On the Tee: Phoenix Open
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| Mark Wilson is the defending Phoenix champion after winning a playoff last year. (Getty Images) |
Everything you need to know about the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
| Nuts and bolts |
Tee times/leaderboard | Hole-by-hole | Past champions | Expert Picks
| Defending the throne |
Were you aware that exactly two American players have recorded a trio of victories over the combined 2011-12 seasons? One of them is Steve Stricker, which is no big surprise, given the way he’s played the past few seasons.
The second is Mark Wilson, who won in a playoff last year at Phoenix to amass his second victory of 2011. Wilson, a heady, steady player cut from the same physical mold as world No. 1 Luke Donald, won in a frost-delayed Monday extra session with Jason Dufner, who would nearly win the PGA Championship in August.
"I'm just enjoying the ride here and that's just kind of the way I'm going to look at the year here, just ride this train as long as I can," said Wilson at the time.
The trip’s not over, either. Wilson won two weeks ago in Palm Springs, recording the fifth victory of his mostly overlooked tour career. He has recorded victories in four of the past six years, a better clip than Tiger Woods, technically. He was one of seven players to win twice on tour and like Donald, has proven that even in a bomber’s arena, slow and steady -- not to mention savvy -- can still win the race.
| Venue and you |
Great news for those masochists in the Southwest who love to play a PGA Tour venue in roughly the same punitive shape as the professional players themselves. TPC Scottsdale, the longtime venue for the event, is staging a special offer in which green fees are $199 per player (plus tax) from Feb. 7 to March 4. That’s a $100 savings on a very playable and fun Stadium Course layout. Unlike the massive price gouging at Torrey Pines, a public venue with few frills, this is a resort track ranked in the national top 50 and is situated in an area with some of the nation’s higher green fees. See: http://www.tpc.com/tpc/courses/tpc.asp?id=13&page=702
| Track and field |
During a stretch of the season in which the European Tour routinely outdraws its U.S. counterpart for firepower, the Phoenix Open is on the upswing as far as upper-tier impact. Last year, the event drew two players from among the world top 15. This year, that number has climbed to five. With regard to those ranked in the top 50, the number of players entered has dropped by one from last year, to 16. Nine of the world’s top 25 are entered.
| Three whacks from short range |
No question, Tom Weiskop's the TPC Scottsdale design features some of the most dramatic closing holes in golf. There's the reachable, par-5 15th, where eagles are a reasonable goal, followed by the theatrical 16th, where players are surrounded by thousands of beered-up fans. But the par-4 17th is the real jewel -- a reachable hole with water along the left for those who tug their drives and a green that's positively tiny where weekend flags are placed. On the par-4 18th, longer players can risk the lake on the left and cut the corner. This Phoenix foursome has produced some incredible rallies and derailments over the years.
The course is most famous for the arena erected on the 16th, a party hole where players are cheered and jeered for good or bad shots. But here’s an interesting note about the hole itself. The past 10 winners have combined for one bogey on the hole dating to 2002. Mixed in among a stretch of terrific risk-reward holes, a par at the 16th is pretty much compulsory for aspiring winners. Only Phil Mickelson, among the last 10 winners, had a bogey on the hole over his four rounds that week.
All hail the new comeback king? Brandt Snedeker, who was seven shots behind Stanley with one round remaining at Torrey Pines, yet won in a playoff, has three PGA Tour victories -- erasing 54-hole deficits of 5, 6 and 7 shots. When in front, it’s been a different story. He’s 0-for-2 with the 54-hole lead, including the time he skied to a 78 at the 2010 Phoenix Open and nosedived to a T43 finish.
| Odds and evens |
Odds on winning, via Golfodds.com and the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino: Webb Simpson 15/1, Matt Kuchar 20/1, Brandt Snedeker 20/1, Nick Watney 20/1, Martin Laird 20/1, Phil Mickelson 25/1, Rickie Fowler 25/1, Bill Haas 25/1, Mark Wilson 30/1, Dustin Johnson 30/1,
Player picks
Favorites:
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. (20/1)
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. (40/1)
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. (25/1)
Under the Radar
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. (30/1)
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? (50/1)
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. (50/1)
Dark Horses for Courses
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. (50/1)
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. (no line)
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. (50/1)
