After an interesting week on the Monterey Peninsula, which included Jordan Spieth nearly falling 100 feet to his death, the PGA Tour heads to the desert for the 2022 WM Phoenix Open.
The rowdy crowds of Scottsdale, Arizona are being blessed this week with one of the best fields ever compiled for a non-major event. World No. 1 Jon Rahm is joined by the likes of Justin Thomas, the aforementioned Spieth, and defending champion Brooks Koepka.
Overall, six of the world’s top 10 players are in the field. Stacked.
Before jumping into some plays I like for the week, let’s cover some information about the course.
Golf course
TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course)
Par 71
7,261 yards
Weather
I was going to put together my normal weather graph for the week, however, it’s the desert. Zero percent chance of rain every tournament day with nothing but sun. There ya go.
Key stats
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee: Having length and accuracy around this track is important, the guys won’t want to play from the desert all week.
Approach from 150-200: Almost 50 percent of approach shots hit at TPC Scottsdale over the last several seasons are from this range. Overall, we’ll be targeting tee-to-green studs this week and hope we run into a hot putter.
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. Annandale Golf Club, 2. Southern Hills Country Club, 3. Silverado Resort and Spa
Trending: 1. Patrick Cantlay (Last three starts: 4, 9, T-4), 2. Viktor Hovland (T-30, T-4, 1), 3. Justin Thomas (T-5, T-5, T-20)
Percent chance to win (based on course history, fit, trending, etc.): 1. Jon Rahm (10.8 percent), 2. Patrick Cantlay (7.1 percent), 3. Justin Thomas (5.7 percent)
Latest Twilight 9 episode
This week’s episode of Twilight 9 will be released Wednesday (February 9th). This will be updated with links and player once available.
Betting odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds a full list.
| Player | Odds |
| Jon Rahm | (+750) |
| Justin Thomas | (+1200) |
| Patrick Cantlay | (+1500) |
| Hideki Matsuyama | (+2000) |
| Jordan Spieth | (+2000) |
| Viktor Hovland | (+2000) |
| Xander Schauffele | (+2000) |
| Brooks Koepka | (+3000) |
| Daniel Berger | (+3000) |
| Scottie Scheffler | (+3000) |
Betting card for the 2022 WM Phoenix Open
Last week’s results (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am)
The only bet we cashed was Christiaan Bezuidenhout for Top South African at +180. Down 3.2 units last week. Time to bounce back.
+7.54 units in 2022.
Bubba Watson – Top 20 (+175)
Watson finished runner-up to Harold Varner III at last week’s Saudi International.
The two-time Masters champ hasn’t made an official start this season on the PGA Tour but has played well at the WMPO in recent years. He’s finished inside the top five in two of the last three seasons.
Xander Schauffele – Top 20 (+115)
Schauffele finished T-34 at Torrey Pines a few weeks ago but is coming off a top 20 performance at the Saudi International.
He’s finished inside the top 20 at the last four installments of this event, including a runner-up effort to Brooks Koepka last season.
Scottie Scheffler – Top 20 (+135)
I will not stop betting on Scottie until he wins. So he’s on the card again.
Scheffler’s last start was at Torrey and he tied for 20th. Last season, the Texan cashed a top 10 check at the WMPO. Come on Scottie, let’s get it done.
Other bets to consider
Andrew Putnam (Top 20, +320): He’s trending in the right direction. His last 3 starts: T-27, T-14, T-6 (Pebble). Last season, Putnam finished 7th at the WMPO after missing the cut in two consecutive appearances there.
Luke List (Top 20, +240): List is coming off a win at the Farmers Insurance Open and hasn’t finished outside the Top 22 in his last four starts. He’s finished inside the Top 30 in three of the last four Phoenix Opens.
*Full betting card will be on my Twitter sometime Wednesday, February 9th.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
