The Waste Management Phoenix Open takes centre stage this week as the PGA Tour heads to Arizona and the ever-electric TPC Scottsdale, home to one of the most unique atmospheres in professional golf.
This desert spectacle, often known as ‘The Greatest Show on Grass', combines elite-level golf with raucous crowds, most notably at the iconic par-3 16th hole, where pressure is unlike anything else in the sport.
A stacked field is once again set to tee it up, with many of the world's best players looking to kick-start their season on a course that typically rewards elite ball-striking.
WM Phoenix Open key information, prize money and how to watch
TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course is one of the most recognisable stops on the PGA Tour calendar, and it has hosted this event since 1987.
The par-71 layout, originally designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, measures around 7,261 yards with wide fairways that encourage aggression off the tee, but strategically placed bunkers, water hazards and firm greens ensure that an element of precision is still needed.
- Venue: Stadium Course, TPC Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
- Dates: Thursday 5th February to Sunday 8th February
- Total Prize Purse: £6.65 million
- Winner's Prize Money: £1.2 million
- TV Channel: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf
- Broadcast Times:
Thursday and Friday, from 14:15pm
Saturday and Sunday, from 17:00pm - Tee Times: Can be found here
What does it take to win at TPC Scottsdale? Key statistics and angles
The WM Phoenix Open has produced a plethora of elite champions over the years, including current world no.1 Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama and Brooks Koepka, who have all won it on two different occasions.
That trend highlights a clear pattern that the very best ball-strikers can dominate.
TPC Scottsdale is more forgiving off the tee than many venues on the PGA Tour circuit, allowing longer hitters to unleash the driver, and as a result, precision iron play becomes the key differentiator, especially from 150-200 yards.
With receptive greens and plenty of birdie opportunities, this is also a week where players must take full advantage of par-4 scoring between 400 and 500 yards (10 of the 11 par-4s fall in this bracket), as well as par-5 scoring.
Key statistics to win at TPC Scottsdale:
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- Proximity: 150-200 yards
- Strokes Gained: Off-the-tee
- Par 4 Scoring: 400-500 yards
- Birdie or Better Percentage
Taking a look at courses that involve a similar test can also help identify players who should take a liking to this week's venue. Courses that reward agressive ball-striking, the similar high-scoring conditions and potentially those in the desert, too.
Some correlated courses to consider:
- Memorial Park (Houston Open)
- Waialae (Sony Open)
- TPC San Antonio (Texas Open)
- Black Desert (Bank of Utah Chamionship)
- TPC Craig Ranch (Byron Nelson)
If you're new to golf betting, check out our guide on how to pick a winner when betting on golf using statistics, form and course history
WM Phoenix Open 2026 betting tips and predictions
After a one-week break, Scheffler returns to action at a course where he has already won twice. Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers have priced him up as the clear standalone favourite at 9/4, with some firms offering as short as evens.
That dominance makes the outright market tricky, and while the without Scheffler option is worth considering to an extent, value is often stripped away once the frontrunner is removed. Instead, it's important to focus on players with the profile and upside to genuinely challenge the world no.1.
Here are the best bets to consider at TPC Scottsdale:
Cameron Young – 22/1 each-way (6 places, BetMGM)
This looks like a strong opportunity for Young to secure his second PGA Tour triumph of his career, having finally broken his duck at the Wyndham Championship last August with a 22-under winning score.
His course form is encouraging, with finishes of 12th and 8th in his last two starts here, and he showed signs of shaking off the post-season rust last week with a 22nd-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. His closing 68 was bettered by only five players and marked his first finish outside the top 11 in his last seven starts.
Scottsdale should suit his game perfectly – these wide fairways should allow him to utilse his power off the tee, and that attribute is certainly one of his major assets.
Tip: Bet Young to beat Scheffler to the Phoenix Open crown at 22/1, with six places on offer.
Sahith Theegala – 40/1 each-way (8 places, Betfair)
After an underwhelming 2025, Theegala appears to be rediscovering some of his best form, arriving in Arizona with back-to-back top-eight finishes.
His course record strengthens the case further, with a third and fifth around Scottsdale in recent years, while only four players have recorded a lower stroke average here since 2016. That level of consistency and clear liking for the setup makes him hard to ignore at the price.
Theegala's creative short game and aggressive scoring mindset are tailor-made for this birdie-friendly test, and with his sole PGA Tour win coming at 21-under, he's clearly capabale of keeping pace in a shootout.
Tip: Back Theegala to convert his form into a win at 40/1, with eight places on offer.
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Sepp Straka – 60/1 each-way (10 places, Betfair)
Straka is arguably one of the standout prices of the week.
A two-time Ryder Cup participant and four-time PGA Tour winner, the Austrian brings proven class and elite ball-striking to a venue that strongly rewards approach play. His missed cut on his seasonal return is easy to forgive, particuarly given he finished third at the Hero World Challenge in early December.
Encouragingly, he posted his best Scottsdale result last year with a 15th-place finish, and his form on several correleted coiurses also stacks up well to suggest he could take another step forward here.
He is one of the few class acts who could genuinely take down Scheffler this week.
Tip: Back Straka to win the Phoenix Open for the first time at 60/1 with ten places on offer.
Tony Finau – 100/1 each-way without Scheffler (6 places, BetMGM)
Finau endured a disasterous 2025, but signs of a revival emerged last week with an 11th-place finish at Torrey Pines, one of his favourite venues.
That bodes well for this week, given his strong record at Scottsdale, which includes a runner-up finish and a 14th among his last three visits. In fact, only three players have registered a lower stroke average here since 2016.
There is still an element of risk attached with the big-hitting American, but the without Scheffler market offers added protection and at a three-figure price, Finau is simply too tempting to ignore.
Tip: Take the value on Finau in the without Scheffler market at 100/1, with six places on offer.
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Lewis joined as News and Features Editor in July 2025, having previously held senior roles at Snack Media and GRV Media. He has also written extensively as a football and golf tipster for WeLoveBetting. He is also a proud Aldershot Town supporter.
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