The PGA Tour heads to TPC Scottsdale for the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, where world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear favorite at around +220 odds. The tournament, known for its rowdy crowds and birdie-friendly layout, features a strong field including Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, and Brooks Koepka. Past champions like Scheffler, who won in 2022 and 2023, highlight the event's history of repeat success.
The 2026 WM Phoenix Open tees off on February 5 at TPC Scottsdale, a par-71 course stretching just over 7,200 yards that emphasizes ball-striking and timely putting. With a $9.6 million purse and 500 FedEx Cup points on offer, the event draws one of the strongest fields outside majors, attracting raucous crowds especially around the famous par-3 16th hole.
Scottie Scheffler, fresh off a victory at The American Express, leads the odds at +220 to +240 across sportsbooks like DraftKings and BetMGM. He has won the tournament twice in the last four years and boasts elite strokes gained metrics, including +3.09 per round overall. Analysts note his perfect fit for the venue, where he has gained +2.82 strokes per round across 22 career rounds. Scheffler's first-round top-10 odds stand at +144, reflecting expectations of a strong start in favorable weather conditions through Saturday.
Hideki Matsuyama (+2200 to +2500) emerges as a popular each-way bet at 28/1, having claimed victory in 2016 and 2017. He ranks highly in strokes gained: approach and tee-to-green this season, with finishes of 13th or better in his last four PGA Tour starts. Other contenders include Xander Schauffele (+1900), who chases Scheffler despite ending a long cut-made streak last week, and Cameron Young (+2200), on a hot streak with six top-12s in seven starts.
Sleeper picks highlight value plays like Matt Fitzpatrick (+4900 outright), who has a T10 and T15 in recent appearances, and Pierceson Coody (+5400 to +5500), fresh off a second-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. Brooks Koepka (+3300 to +5000), returning to PGA Tour action, has two prior wins here but showed mixed form last week. Head-to-head matchups favor Nick Taylor over Wyndham Clark in Round 1, citing Taylor's strong opening rounds and 2024 victory.
Course history plays a key role, with all last 10 winners having prior starts. The desert layout rewards precision, with water on several back-nine holes favoring natural cutters. Winds are expected to pick up Sunday, potentially firming conditions and emphasizing early positioning.
