. The same goes for Brian Harman at $7,800; he has made nine cuts in ten Phoenix starts and played consistently in 2024. Thomas Detry at $7,600, is another of these guys with the worst cost; he has been consistent since joining the PGA Tour last year.

What are the “Bargains” out there?

Our first bargain is Christiaan Bezuidenhout at $7,400; he has played well since the fall and was 2nd in the desert at the American Express. He was T-20th at Pebble. Nick Taylor at $7,200 is a great bargain, considering he has yet to play badly this year and was 2nd at Phoenix last year. I like Ryan Fox at $7,200, the first time in Phoenix, and he could have played better but does make a lot of cuts. Same with Billy Horschel at $7,100, makes a ton of cuts and racks up a lot of DraftKings points. Seamus Power at $6,700 is a reasonable price. He has been consistent enough to make it worth it.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Waste Management Phoenix Open:

Key stat for the winner:
  • It used to be the player with the hot putter who dominated this tournament, as between 1997 and 2007, all the champions except for one (2003 Vijay Singh) were in the top nine in putting. On the reverse, between 1997 and 2008, of the 12 champions, only three were in the top ten of greens hit. Since 2008 of the 14 winners, Rickie Fowler broke the poor streak in 2019 when he ranked T-5th in putting; in 2020, Webb Simpson was T-14th with Brooks Koepka T-33rd. Before that, the best was two players ranked 10th in putting as the winners ranked between 10th and 71st in putting. But in that same period, all the champions were in the top 6 of greens hit (the worst was Kevin Stadler, who ranked 10th, and Fowler, who ranked T-13th) while five of the winners in those eight years led the stat (Matsuyama led in 2016 and was T-2nd in 2017). A significant change occurred in the course in 2004 and then in 2005, so it just took a bit before hitting lots of greens took over. Overall, the TPC Scottsdale ranked 19th of all the courses in 2023 in greens in regulation, so it’s essential to hit all of the greens.
Here are some more key stats to look for this week:
  • One useless stat:  The course is in the desert and in past years had the longest driving average. In 2014, the average drive was 301.4, but in 2015, it went down to 288.5, probably because of the changes made to the course before the 2015 tournament. Last year, the course averaged 303.5 as it ranked 38th on the PGA Tour (only 3 other courses had higher driving averages). Common sense is that the winners are big hitters, but that isn’t the case. Since 1997, only seven of the last 27 champions have been in the top ten of the weekly driving distance stat, with eight out of the top 25. In 2019, Rickie Fowler was 11th in driving distance, Webb Simpson was 44th in 2020, and Brooks Koepka was 6th in 2021. In 2022, Scottie Scheffler was 8th while TPC Scottsdale was 36th; last year, Scheffler was T-4th while Scottsdale was 36th. Still, hitting it long really doesn’t help in winning this tournament.
  • Fifteen of the last 27 champions had a Top-11 finish within three weeks before winning the championship, so look for someone playing well to win. In 2009, Kenny Perry finished T6th at Kapalua three weeks before the Phoenix Open, but Hunter Mahan was not playing well leading up to the 2010 event. In 2011, Mark Wilson won just two weeks before the event at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and in 2012, Kyle Stanley lost a playoff the week before winning at Phoenix. Unfortunately, that trend ended as the last three winners could have played better before winning. In 2015, Brooks Koepka was playing his first event in six weeks, taking some time off, which was perfect for him. In 2016, Hideki Matsuyama finished 2nd in the SBS Tournament of Champions, with four wins in the last three months. In 2017, Matsuyama finished T-4th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, so look for a player who has done well. In 2018, Gary Woodland was T-7th at the Sony Open in Hawaii and T-12th at the Farmers the week before Phoenix. In 2019, Fowler didn’t play that much, but five weeks before, he did finish T-5th at the Hero Challenge. In 2020, Webb Simpson was 2nd in the RSM Classic and 3rd at the Sony Open, his last starts before winning in Phoenix. Now, the myth gets completely blown out of the water with Brooks Koepka. He was injured before his injury, and to show how poorly he was playing, he missed the cut in the three events before Phoenix. Last year, Scottie Scheffler was 2nd at the Hero World Challenge a month and a half before winning in Phoenix in 2022 and was T-11th at the Amex a few weeks before winning the 2023 Phoenix Open.
  • Players can be fearless of many people watching, considering as many as 100,000 will be in attendance over the weekend.
  • Players must hit lots of greens and make lots of birdies. In the last 27 years, the winners have averaged hitting 75.9% of the greens and averaged 22.4 birdies for the week. In 2020, Webb Simpson hit 56 of 72 greens and made one eagle and 21 birdies. In 2021, Brooks Koepka hit 62 of 72 greens and made two eagles and 22 birdies. In 2022, Scottie Scheffler hit 56 of 72 greens and made 26 birdies, while last year, Scheffler hit 56 greens again and made 19 birdies.
  • One last important fact is that birdies must be made on par 4s. This is one of those events in which scoring is lower on the par 4s than the par 5s. Since 1997, 17 of the 27 champions have done better; in 2015, Brooks Koepka played the par 5s in just 2 under par while he was 11 under on the par 4s. In 2016, Hideki Matsuyama played the par 5s in 6 under while he was 9 under on the par 4s. In 2018 Woodland was 8 under on the par 4s and 10 under on the par 5s. In 2019, Rickie Fowler was 7 under on the par 5s but 9 under on the par 4s. In 2020, Webb Simpson was 14 under on the par 4s and 3 under on the par 5s. In 2021, Koepka was only 5 under on the par 4s and 10 under on the par 5s. In 2022, Scottie Scheffler was 8 under on the par 5s but 11 under on the par 4s; last year, Scheffler was 15 under on the par 4s and only 3 under on the par 5s.
  • This week will see terrible weather as conditions couldn’t worst with low temperatures and rain Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Only good thing, hardly any winds.

