Damien Kayat previews the 2023 edition of the Phoenix Open taking place at the iconic TPC Scottsdale.
2022/2023 US PGA Tour
Phoenix Open
TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona
9th-12th February
Justin Rose found the stop-start nature of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am to his liking, winning his first event in four years and catapulting himself back into potential Ryder Cup contention.
It helped him secure spots in the Masters and PGA Championship. It also helped propel him inside the top 10 in the FedEx Cup rankings.
1,471 days since his last victory 📆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 6, 2023
Today, @JustinRose99 is in the winner's circle once again. pic.twitter.com/dxnxREmnZa
The Phoenix Open
The tour now moves to the ‘Greatest Show on Grass’: The Phoenix Open. The most well-attended event on tour, the Phoenix Open has a well-earned reputation for being the rowdiest atmosphere in golf.
Honestly, it hinges on boorishness. I think it helps to perpetuate the ‘entitled frat-boy’ stereotype which I hate.
One of the oldest events on the tour, the Phoenix Open dates back more than 90 years. It has been hosted at the iconic TPC Scottdale for the last 36 years. Scottie Scheffler won last year in what was a harbinger great things to come.
TPC Scottsdale
The Stadium Course was built specifically for this event. This is a desert-style layout with a distinctly links feel. This isn’t a course designed especially for the bombers (though stats do suggest that distance edges accuracy from the tee this week).
The undulating Bermuda fairways and fast Bermuda greens reward the pure ball strikers (finding Greens in Regulation is essential to success here).
Players also need to adjust their distances this week as it is played at elevation. But the star attraction of the Stadium Course is its barnstorming finish.
The 15th is a reachable par five. The infamous par three 16th is one of the most unique atmospheres in sport. Known as the ‘Coliseum’, it is the only fully enclosed hole on the PGA Tour.
This is where the loutish behaviour is actively encouraged. The 17th is a drivable par four. Anything can happen over this closing stretch.
Check out Tiger acing the 16th at TPC Scottsdale way back in 1997:
The iconic 16th hole @WMPhoenixOpen is loud.@TigerWoods making an ace on the 16th hole is 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 loud.#TOURVault pic.twitter.com/H8vAh3QlKL
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 3, 2021
The Contenders
Arizona State University graduate Jon Rahm will be looking to bounce back after faltering in the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Rory McIlroy held off Patrick Reed to claim the Dubai Desert Classic last time out. He will be desperate to extend the gap between him and World No.2 Rahm.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler has gone slightly off the boil of late. He will be hoping to reinvigorate his form with a return to this raucous venue.
Elsewhere, the likes of Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa have been trending nicely. This is really looking to be a special week. It has the feel of a Major Championship, with 18 of the world’s top 20 in contention this week.
Past Winners
2022: Scottie Scheffler (-16) *playoff
2021: Brooks Koepka (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-17) *playoff
2019: Rickie Fowler (-17)
2018: Gary Woodland (-18) *playoff
2017: Hideki Matsuyama (-17) *playoff
To Win Outright:
Jon Rahm (13/2), Rory McIlroy (7/1), Scottie Scheffler (12/1), Xander Schauffele (14/1), Patrick Cantlay (18/1)
Value Bets
Sahith Theegala- To Win 40/1 | To Place 8/1
Sahith Theegala is just a player who perfectly suits the risk-reward nature of this event. In reality, he should have won this event a year ago. He led after rounds two and three. He led coming into the 71st hole of the tournament. But he found the water hazard and his chance slipped away. He also should have won the Travelers later in the season. He finished fifth last time out at Torrey Pines and I love him at 45/1 this week.
Rickie Fowler- To Win 50/1 | To Place 11/1
This is one of those proverbial ‘horses for courses’ picks. Rickie Fowler is an absolute fixture at TPC Scottsdale. He won here in 2019 and finished runner-up on two further occasions. Fowler showed signs of marked improvement towards the end of last season. He was sixth at the Fortinet Championship before finishing runner-up to Keegan Bradley at the ZOZO Championship. He then took a long winter break to prepare for 2023. He finished 11th in his last event at Torrey Pines (an event where he missed the cut in six of his previous nine starts). He is certainly trending upwards. He currently ranks in the top 20 for Total Driving and top 10 for Ball Striking.
The Man to Beat- Tony Finau- To Win 18/1 | To Place 4/1
This is one of those rare weeks where you are going to get the red-hot Tony Finau at 20/1. A regular to TPC Scottsdale, Finau lost in a playoff to Webb Simpson in 2020. He is already a winner this season (he picked up a victory at the Houston Open). And his form is trending nicely going into this week. He had a T7 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions before a T16 at the American Express. He then had a top 10 at the Farmers Insurance Open. We all know how accomplished he is from tee-to-green. But he actually currently sits inside the top 10 for Strokes Gained Putting and Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green. I think he has what it takes to go head-to-head with the likes of Rahm and McIlroy. And at a far more appetizing price.
