Rory, Max Homa and Cameron Young to top 20 at +600. Yes, please.
The first full-field designated event in PGA Tour history is here, as 22 of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Ranking have made their way to TPC Scottsdale for the WM Phoenix Open.
Jon Rahm is the betting favorite at +800 followed closely by world No. 1 Rory McIlroy at +850.
Mitchell tied for 10th at the WM Phoenix Open in 2022.
The 2023 WM Phoenix Open is littered with the best players in the world. In fact, 22 of the world’s top 25 players who are eligible are in the field. No. 1 Rory McIlroy, No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, No. 3 Jon Rahm and so on.
So, are the odds stacked against the other names at TPC Scottsdale this week? Probably. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
Because of that, let’s take a look at some of the players further down the odds list that have a chance to pull off an unlikely victory.
Let’s start with a man who finished inside the top five at last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and owns a decent resume at this event.
Thomas’ last five finishes at the WM Phoenix Open: T-8, T-13, T-3, 3 and T-17.
After all the talk at the end of last season about the impending designated events, the week is finally here. The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale will serve as the first full-field designated event with the world’s best players battling against each other to see who’s top dog — the Sentry Tournament of Champions was designated but featured a limited field.
Jon Rahm is the betting favorite at most books, sitting at +800. Rory McIlroy, who has yet to make a start on the PGA Tour in 2023 but won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic over LIV Golf’s Patrick Reed on the DP World Tour two weeks ago, is behind him at +850.
Overall, 22 of the top 25 players in the Official World Golf Ranking have made their way to the desert.
Par 71 | 7,261 yards | Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish design
Course comparisons (according to Data Golf): 1. Southern Hills Country Club, 2. Annadale GC, 3. Silverado Resort and Spa
Chesson Hadley on the 16th hole during the pro-am ahead of the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic)
It’s no surprise that Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are the betting favorites at TPC Scottsdale.
The first-full field designated event in PGA Tour history is nearly here as the best players in the world are bound for Arizona for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Everything is coming up Cleveland in the Eastern Conference
It’s been a little while since Kyrie Irving was in the news for basketball reasons and oh boy did he fix that in a big way on Friday.
Less than a week before the NBA trade deadline, Irving threw himself onto the market by demanding out of Brooklyn. The most recent plot twist comes as Irving tried, and seemingly failed, to negotiate an extension with the Nets and pretty much brings an end to New York City’s latest attempt to secure a title via Super Team.
As of January 31, the Cavs were the biggest liability to win the East at BetMGM and their odds to do so are only getting better after Irving’s request.
Updated odds to win NBA Eastern Conference at @BetMGM
Celtics +180 Bucks +280 Nets +450 76ers +600 Cavaliers +900 All other teams +2000 or longer odds
That the Cavs were a popular pick to win the East after trading for Donovan Mitchell isn’t surprising. But the Nets potentially losing one of their more dominant stars at this point in the year changes the equation quite a bit.
Not only does it weaken a supposed powerhouse team in the East, it might just help Cleveland secure homecourt advantage in the postseason.
Entering Friday the Cavs were a half-game back of the Nets for the No. 4 seed in the East. The latest turmoil in Brooklyn is the perfect opportunity for Cleveland to overtake the Nets in the standings.
The Cavs already have the easiest schedule remaining in the NBA, per Tankathon, while Brooklyn has the sixth-toughest slate left. A downgrade from Irving in the lineup will certainly make things harder.
Now Cleveland just has to find a way past the Celtics, Sixers and Bucks to cash those tickets.
Jordan Spieth’s last three starts at Pebble Beach: 2nd, T-3 and T-9.
It’s always nice going back to the Monterey Peninsula every February for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The pro field isn’t quite as strong as we’ve seen over the last month or so, regardless, it’s tough to beat a Sunday final round at the Jack Neville/Douglas Grant masterpiece.
Matt Fitzpatrick represents the lone top-10 player in the field, but he’s joined by Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland and Maverick McNealy.
For the first three rounds, players will rotate between three golf courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Course) and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The final round will be played at Pebble.
Here’s everything you need to know for the “weekend” at Torrey Pines.
The “weekend ” is here at Torrey Pines, one day earlier than normal. To avoid a collision with NFL Conference Championship Sunday, the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open is being held Wednesday to Saturday.
Thursday’s second round has come and gone with many big names firmly in contention with two rounds to go.
Jon Rahm was in danger of missing the cut for most of the day before going on a back-nine tear. He played Nos. 5-8 of the North Course at 5 under to get to 4 under for the tournament.
Jason Day was 6 under standing in the 18th fairway of the South Course when his second shot into the par 5 found the water. He was unable to get up and down, but he’s still at 5 under with a chance to win his third Farmers.
Max Homa made four straight birdies on his front nine Thursday to vault to the front page of the leaderboard. He’ll tee off Friday at 6 under, six back of Sam Ryder.