Who to watch for at the WM Phoenix Open

Best Bets:

Justin Thomas

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
4 T8 T13 T3 3 T17 CUT CUT T17

First, he is playing well and telling writers he is very close. His record is excellent in Phoenix, with four top tens in nine starts, and he was 4th last year. Bet the farm on Thomas winning this week.

Jordan Spieth

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T6 T60 T4 CUT CUT T9 T7

Despite disappointing us last week at Pebble (T-39th) with poor putting, think he was be focused and it will be better. Remember he was T-4th in 2021 and T-6th last year and hecan go low in the right conditions.

Sam Burns

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T6 CUT T22 CUT CUT

He returned to Pebble after his American Express disaster and finished T-10th. He was T-6th last year at Phoenix, so he should be there on Sunday.

Best of the rest:

Scottie Scheffler

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
                          Win       Win      T7       CUT

He has owned this event the last two years. Despite his tee to green game being close to perfect last week at Pebble, his putting was terrible and he needs to improve. The question that we have to answer is if Scheffler can ever master his struggling with the putter. That would help him for a hat trick this week.

Sungjae Im

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T6 T17 T34 T7

Has an excellent record in Phoenix, including two top tens in four starts, including a T-6th last year. But it is a bit concerning that he was T-25th at the Amex, missed the cut at Farmers, and T-66th at Pebble. But it will be another day in Phoenix and feel he will work out his problems.

Hideki Matsuyama

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T29 T8 T42 T16 T15 WD Win Win T2 T4

His record at Phoenix is nearly flawless, including two wins, and he was T-29th last year. At worst, he will make the cut and post some good numbers, but this is the time for him to shine.

Adam Hadwin

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T10 T26 T50 T40 T44 T43 T12 T17 CUT

He plays well at Phoenix and was T-10th last year. Also, he has played well in 2024 and I see good things from him this week.

Brian Harman

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T42 T14 T36 T49 T39 T24 T58 T66 CUT T32

He has made nine cuts in ten Phoenix starts and played consistently in 2024.

Solid contenders

Sahith Theegala

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T39 T3

Long remembered for what he did in 2022 in finishing T-3rd. I will root for him, but his game may not be ready. After finishing 2nd at the Sentry, he missed the cut at the Sony, T-64th at the Farmers, and T-20th at Pebble.

Thomas Detry

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
First time playing in this event

He has been consistent since joining the PGA Tour last year, he could surprise us.

Eric Cole

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
First time playing in this event

His playing in Phoenix for the first time, but I like his finishes since the fall. He was T-14th at Pebble, and you must put him on your list of good picks for this week.

Tom Kim

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T50

Has struggled in 2024 and finished T-50th last year in Phoenix. I think he is close to playing well.

Rickie Fowler

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T10 CUT CUT T37 Win T11 T4 2 T46 CUT CUT T26

Yes, he has won in Phoenix and has shown he can win on the PGA Tour again. I have to take him for his Phoenix past, but he has not played great since his Rocket victory in July.

Byeong Hun An

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T53 T9 T20 T23 6

He didn’t play well at Pebble last week (T-31st), but he is playing too well to pass up on him. He has played well at TPC Scottsdale in five starts, made five cuts, and was 6th in 2017.

Long shots that could come through:

Min Woo Lee

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
First time playing in this event

There is nothing fancy in his two PGA Tour starts of 2024, but he won the Australian PGA and was 3rd at the Australian Open. I just think he has a surprise for us.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
CUT

He has played well since the fall and was 2nd in the desert at the American Express. He was T-20th at Pebble.

Nick Taylor

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
2 CUT CUT T49 CUT T52 CUT T65 T59

He has yet to play badly this year and was 2nd at Phoenix last year.

Ryan Fox

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
First time playing in this event

The first time in Phoenix, and feel that his game will shine in the coming weeks.

Don’t like them this week:

Wyndham Clark

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T10 CUT T36 T34 CUT

He has the firepower to go low; his putter is his new secret weapon, but after what happened in Pebble, shooting a final round 60 to win, it may be a lousy week to pick him.

Cameron Young

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
64 T26

After playing well in Dubai, he fell flat at Pebble, finishing 70th. He has made two cuts in Phoenix, but nothing to talk about, like a 64th last year and T-26th the previous year. So don’t expect much out of him.

Max Homa

2024 ’23 ’22 ’21 ’20 ’19 ’18 ’17 ’16 ’15 ’14 ’13 ’12
T39 T14 T42 T6 T26

Was a major disappointment last week at Pebble. His game has struggled in 2024, he has made cuts at Phoenix, but he only played great once, finishing T-6th in 2020. I don’t think he is the answer for this week.

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