Blog#307 Waste Management Phoenix Open

Blog#307 Waste Management Phoenix Open

TPC Scottsdale AZ Feb 5-8 2026 Par 71

Purse $9.6M +$400K 4%

HISTORY

Second year as a non-signature event. Last year Thomas Detry won by 7 strokes by shooting 65 on each of the last 2 RDs. It was his 1st PGA win at 32. There are 120 players in the field and tournament draws about 200,000 people per day.

FAVORITES

1 Scottie Scheffler 2/1 Won by 4 at American Express 2 weeks ago and won this tournament in 2022 & 2023. He has 20 career wins, starting his 5th PGA season.

2 Xander Schauffele 17/1 Missed cut last week, his game not there yet.

3 Si Woo Kim 25/1 He is due for a win, seems to always have 1 bad shot or round.

4 Cameron Young 25/1 Disappointing performance last week, as I felt he had a chance to win.

5 H Matsuyama 27/1 Picked #10 last week and finished 11.

MY LONG-SHOTS

1 Si Woo Kim 25/1 He has played very well 7 of 8 RDs last 2 weeks, finished 2nd last week.

1 Maverick McNealy 33/1 I think he or Kim should win if it is not Scheffler.

3 Jordan Spieth 45/1 Did not play The Farmers but showed signs of his former self at the

American Express. Finished 4th last year but has not won since Heritage in 2022. He has a total of 13 PGA wins including 3 majors. If he should win this years PGA Championship he will join 6 others who have won the Career Grand Slam.

3 Jake Knapp 40/1 Finished 5th last week, all 4 RDs under par.

4 Sahith Thegalla 45/1 Shoots 66 at final RD last week to finish 7th & 8th at American Express.

After a bad year last year, he seems to have found his game and could be dangerous.

6 Pierceson Coody 60/1 Probably the longest of long-shots but shot low final RD 66 last week. His twin brother Parker plays on the Korn Ferry tour.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

The 16th hole a par 3 163’ is the famous stadium hole which seats 17,000 and is very rowdy. It is a unique setting for the PGA which LIV has tried to duplicate with their format, but 1 hole a year is entertaining, but enough. It is pictured below and a must watch. The crowd goes wild with a hole in 1.