The PGA Tour heads south to Arizona this week for the Phoenix Open.
Given the rowdy atmosphere surrounding on the 17th hole, this is always one of the most highly anticipated events on the calendar, often acting as the perfect entree heading into the Super Bowl.
With cacti and bunkers surrounding every fairway, TPC Scottsdale calls for distance and accuracy off the tee, something that has helped both Brooks Koepka and Hideki Matsuyama each win two of the last seven editions of the tournament.
After tipping Luke List to win the Farmers, and then coming agonizingly close on Justin Spieth last week at Pebble Beach, find out who we’re backing in our 2022 Phoenix Open Preview below!
Phoenix Open Betting Strategy
- 1 Unit Patrick Cantlay
- 1 Unit Xander Schaufele
- 0.5 Unt Tony Finau
- 0.5 Unit Seamus Power
- 0.5 Unit Rickie Fowler
- 0.5 Unit Gary Woodland
Phoenix Open Best Bet
Patrick Cantlay @ $13.00
Cantlay is on debut at TPC Scottsdale this week, but he’s among the main fancies for good reason.
The 29-year-old hasn’t missed a cut since The Open Championship last year, a run that include back-to-back wins at the BMW and Tour Championship’s, followed more recently by three Top 10’s at the Sentry, American Express, and Pebble Beach.
He’s become something of an opening-round master of late, while Cantlay’s numbers off the tee also bode well for Scottsdale.
The American ranks 11th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, a number that puts him in a good position on a course that calls for distance and accuracy with the driver.
Phoenix Open Best Value
Xander Schauffele @ $21.00
I could easily make a case for Schauffele as my best bet this week, but this is still enormous value for a guy that finished runner-up last year.
In fact, Schauffele is four-from-four at this event, while he’s also rested after last playing at Torrey Pines two weeks ago.
Stats-wise, Schauffele ranks 41st in average driving distance and 17th in longest drives, so if he brings that to Scottsdale, he’s likely in for another Top 20 finish at the very least.
Tony Finau @ $34.00
It was only two years ago that we watched Finau choke on the final few holes to finish runner-up to Webb Simpson.
The 32-year-old has won only one tournament since then (last year’s Northern Trust) but he is a threat again this year despite missing the cut at Torrey Pines two weeks ago.
Finau has often been one of the more consistent strikers of the ball off the tee, evident in the fact he’s currently ranked inside the Top 30 in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green. His short game needs some work, but if he can get hot with the putter this week, he’s worth a flier.
Phoenix Open Best Roughie
I like a few at odds this week, so I’ll keep this brief.
Seamus Power @ $41.00
Power has his sights set on a place at Augusta, and if he keeps playing like he has been, he should get there easily.
The Irishman recorded his third Top 10 finish last week at Pebble Beach where he actually held a five-shot lead halfway through. He currently ranks well in most major categories and is poised for a big weekend based on recent results.
Rickie Fowler @ $71.00
I’ve been a fan of Fowler over the last few months and, despite missing the cut in his last two events, he does look capable of finally breaking through and winning again sometime soon.
The American finished runner-up in a playoff to Hunter Mahan at this event in 2010, but that didn’t stop him from finishing runner-up again in 2016, tied for fourth in 2017, and finally winning in 2019.
Gary Woodland @ $81.00
One of the great long bombers on TOUR, Woodland always warrants consideration on a course like this.
Like others in the field, Woodland won this event back in 2018 and he also has two Top 10 finishes next to his name at TPC Scottsdale.
His recent play has left a lot to be desired, but maybe this is where he turns it all around.
