The WM Phoenix Open, the third Signature Event on the 2024 PGA Tour schedule, is set to begin on Thursday with a highly competitive field vying for the top prize of $1.6 million from an $8.8 million purse. The tournament will take place at the Par 71 Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, which will be the fourth consecutive event played on Poa greens. These greens have an average size of about 7,000 square feet, double the size of the greens at last week's Pebble Beach course.
Last week's Pebble Beach Pro-Am saw yet another unexpected winner, as Wyndham Clark, last year's U.S. Open champion, fired a remarkable course record 60 on Saturday and went on to win the tournament after severe weather forced the PGA Tour to shorten it to 54 holes. The resulting chaos in the betting market left many bettors outraged, leading online sportsbooks to scramble to adjust bets and determine appropriate rules for affected wagers.
Despite the withdrawals of Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, the Phoenix Open boasts an impressive field that includes seven of the top 10 and 11 of the top 20 players in the current world rankings. Notable absentees from this week's competition include Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, and last week's Pebble Beach Pro-Am runner-up Ludvig Aberg. Nevertheless, the tournament promises to be an exciting event to watch and bet on, as the action on the course will be matched by the lively atmosphere surrounding the famous par 3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale.
In addition to the thrilling golf competitions, fans and bettors can also look forward to crossover prop bets between the Phoenix Open and Super Bowl LVIII, adding to the excitement of the event. So make sure to place your bets and see which golfers can perform exceptionally well on the challenging 7,261-yard par 71 TPC Scottsdale course, or perhaps even make a hole-in-one on the iconic Par 3 at No. 16. Speaking of which, did you know that Tiger Woods made a hole-in-one at the Par 3 16th during the 1997 Phoenix Open? Woods will be making his PGA Tour return next week at his own hosted event, The Genesis Open at Riviera CC.
The prohibitive favorite to win this week is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is gunning for his third consecutive victory at the WM Phoenix Open. According to Data Golf's course fit tool, Scheffler ranks at the top when considering favored skill sets at TPC Scottsdale, followed by Tom Kim, Max Homa, Sungjae Im, and Si Woo Kim. Golfers who have previously experienced success at this course, such as Scheffler and Sungjae Im, are more likely to continue performing well. Notably, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler have also accumulated multiple top-10 finishes at TPC Scottsdale over the past five years. Course history at TPC Scottsdale has proven to be the third-most predictive in terms of success on the PGA Tour, trailing only Augusta National and Waialae CC.
For those looking for long-shot contenders to add to their win and top-finishing position bets, it may be worth considering Arizona State alumnus Kevin Yu, who is currently listed at +9000 odds. Yu is also +300 to finish in the top 20 and has already achieved a pair of top-6 finishes this year, displaying strong Off-the-Tee stats and ranking among the top 3 in this field. Although his putting game could use some improvement, Yu should feel at ease on this course as he still plays out of Scottsdale.
Various online sportsbooks offer a range of matchup offerings and odds for the tournament, adding even more excitement for fans and bettors alike. It is essential to take note of the different types of bets available and understand how to read the odds. If you crave more golf statistics and comprehensive coverage of the Phoenix Open and other weekly PGA Tour events, you're in luck. Betting on golf remains highly popular, with fans eager to analyze fairways, greens, and every aspect of the game.
As the WM Phoenix Open tees off this week, all eyes will be on the talented field battling it out on the challenging TPC Scottsdale course. Will Scottie Scheffler achieve a remarkable three-peat? Or could a dark horse contender rise to the occasion and claim victory? Only time will tell, so make sure to follow the action and place your bets wisely.
