The biggest party on the PGA Tour won’t be as big this week, but at least there will be fans in attendance at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Always a popular stop on the PGA Tour, a strong field will play in front of fans for the first time in a while, which is an adjustment in itself, but they won’t have to contend with the usually raucous crowd on the legendary 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. For the first time the field includes Rory McIlroy, who is one of five among the world’s top-10 competing and is the second favorite behind Jon Rahm and just ahead of Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele. They are the four players with shorter than 10/1 odds and all are featured in tournament matchups. Visit BookMaker.eu for a complete list of matchup betting odds when you’re ready to place a wager.
Waste Management Phoenix Open Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
Jon Rahm -160 vs. Rory McIlroy +130
Jon Rahm -145 vs. Xander Schauffele +115
Jon Rahm -145 vs. Justin Thomas +115
Rory McIlroy -105 vs. Xander Schauffele -125
Rory McIlroy +100 vs. Justin Thomas -130
Justin Thomas -120 vs. Xander Schauffele -110
Webb Simpson -135 vs. Daniel Berger +105
Hideki Matsuyama -115 vs. Harris English -115
Scottie Scheffler -140 vs. Brooks Koepka +110
Sungjae Im -135 vs. Ryan Palmer +105
Rickie Fowler -145 vs. Gary Woodland +115
Bubba Watson -140 vs. Jason Day +110
Will Zalatoris -125 vs. Russell Henley -105
Talor Gooch -130 vs. Lucas Glover +100
Emiliano Grillo -130 vs. James Hahn +100
Billy Horschel -135 vs. Si Woo Kim +105
Henrik Norlander-115 vs. Luke List -115
Carlos Ortiz -135 vs. Byeong Hun An +105
Corey Conners -145 vs. Cameron Tringale +115
Rory Sabbatini -140 vs. Jordan Spieth +110
Kyle Stanley +105 vs. Brendan Steele -135
Brendon Todd -145 vs. Michael Thompson +115
Matt Kuchar -135 vs. Sebastian Munoz +105
Cameron Champ +100 vs. Chris Kirk -130
Sepp Straka -110 vs. Russell Knox -120
Doc Redman +115 vs. Ryan Moore -145
Max Homa -130 vs. Adam Long +100
Patton Kizzire -105 vs. Wyndham Clark -125
Matt Jones -115 vs. Martin Laird -115
Charl Schwartzel +115 vs. Dylan Frittelli -145
Bo Hoag -145 vs. Will Gordon +115
Nick Taylor -130 vs. Patrick Rodgers +100
Austin Cook +115 vs. Denny McCarthy -145
Need to Know
Tournament host since 1987, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale is one of the most popular stops on Tour. Outside of the stadium setting at No. 16, though, the layout is straightforward and bland. Stretched out to around 7,300 yards, the course plays to the heavy hitters and we should see plenty of drivers this week, allowing most to attack the greens with precision iron shots. Along with altitude in the desert we’ve seen some generous scoring in the past with winners typically in the 14- to 18-under range. Weather is always something to consider in the desert. Morning frost makes for a slower track for those starting early. The par-3 16th is the signature hole surrounded by stands, though the number of spectators will be limited this week. That in itself is a change and something golfers will have to adjust to since it hasn’t happened in some time.
Waste Management Phoenix Open Matchup Picks
Xander Schauffele +115 vs. Jon Rahm
There isn’t much that separates these two, which is why when I saw Schauffele at plus odds I had to do a double take. Of course Rahm is one of the best players in the world and on a hot streak, but you know what? So is the X-man. A T2 at the Farmers last week was his second runner-up this season and he hasn’t finished outside the top-20 in any of his six starts. He’s been good at this venue with three top-20s in as many starts, and I’m banking on him being just a bit better than his counterpart, which isn’t out of the question.
Rory McIlroy +100 vs. Justin Thomas
In another matchup of Tour heavyweights we’ll see McIlroy for the first time on the TPC Scottsdale layout. I was thinking about staying away from this matchup, but Rory’s tee-to-green play was phenomenal in a T3 at Abu Dhabi at a T16 at the FIO, though he would have placed higher if not for a closing 73. This is a straightforward course and with fewer fans to intimidate players I expect McIlroy to kill it, though he probably would have anyway.
Hideki Matsuyama -115 vs. Harris English
As far as course form goes how can you not back Matsuyama? He has an exceptional track record in the Arizona desert that will overshadow his T53 at the Farmers last week. A back-to-back winner here in 2016 and 2017, Matsuyama also had a runner-up and T4 before hoisting the hardware. He missed the 2018 edition but has a T15 and T16 in two subsequent visits. He’ll likely be in contention come the weekend, but I’m just backing him for a matchup win.
Ryan Palmer +105 vs. Sungjae Im
The value searching in matchup picks doesn’t always work out. Last week’s results were a prime example. This time I’m looking at Palmer at plus odds. He’s a regular at this event, though he hasn’t been in contention since a T2 in 2015. That isn’t stopping me from backing him since he’s on a run of strong form. He was co-runner-up at the Farmers and has two additional top-5s in his last four starts.
Will Zalatoris -125 vs. Russell Henley
Golf shouldn’t be this easy, but it has been for Zalatoris. Even a six-week break didn’t faze him. In his first start of the year Zalatoris claimed a T7 at the Farmers continuing a strong season that opened with a T6 at the U.S. Open. He has four top-10s in his seven starts using distance and accuracy, which will certainly help his status on the TPS Scottsdale track.
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