Every golf tournament creates a little bit of history but this week’s Phoenix Open has some extra significance as the first full field ‘Designated Event’ on the PGA Tour.
In the rapidly and ever changing men’s professional golf landscape, the most attended event on the schedule now boasts a US$20,000,00 purse, one of 13 ‘elevated’ tournaments to be played this year.
Best known for its rowdy par-3 16th ‘Party Hole’, the Phoenix Open is not every player’s favourite destination though in fairness there are some who thrive in the atmosphere.
However, one dog whistle that always works in professional golf is cash and with an obscene payday on offer lots of golfers who might otherwise skip the event will be happily taking their place in the field Thursday.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: It’s almost hard to believe in hindsight but it was 12 months ago at this venue that Scottie Scheffler claimed his first PGA Tour title.
Starting the weekend nine shots off the lead, the Texan fired rounds of 62-67 to tie Patrick Cantlay then went on to win with a birdie at the third extra hole.
It was the first of four wins in six events for Scheffler, a run that saw him both win the Masters and ascend to the World No.1 ranking.
COURSE: TPC Scottsdale is a municipal course but built with tournament play very much in mind.
RIGHT: Former World No.1 and reigning Masters Champion, Scottie Scheffler won his first Tour event here last year. PHOTO: Christian Petersen/Getty Images.
Opened in 1986 and host to the Phoenix Open since 1987, this Jay Morrish/Tom Weiskopf design has proved popular with the paying public and Tour players alike.
Featuring wide fairways and large, flattish greens, the course sets up for low scoring from the pros though rarely plays quite as easy as it seems it should.
Twice the winning score has been 28-under-par but in reality, 20-under is rarely breached.
While the par-3 16th is the world’s most famous hole for reasons completely divorced from its design it is the 17th which might be one of Weiskopf’s finest.
The driveable par-4 brings everything from two to seven into play and undeniably gets into the players’ heads.
Rickie Fowler famously found water here twice in losing to Hideki Matsuyama in 2016 while Andrew Magee made the only par-4 ace in Tour history in 2001.
Measuring just on 300 metres, the green is in reach for all the players in this field, but it is not a shot without risk with water lurking short and left.
(There is also water over the green, which Fowler found in 2016 off the tee, but that was a most unusual occurrence.)
Those who opt to bail out right are really only delaying the inevitable with a devilishly difficult pitch required to get near most pin positions.
If history is a guide, it is highly likely a crucial moment will occur at this hole Sunday.
RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week
PLAYERS TO WATCH: There are two types of players teeing up this week: those who have to be there and those who want to be.
Part of the ‘elevated event’ strategy was to ensure the Tour’s top players teed up in the same events more often so all those who finished in the top-20 of the mysterious ‘PIP’ program in 2022 have to play 12 of the 13 designated tournaments.
Hence it is no surprise to see eight of the world’s top-10 listed in the field including World No.1 Rory McIlroy.
In fact, given the size of the purse the Monday qualifier for this event might have a better field than some smaller International Tour events.
Will Zalatoris and Cam Smith are the only world top-10 players not teeing up, Smith because he has joined LIV Golf and is thus banned from playing the Tour while Zalatoris’ reasons for skipping are unknown.
Outside the majors a field this strong is rare and expect that to be reflected in the quality of the golf.
McIlroy and World No.3 Jon Rahm are unquestionably the form players of the moment but with such a strong supporting cast they won’t have it all their own way.
Rahm perhaps has the edge this week as he attended college in Arizona and has four top-10 finishes in seven starts here.
Conversely, McIlroy has played here only once and finished T13 so it will make for an interesting battle.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler was T7 two years ago and comes in as the world’s second highest ranked golfer so will like his chances this week but the player to watch might be Xander Schauffele.
This is the American’s fifth appearance at TPC Scottsdale where he was top-five each of the last two years including being runner-up in 2021.
72-HOLE RECORD: 256 (-28, Mark Calcavecchia, 2001; Phi Mickelson, 2013)
18-HOLE RECORD: 60 (Grant Waite, Mark Calcavecchia, Phil Mickelson)
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Bruce Crampton (1973); Aaron Baddeley (2007)
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Day and Lucas Herbert
TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 7am – 11am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 7am – 11am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 10am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 10am)
*AEDT, check local guides
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