Andrew Wilsher
The noise ramps up on the PGA Tour this week at TPC Scottsdale where Scottie Scheffler is a red-hot favorite as he attempts to win a 3rd title in 4 years at golf’s most raucous event, the Phoenix Open. More than 500,000 spectators will be in attendance at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, the Arizona venue which has played host to the Phoenix Open each year since 1987. Many of those attendees will spend their time on the iconic par-three 16th, the fully enclosed stadium hole where each tee shot is greeted with a combination of cheers, jeers and even beers depending on its outcome. Add in a reachable par-five 15th and the driveable par-four 17th, and Scottsdale has the requirements for a dramatic Sunday finish before everyone’s attention switches over to the Super Bowl.
Let’s get into my expert predictions for the Phoenix Open, while you can also find out our golf picks for EVERY PGA Tour event this year.
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Phoenix Open golf picks and predictions
Phoenix Open best bet: Scottie Scheffler (+333)
Odds available at Bet365 at time of publishing.
While the Kansas City Chiefs are going for the ‘three-peat’ in New Orleans against the Philadelphia Eagles, Scottie Scheffler might well have been going for a Phoenix four-timer had he putted better over the weekend in Arizona 12 months ago, when he finished 3rd behind Nick Taylor. A champion in 2022 and 2023, the 28-year-old returns to Arizona having won 9 titles over the last year and there might not be much sense in taking him on in a non-Signature event that lacks depth.
Scheffler made a promising return from hand surgery in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week, finishing 9th, and while he was no match for an inspired Rory McIlroy, that performance has to be viewed as a positive with this week in mind. The world number 1 did not sparkle in all areas at Pebble Beach — there is room for improvement with the driver and around the greens — but he led the field in strokes-gained approach and a similar effort should translate to success at a venue that always rewards those who hit greens in regulation.
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Phoenix Open prediction: Sepp Straka (+4500)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
If Scheffler fails to fire, Sepp Straka and Andrew Novak look poised to take advantage. Straka has a poor Scottsdale record, which goes some way to explaining his high odds, but he’s striking his irons superbly, following up his American Express win with a 7th-placed finish at Pebble Beach where he understandably failed to keep up with McIlroy’s back-nine brilliance in the final round.
Phoenix Open pick: Andrew Novak (+9000)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook and Bet365 at time of publishing.
Novak shrugged off his 3rd-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open to finish 13th last week. He finished 8th on his Scottsdale debut last year, having been tied for the lead at halfway, and he’s playing well enough to threaten again this time.
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