The Waste Management Phoenix Open
SteemSports Presenter:@hogan22
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
The PGA Tour makes its way to the desert this week for the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ . The event annually grosses the largest crowds all year and is considered one of the most entertaining events of the season.
Hideki Matsuyama is has won this event the past two years, both in four-hole sudden-death playoffs, and is looking for a three-peat starting on Thursday. In 2015, he edged out Rickie Fowler when Fowler put his drive into the water on the drivable par-4 17th hole, ultimately bogeying the hole. In 2016, Matsuyama knocked off Webb Simpson after his birdie trumped Simpson’s par, also on the par-4 17th hole. Prior to that, Hideki finished runner-up and fourth, in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Surprisingly, Matsuyama is the second-favorite at 10-1 to win the event.
Jordan Speith enters this week as the odds-on favorite to win this year’s event. Speith is drawing 8-1 odds in Vegas. The course suits his game because of the relatively flat, easy to read greens. Speith is arguably the tour’s best putter. The course is also fairly forgiving, helping Speith’s weakness, normally struggling to keep the ball in the fairway.
Rickie Fowler has had recent success in Scottsdale. Fowler has a runner-up and fourth place finish in his past two outings at this venue, as well as another runner-up finish in 2010. He also has a flare for the dramatic. Rickie has won the Player’s Championship, which also draws extremely large interactive crowds.
Phil Mickelson went to school at Arizona State University just down the road from this week’s venue and is very comfortable with all of the courses in the surrounding area. Phil won this event back in 2013 by four strokes after an opening round eleven-under par 60.
John Rahm also went to Arizona State University and has had tremendous success in the desert. Rahm is in excellent form heading and, although he is only 23 years old and just turned pro last year, he as already played in this event twice, finishing in the top five as an amateur in 2015.
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That’s one sporting event I can’t wait to go to one day. I feel like it’s one big party haha!
I moved to Scottsdale 6 mos ago and went to some of the post golf parties here last night. They were great! You gotta come one day!
Ahh that’s awesome. Would love to go with a friends and just make a weekend out of it. Maybe a bachelor party one day or something haha!
There you go :)