WM Phoenix Open Key Fantasy Stats

WM Phoenix Open

February 6th – 9th, 2025

TPC Scottsdale

Scottsdale, AZ

Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,261

Purse: $9.2 million

with $1,656,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Nick Taylor

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

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 2025.

The field’s scoring average on TPC Scottsdale last year was 69.89, which is just about a shot under par. The course was the 25th hardest on the PGA Tour in 2024 out of 50 courses.
Here is a look at the scoring average of the WM Phoenix Open winners for the last few years:
2023 – The average was 70.98, and it was the 18th hardest of the 58 courses that year
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. In 2024, the weather was the reason for the low scoring average; it rained on Thursday and Saturday, and with the lack of wind and preferred lies all four rounds, it made the course ripe for low scoring. For this year, the weather is going to be drastically different, with no rain and temperatures between 75 and 70 degrees.

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 the rain and slow fairways in 2024, the course ranked 11th in driving distance with an average drive of 293.4 yards (out of 46 courses, ten courses saw drives shorter), 22nd in driving accuracy, and 34th in Greens in Regulation.

As for winner Nick Taylor, he was 49th in driving distance (all distance), averaging 291.6 yards per drive, T-20th in accuracy, hitting 36 of 54 fairways, and T-2nd in Greens in Regulation, hitting 59 of 72 greens. Between the three stats, he ranked 6th 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.

Here is a look at the driving distance, accuracy, and greens hit for the WM Phoenix Open winners in the last few years:
2023 – 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.
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.
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 34th in greens in regulation, again reflecting the easy scoring conditions with the weather. Still, for the previous 16 years, all of the winners have been in the top 13 in greens hit; taking it a step further, those same champions, 12 of them finished in the top four, so you can see the importance of hitting greens in winning this championship.

Last year’s winner, Nick Taylor, hit 59 of 72 greens and ranked T-2nd in his victory (beat Charley Hoffman in a playoff). 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 T-11th as the field averaged 39 feet, 2 inches from the hole. Last year’s winner, Taylor, ranked T-46th and averaged 39 feet, 11 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:
2023 – The course ranked 19th in Greens in Regulation (out of 58 courses) and 4th proximity to hole, averaging 43 feet and no inches.
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. Scheffler, ranked T-14th and averaged 39 feet, three inches from the hole.
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 1,495 birdies, 14th in birdie average, and had 49 eagles made, which ranked 36th. Remember this: of the nine TPC courses, all except for TPC Southwind had fewer birdies (Southwind had 1,067 birdies) and TPC River Highlands (1,248), but remember this: 132 played at Scottsdale while only 70 played at TPC Southwind.
Winner Taylor was 3rd in the field with 24 birdies and had no eagles. He was 3rd in Par Breakers.

Here is a look at the Par Breakers at the WM Phoenix Open winners the last few years:
2023 – 1,333 birdies were made (29th hardest) and 38 eagles (41st) as 19.14% of the holes played under par, making it the 14th hardest of the 50 courses that year
Winner Scottie Scheffler made 19 birdies (T-7th) but had one eagle, as 27.78% of the holes were played under par, and he ranked T-6th in Par Breakers.
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 were played under par, and 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, and 33.33% of the holes were played under par, ranking him 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, and 30.56% of the holes were played under par, ranking him 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, and 33.33% of the holes were played under par, ranking him first 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 28th in scrambling out of 47 courses, getting it up and down 60.57% of the time. Winner Taylor was ranked 1st, getting it up and down in 12 of the 13 greens he missed.

Here is a look at the scrambling at the WM Phoenix Open winners the last few years:
2023 – TPC Scottsdale finished 23rd in scrambling, getting it up and down 57.84% of the time
Winner Scottie Scheffler was ranked 1st, getting it up and down in 14 of the 16 greens he missed.
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.
2019 – 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 not be a repeat of last week at Pebble. Weather won’t be perfect as there will be cloudy skies two of the four days and temperatures will be in the mid to high 70s. Still with the course getting rain in the last few weeks, scores will be 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 last year’s winner, Nick Taylor, along with Koepka, Rickie Fowler, and Phil Mickelson, they are the only winners that putted well in their wins since the previous 13 winners weren’t what you call great putters, so I can see an average to below-average putter winning this event. Today, Scottie Scheffler is a much better putter than in 2023, when he won Phoenix. He 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 2025:

*Strokes gained Tee-to-Green: Important because it shows how TPC Scottsdale ranked T-25th 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, is also important. TPC Scottsdale ranked T-11th last year, 4th in 2023, T-9th in 2022, 16th in 2021, and 5th in 2020, as the players averaged getting it 39 feet and 2 inches last year.

*Par Breakers: Desert courses always seem to give up a lot of birdies and eagles. Last year, TPC Scottsdale ranked 14th and 16th in 2023 in that stat. Making birdies and eagles at TPC Scottsdale could be a chore on some holes.

*Scrambling: Of the 47 courses on tour last year, Players at TPC Scottsdale got it up and down 60.47% of the time, ranking 28th. So players need to get it up and down on those holes that they miss the greens.

118 of the 132 Players from this year’s field with stats from last year.

Two players are participating in their second event this year and don’t have official 2025 stats, so for Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, we are using their ranks for stats from 2024. Those players with 2024 stats are in bold.

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