PGA Tour Tips & Preview
Waste Management Phoenix Open 2021 Preview
Starts: 4th February 2021
Course: TPC Scottsdale
Par: 71
Length: 7,261 yards
2020 Champion: Webb Simpson
Course: TPC Scottsdale
Par: 71
Length: 7,261 yards
2020 Champion: Webb Simpson
Course Info
Course Designer: Tom Weiskopf
Tournament played here since: 1987
Type of Course: Desert
Fairways: Generous, Bermuda Grass
Rough: Bermuda
Greens: TifEagle Bermuda, 12 on the Stimp
Water Hazards: In play on 6 holes
Par 5's: (3rd, 13th and 15th)
Premium on: Approach play
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
This event is normally a raucous affair with the infamous 16th known as the loudest hole in golf. Over 100,000 fans pass through the gates on a daily basis but this year fans are restricted to only 5,000, so we'll see a very toned down version. This event is traditionally won by those who can handle the rowdy atmosphere so it'll be interesting to see how the lack of fans changes things. It may be that an outsider is able to win an event not normally known for long odds winners.
Be aware there there has been considerable rain in the Scottsdale area in recent weeks so the course will likely play softer than normal. The rough is slightly thicker as a result.
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
Weather Forecast
Mostly cloudy/partly sunny.
Thursday: max 8mph winds forecast
Friday: max 7mph winds forecast
Saturday: max 6mph winds forecast
Sunday: max 5mph winds forecast
Trends
Winning Score: Has ranged from -14 to -18 over the past six years.
Price of Winner: We've not had a winner starting at over 50/1 since 2014 when Kevin Stadler took the title.
Correlating Courses: Look for strong performances at other desert events.
Course Form: Brooks Koepka won on his debut in 2015, but the following five champions each recorded a top 5 finish prior to winning. Side with strong course experience.
Recent Form: You don't need to be in blistering form to win. Although three of the past five champions have recorded a prior top 12 finish, Gary Woodland and Hideki Matsuyama won in 2018 and 2016 following poor starts to the season.
Nationality: Of the last 13 champions, only Hideki Matsuyama's wins in 2017 and 2018 prevents it from being a clean sweep of Americans.
Stats Analysis
We are looking for a player with high SG: Approach.
SG: Off The Tee: The last four winners have ranked 26th, 3rd, 20th and 13th. Strong driving is preferred.
SG: Approach: Three of the past four winners have ranked inside the top 3. Approach play is key.
SG: Around The Green: The best ranking of any of the past four winners is 39th.
SG: Putting: We've seen varied putting performances from the winners over the past four years. Rankings of 15th, 1st, 23rd and 59th show us you don't have to putt the lights out.
In-play
Tough Holes: The 14th and 11th play as two difficult par 4s.
Birdie Holes: The three par 5's (3rd, 13th and 15th) are all very scoreable. The scoring stretch is undoubtedly the 13th to 18th.
Closing Stretch: The 16th is a challenging par 3 with fans heckling and booing poor shots. The 17th is a driveable par 4, and the par 4 18th is also a birdie opportunity with a good drive.
Fast or Slow Start: Webb Simpson was 10 shots behind after an opening 71 last year. However, that's very much the exception to the rule. Of the past five events, Webb was the only winner who opened with a score of worse than 67, and also the only winner who was further back than three shots after round one.
Course Notes 2021
High Quality Leaderboard - Once again, leaderboard was packed with big names. Even Jordan Spieth made a return to form following almost a year without a top 10.
Wind -Very little in 2021.
The Cream will rise - None of the top 5 after round one were in the top 5 after round 3. The top players tend to come through just like in 2020. Take on the round one leaders.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Waste Management Phoenix Open in-play page*
Course Designer: Tom Weiskopf
Tournament played here since: 1987
Type of Course: Desert
Fairways: Generous, Bermuda Grass
Rough: Bermuda
Greens: TifEagle Bermuda, 12 on the Stimp
Water Hazards: In play on 6 holes
Par 5's: (3rd, 13th and 15th)
Premium on: Approach play
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
This event is normally a raucous affair with the infamous 16th known as the loudest hole in golf. Over 100,000 fans pass through the gates on a daily basis but this year fans are restricted to only 5,000, so we'll see a very toned down version. This event is traditionally won by those who can handle the rowdy atmosphere so it'll be interesting to see how the lack of fans changes things. It may be that an outsider is able to win an event not normally known for long odds winners.
Be aware there there has been considerable rain in the Scottsdale area in recent weeks so the course will likely play softer than normal. The rough is slightly thicker as a result.
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
Weather Forecast
Mostly cloudy/partly sunny.
Thursday: max 8mph winds forecast
Friday: max 7mph winds forecast
Saturday: max 6mph winds forecast
Sunday: max 5mph winds forecast
Trends
Winning Score: Has ranged from -14 to -18 over the past six years.
Price of Winner: We've not had a winner starting at over 50/1 since 2014 when Kevin Stadler took the title.
Correlating Courses: Look for strong performances at other desert events.
Course Form: Brooks Koepka won on his debut in 2015, but the following five champions each recorded a top 5 finish prior to winning. Side with strong course experience.
Recent Form: You don't need to be in blistering form to win. Although three of the past five champions have recorded a prior top 12 finish, Gary Woodland and Hideki Matsuyama won in 2018 and 2016 following poor starts to the season.
Nationality: Of the last 13 champions, only Hideki Matsuyama's wins in 2017 and 2018 prevents it from being a clean sweep of Americans.
Stats Analysis
We are looking for a player with high SG: Approach.
SG: Off The Tee: The last four winners have ranked 26th, 3rd, 20th and 13th. Strong driving is preferred.
SG: Approach: Three of the past four winners have ranked inside the top 3. Approach play is key.
SG: Around The Green: The best ranking of any of the past four winners is 39th.
SG: Putting: We've seen varied putting performances from the winners over the past four years. Rankings of 15th, 1st, 23rd and 59th show us you don't have to putt the lights out.
In-play
Tough Holes: The 14th and 11th play as two difficult par 4s.
Birdie Holes: The three par 5's (3rd, 13th and 15th) are all very scoreable. The scoring stretch is undoubtedly the 13th to 18th.
Closing Stretch: The 16th is a challenging par 3 with fans heckling and booing poor shots. The 17th is a driveable par 4, and the par 4 18th is also a birdie opportunity with a good drive.
Fast or Slow Start: Webb Simpson was 10 shots behind after an opening 71 last year. However, that's very much the exception to the rule. Of the past five events, Webb was the only winner who opened with a score of worse than 67, and also the only winner who was further back than three shots after round one.
Course Notes 2021
High Quality Leaderboard - Once again, leaderboard was packed with big names. Even Jordan Spieth made a return to form following almost a year without a top 10.
Wind -Very little in 2021.
The Cream will rise - None of the top 5 after round one were in the top 5 after round 3. The top players tend to come through just like in 2020. Take on the round one leaders.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our Waste Management Phoenix Open in-play page*
Waste Management Phoenix Open Pre-Event Bets
From 2021, the annual subscription for our tips will be £249 and we are delighted to be partnering with Premier Sports Plays (www.premiersportsplays.com) to bring you this service.
We will be in full charge of the Telegram group and Premier Sports Plays will handle the payments and administrative functions, allowing us to focus on the golf.
You can sign up by clicking the button below.
We will be in full charge of the Telegram group and Premier Sports Plays will handle the payments and administrative functions, allowing us to focus on the golf.
You can sign up by clicking the button below.
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