Waste Management Phoenix Open

Odds to Win Tournament

The “Greatest Show on Grass” makes its return Thursday, as the golfers head to the desert for one of the most exciting events of the year, the Waste Management Phoenix Open. This tourney has been played at TPC Scottsdale since the 1987 season and has recently begun aligning with the Super Bowl, which is coincidently in Glendale, AZ this year. Golfers deal with more than a half million attendees over their four days on the par-71, 7,216-yard course and will be faced with one of the most famous holes in golf, the par-three 16th which is surrounded by boisterous fans in a stadium atmosphere. Last season it was Kevin Stadler who had the hot hand as he posted four consecutive rounds of 68 or better and just beat out Graham DeLaet and Bubba Watson, who finished just one stroke behind Stadler. Tiger Woods will make his return this weekend and will join Arizona State alum Phil Mickelson in what anticipates being one of the better tournaments of the year. Let’s look at a few players who can turn up the heat in the desert this weekend and grab a victory.

Golfers to Watch

Phil Mickelson (23/1): It seems as if everyone is on Mickelson’s side when he heads to this course with his fellow Arizona State alum cheering him on, and he has rewarded them with three victories, with his last coming in 2013. He warmed up with a solid 24th-place showing at the Humana Challenge and should be able to wow the locals once again with his amazing wedge play as he looks to prove to the world that he still has some wins left in his tank.

Ryan Palmer (30/1): Palmer just keeps putting up big performances, and is due for his first win on the PGA Tour since the 2010 season after rattling off three top-25 finishes to start the year. He proved what he can do with a 61 on Friday of the Humana Challenge when he shot 10-under par of an eight-hole stretch and finished the event in 10th place. Palmer should be considered one of the safer picks to fight for first place come Sunday afternoon.

Brendan Steele (35/1): Steele has managed to make the cut in each of his five events so far this year and is coming off a runner-up performance at the Humana Challenge where he shot a 64 on Sunday. His past performances at this course really put him in the limelight, as he has been in the top-6 each of the past three seasons, and has shot a 69 or better in 10-of-12 rounds during that period. He feels comfortable at this course and should feed off his solid play from last week to come up big in Scottsdale.

Scott Piercy (40/1): Piercy is another player who comes to the Waste Management Open with both recent success this year and past success at this course. He’s finished in the top-17 at four of his past six outings, including a second-place showing at the Sony Open, and shot a 67 in three of the four rounds last year, as he finished in a tie for 15th place. The odds are still low for Piercy, but he looks primed and ready for his third career PGA Tour win.