The Waste Management Phoenix Open has provided a lot of anxiety for gamblers trying to pick an outright winner in recent years. In the past 12 years, only two golfers have led after Round 3 and went on to win the tournament. The Phoenix Open has also seen six of the previous nine winners rally from two-stroke or more deficits to bring home the title.
What to expect from the course at TPC Scottsdale will likely be some twists and turns. Since 2015, the tournament has produced two different golfers – Hideki Matsuyama, who won in 2016 and 2017, and Brooks Koepka, who won in 2015 and 2021 – who have won the tournament twice. The winner of this tournament has shot 15-under par or better since 2009.
Thomas Among the Favorites
Top sportsbooks have American Justin Thomas among the favorites to win, having him +125- to win the tournament, +240 to place in the top five, and +140 to finish in the top 10. Thomas is a former world No. 1 player who has 14 career victories on the PGA Tour. Thomas is currently in the longest drought of his career without winning a tournament.
In the past three Phoenix Opens, Thomas has placed in the top 15. Thomas also has had some of his best putting performances on that course.
He’s No. 1
World No. 1 Jon Rahm is the favorite to win the tournament according to top sportsbooks, which have him priced at +750. Rahm, who is from Spain, lives in Phoenix and is an Arizona State graduate. Rahm has competed in the Phoenix Open six times and never finished worse than 16th place.
However, Rahm’s performances haven’t been ones that would make his resume either. As a professional, his best finish was a tie for ninth place in 2020. He placed fifth as an amateur in 2015.
Seeking the Third Title
Matsuyama won in 2016 and 2017 and is +1600 to win the tournament. He has eight career wins on the PGA Tour and won the Masters in 2021. Matsuyama has already won two events this season and is ranked high in a number of statistical categories.
Matsuyama is hitting the green 74.4 percent of the time and has shot 67-under par during his past four events. The Japanese standout is also +333 to finish in the top five and +150 to place in the top 10.
Can Koepka get things together again?
Defending champion Koepka is +3300 to win the event. However, Koepka, much like he was last year, is in poor form. Kopeka has missed the cut at three of his past six events.
However, last year Koepka had missed three consecutive cuts entering the event and ended up picking up his second victory at the Phoenix Open. Koepka has won eight PGA Tour events in his career and has captured four majors, with his last victory coming in 2019.
Deep Field Will Make for Competitive Tournament
The Phoenix Open will see six of the world’s top 10 golf players compete and 14 of the top 20. World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay, who is +1400 to win the tournament, will be another person to keep an eye on. Cantlay has won six PGA Tour events during his 10-year career.
Cantlay accrued four of those victories last season on his way to a FedExCup title and $15 million title.
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