The PGA Tour continues the West Coast Swing, but moves off the coast to Phoenix for the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Dubbed “The Greatest Show on Grass” the WM Phoenix Open is one of the more popular events on the PGA Tour Calendar.
Played at TPC Scottsdale, the Stadium Course where the Phoenix Open will be played, is one of two courses on the 36-hole property.
The 16th hole’s grandstand has seating for 20,000 spectators, and is the only hole on tour to be completely surrounded by seating.
The WM Phoenix Open was designated at one of the 17 elevated events that were designated by the PGA Tour and is the first elevated event of the season.
The PGA Tour elevated 17 events as one of the on going efforts to keep current PGA Tour players from defecting to the upstart rival LIV Golf series that enters its 2nd season after a successful fist season in 2023.
With the elevation the purse for this year’s WM Phoenix Open will increase by $11.8 million.
Last year’s field competed for $8.2 million with $1.476 million going to champion Scottie Scheffler. This year the field will compete for $20 million with a whopping $3.6 million going to the champion.
Two former winners will not be in the field this week for the WM Phoenix Open.
Three time winner Phil Mickelson (1996, 2005, 2013), and two time champ Brooks Koepka (2015, 2021) were suspended from the PGA Tour after their defection to LIV Golf.
Notables in the Field
| Scottie Scheffler | Rory McIlroy | Xander Schauffele |
| Jon Rahm | Justin Thomas | Max Homa |
| Tony Finau | Jordan Spieth | Hideki Matsuyama |
| Cameron Young | Rickie Fowler | Francesco Molinari |
| Gary Woodland | Adam Scott | Billy Horshel |
| Sahith Theegala | Patrick Cantlay | Matt Fitzpatrick |
Players to watch
Tony Finau
This will be Tony’s 8th trip to TPC Scottsdale for the WM Phoenix Open. In seven previous trips Tony has five missed cuts and one top-10 finish.
The only top ten for Tony came at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open when he finished runner-up to Webb Simpson after a playoff.
So far this season in 5 event Tony has 4 top-20 finishes and a missed cut.
He also has three top-10 finishes including a win at the Cadence Bank Houston Open.
His most recent finish was a tie for ninth place at last month’s Farmers Insurance Open.
Finau is currently ranked sixth in the FedEx Cup, and 12th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Sahith Theegala
This will be Sahith’s second trip to TPC Scottsdale. His first appearance was in last year’s event and finished in 3rd place.
In 9 official events so far this season Sahith has four top-10 finishes, including a tie for fourth place in last month’s Farmers Insurance Open.
In one unofficial event, the QBE Shootout, Sahith won with partner Tom Hoge.
Sahith is currently ranked 13th in the FedEx Cup, and 34th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Cam Champ
This will be Cam’s 3rd trip to the Stadium Course. In two other appearances he has a missed cut in 2021 and finished in 67th place in 2019.
In seven events so far this season Cam has one top-10 finish and five missed cuts.
His lone top-10 came at the ZOZO Championship back in October.
Tee Times
Finau: Thursday – 11:44 AM ; Friday – 2:44 PM
Theegala: Thursday – 4:29 PM ; Friday – 9:59 AM
Champ: Thursday – 12:06 AM ; Friday – 3:17 PM
How to watch
All times EST
Thursday (2/9) & Friday (2/10): 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM ( Golf Channel)
Saturday (2/11): 1 PM – 3 PM (Golf Channel); 3 – 6:30 PM (CBS)
Sunday (2/12): 1 PM – 3 PM (Golf Channel); 3 – 6 PM (CBS)