The Waste Management Phoenix Open is typically one of the highest, if not the highest, attended golf tournament on the PGA Tour all year. It’s got everything; the beautiful February weather of Scottsdale, Arizona, big names, great atmosphere, and a great golf course. In 2017, the Phoenix Open set the single day attendance record when 204,000 people walked through the gates to see Saturday’s third round. At the end of the week, over 655,000 fans were on the course for a four-day record. Now here’s a look at the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The Field
The Phoenix Open produces a strong field highlighted by some of the biggest names in golf. This week Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Rickie Fowler highlight the deep field. While the big names are there, many other hot golfers are in the field. Alex Noren, last week’s Farmers Insurance runner-up, is in the field as well as the John Rahm who won the CareerBuilder Challenge two weeks ago. PGA Tour staples like Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, and Matt Kuchar will also be in action.
Defending Champ
Hideki Matsuyama really likes TPC Scottdale. He carded 10 rounds in the 60s in the 12 rounds he has played over the last three years. Since 2015, the young Japanese star has placed in the top five three times and has won the event the past two years. This year he looks to go for three straight and officially call himself the king of TPC Scottdale.
Winner
Considering the above stats, it would be wrong to go with anybody other than Matsuyama this week in Scottsdale. Since 2015, Matsuyama has 58 birdies and a total score of 45-under par. No one has played better than Matsuyama at the Phoenix Open recently and there is no reason to expect he won’t be near the top of the leaderboard again.
Storylines at the Phoenix Open
The 16th at Scottsdale is always a great time. Golfers are surrounded by a college athletics type atmosphere where they are completed engulfed by thousands of screaming fans and beer cans. It’s one of the fewest instances in golf where it’s OK to be loud and it creates one of the coolest environments on tour. One of the most well-known par three’s on the PGA Tour never fails to excite as players roll through Gangnam style, throwing footballs, and handing out merchandise. It’s a party at 16, but it’s right in the middle of the back nine and can play a big roll in the outcome of a tournament.
John Oda is making his fourth start of the season, but he has no status on tour. The US Amateur runner-up forewent his senior season at UNLV to turn pro. He got a sponsor’s exemption into the OHL Classic at Mayakoba where he finished T-8 earning himself a spot in the RSM Classic. Oda then qualified for his home event, the Sony Open in Hawaii by way of a Monday qualifier and he’s in the field in Phoenix due to a 65 in another Monday qualifier.
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