Waste Management Phoenix Open

Each week during the official PGA Tour season, CBSSports.com's Steve Elling identifies nine players to watch in three distinct categories -- favorites, tweeners and long shots. The picks are based on a combination of homework, guesswork and just plain instinct. Odds cited courtesy of Golfodds.com and Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

At TPC Scottsdale, par 71.

Favorites
	Brandt Snedeker Last week’s fluky playoff winner at Torrey was T8 here last year and T9 in 2008. He also had the 54-hole lead at Phoenix in 2010 and blew up, finishing T43. That’s a pretty strong record in all. Odds: (20/1)
	Jason Dufner The near-winner of the season’s final major last year lost in a playoff at Phoenix last season, which means nobody shot a lower score. He’s so overdue to win, it’s ridiculous. Odds: (40/1)
	Rickie Fowler Speaking of overdue …. Fowler won in the offseason in Korea, but is still winless in the States and taking flack for laying up on a par-5 down the stretch at Phoenix a couple of years ago, when he finished second. Was T13 here last year. Odds: (25/1)

Under the Radar
	Mark Wilson If Wilson won every other week for another month, he’d still be under the radar. The guy has five PGA Tour wins, is the defending champ, and has already won this season. Good enough for me. Odds: (30/1)
	Y.E. Yang The Korean star seemingly had one arm on the Phoenix trophy when he rinsed a drive on the risk-reward, drivable 17th a couple of years ago, costing him a serious shot at the title. Still, finishing third and T8 in his two starts here? Odds: (50/1)
	Scott Piercy After climbing onto the leaderboard last week (T13) at Torrey, Piercy is poised for noise. He’s played Phoenix three times, never finishing outside the top 15, and was eighth or better in his last two appearances. Odds: (50/1)

Dark Horses for Courses
	Vijay Singh After a winless drought this long, we’re not suggesting that he’ll win. Just that he’s probably going to take home some decent coinage. The Fijian is a past Phoenix winner and has six top-10 finishes in the desert, including a T3 last year. Odds: (50/1)
	Chris Couch The Big Sofa isn’t the sexiest pick, by any means, but it’s hard to dispute what he’s done here the past two seasons, finishing T8 and T4. He really makes that broom putter work on the desert greens. Odds: (No line)
	J.B Holmes Yes, it’s probably far too soon. Holmes had offseason surgery on the back of his skull – which doesn’t happen every day – and has barely begun his comeback. But he’s got two wins and a T5 in six trips to Scottsdale. Odds: (50/1)