Leaderboard, odds, percent chance to win
Position
Player
Score
Odds to win
Data Golf percent chance to win
1st
Sam Ryder
12 under
(+330)
30 percent
2nd
Brendan Steele
9 under
(+650)
17.9 percent
3rd
Tano Goya
7 under
(+4500)
1.6 percent
T-4
Taylor Montgomery
6 under
(+1000)
6.8 percent
T-4
Brent Grant
6 under
(+12500)
0.5 percent
T-4
Sahith Theegala
6 under
(+1400)
3.3 percent
T-4
Max Homa
6 under
(+750)
7.5 percent
T-4
Sam Stevens
6 under
(+6600)
1.2 percent
T-4
Vincent Norrman
6 under
(+5000)
1 percent
T-10
Jason Day
5 under
(+1400)
3.7 percent
T-10
Collin Morikawa
5 under
(+1100)
5.4 percent
T-10
Andrew Novak
5 under
(+8000)
0.5 percent
T-10
Ben Griffin
5 under
(+4500)
1.3 percent
Players to watch
Max Homa: Three of the world No. 16’s PGA Tour wins have come in the state of California. He’s struck the ball incredibly well during the second round at the South Course ranking third in SG: Tee to Green. If he can minimize mistakes, Homa has a good chance of catching Ryder over the final two rounds.
Taylor Montgomery: The Tour rookie has been in the mix all season long. Montgomery finished solo fifth last week at The American Express and in all has eight top 20s in nine starts (four top 10s). He can roll the rock with the best of them, so if his putter gets hot, watch out.
Sahith Theegala: The fan-favorite sits at 6 under through two rounds, six back of Ryder. Theegala can make birdies in bunches which is exactly what you need to be able to do to close a large gap. He’s still searching for his first win on Tour.
Fowler already has T-2 and T-6 finishes this season. Can he grab his first Tour win since 2019 this week?
A loaded field consisting of 10 of the world’s top 19 players has made its way to the California desert for the American Express at PGA West.
World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and No. 4 Jon Rahm are the two betting favorites while Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris are the other top 10 players set to tee it up Thursday.
With a three-course rotation used over the first three rounds, the cut will be made after 54 holes. Pete Dye’s Stadium Course will host the final round Sunday.
Both Zalatoris and Finau are coming off top 11 performances at the Sentry TOC.
After a few weeks in paradise, the PGA Tour heads to the desert of California for the American Express. Lucky for us, most of the top players in the world have made the trip.
Ten of the top 19 in the Official World Golf Ranking will be battling in the event, including No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and No. 4 Jon Rahm. Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele and Will Zalatoris round out the top 10 players in the field. Rahm, who recently won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui, captured the title at this event in 2018.
Players will rotate between three golf courses during the first three rounds before the final round is played at the Pete Dye Stadium Course. There will be a 54-hole cut.
The 16th hole during the first round of The American Express on the Stadium course at PGA West on January 20, 2022, in La Quinta, California. (Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PGA West (Stadium Course) | 7,187 yards | Par 72
PGA West (Nicklaus Tournament Course) | 7,147 yards | Par 72
La Quinta Country Club | 7,060 yards | Par 72
Data Golf Information
Course Fit (compares golf courses based on the degree to which different golfer attributes — such as driving distance — to predict who performs well at each course – DataGolf): 1. The Reinassance Club, 2. Caves Valley Golf Club, 3. TPC Lousiana
Trending (the players’ last three starts): 1. Jon Rahm (1, T-8, 1), 2. Tony Finau (1, 7, T-7), 3. Scottie Scheffler (T-9, 2, T-7)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Jon Rahm (10.8 percent), 2. Scottie Scheffler (9.7 percent), 3. Patrick Cantlay (6.5 percent)
Golfweek’s weekly podcast
Listen to Riley Hamel and Andy Nesbitt on this week’s episode of Twilight 9! The boys discuss Si Woo Kim’s win at the Sony Open, preview the American Express and make a few picks for the week. Plus, Justin Thomas stops by for a quick chat!
Tom Brady is a home underdog in the playoffs for the first time Monday night, but underdog status in the postseason hasn’t bothered him
Tom Brady: home underdog. If that sounds unfamiliar, it's because he's never been one in the playoffs.
The good news for Tampa: Brady is 7-3 outright as a playoff underdog, tied with Eli Manning for the most such wins by a starting QB in the Super Bowl era. pic.twitter.com/ope0SlJm9d
When Tom Brady takes the field Monday night, he’ll do so as a home underdog in the playoffs for the first time in his entire 23-year NFL career.
History says the GOAT won’t mind that too much, though.
Brady has never been a home underdog in the postseason, but he has been an outright underdog 10 times, and he’s won seven of those games (per ESPN Stats & Info).
Brady and the Bucs are currently 2.5-point underdogs heading into Monday night’s wild-card game against the Dallas Cowboys, according to the latest odds from BetMGM.
