2023 WM Phoenix Open Preview
Get ready to enjoy a full weekend of star-studded golf and massive crowds at the 2023 WM Phoenix Open. Held at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, this open features many of the world’s top golfers. The PGA Tour is dishing out more cash for this tournament, the purse has been boosted from $8.75 million in 2022 to $20 Million this year. We will preview some of the biggest names taking part and tell you more about TPC Scottsdale and the history of this iconic tournament. Stay till the end (bottom of Page) to see our picks for this year’s 2023 WM Phoenix Open.
WM Phoenix Open Tournament History
The Phoenix Open began in 1932, but due to a lack of local support, the tournament was discontinued after the 1935 event. The tournament then returned in 1939 where a 27-year-old up-and-comer named Byron Nelson won followed up by Ben Hogan in second.
The Phoenix Open has been one of the PGA Tour’s premier events since its debut in 1939. The tournament is currently held at TPC Scottsdale but has been held at a variety of courses throughout its history and had several names. The tournament was known as the Waste Management Phoenix Open up until 2022 when Waste Management rebranded to WM. The tournament is now known as the WM Phoenix Open.
Notable champions include Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Tiger Woods who won an impressive three tournaments between 2001 and 2005. Here are some other golfers you may know who have won this event, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Ben Crenshaw, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Brooks Koepka, and Rickie Fowler.
Last year’s winner Scottie Scheffler survived a three-hole playoff to capture his first PGA Tour win and that catapulted his amazing 2022 season, where he went on to win his first major at The Masters. Patrick Cantley finished 2nd, with Sahith Theegala and Brooks Koepka finishing tied for 3rd.
TPC Scottsdale Review & Highlighted Holes
TPC Scottsdale and The Stadium Course was designed in 1986 by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. The unique design of The Stadium Course is similar to TPC Sawgrass – the goal was to allow all spectators a perfect view of the tournament. TPC Scottsdale plays for the pros as a par 71 at 7,261 yards. Highlighted holes include #15, #16, and #17 which is possibly the best three-hole stretch played on the PGA Tour. These three holes offer so much risk and reward, which offers opens for guys who need to make a big move.
TPC Scottsdale #15
Picture Via PGA Tour Website by Dennis Murphy
TPC Scottsdale hole #15 is a reachable par 5 playing at 575 yards. This hole features a unique island green that players will be coming into with longer irons, hybrids, or woods. This is an opportunistic hole for the players, if you need an eagle coming down the stretch you can do that on this hole. You walk onto the green on #15 with a view of the stadium and with players thinking about what is to come.
TPC Scottsdale #16 (Stadium Hole)
TPC Scottsdale hole #16 on paper is a very simple par 3. Then you get there and have 20,000 fans all tucked into a stadium hole. The Stadium hole is known as the loudest hole in all of golf. Depending on the hole & tee location this hole can play anywhere between 115 yards and 185 yards. It has an average score of 2.92 in last year’s tournament. It also delivered one of the loudest moments in golf history when Sam Ryder made a hole-in-one.
TPC Scottsdale #17
Copyright: Unknown
TPC Scottsdale hole #17 is a drivable par 4 playing at 332 yards. So you come off the loudest hole in golf and are left with a cheeky decision. Try and drive the green or lay up to comfy yardage. This may seem like an easy hole but a double bogey is not far out of the question with water on the left and a green that slopes towards that water.
2023 WM Phoenix Open Picks
The PGA Tour has made this a designated event this year. This means the purse has gone up to $20 Million. This means we will be getting a stacked playing field this week. We have players like Rory, Rahm, JT, Spieth, Homa, Xander, Scottie, & Morikawa teeing it up this week.
Winner Pick: Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas has a good history at TPC Scottsdale finishing T8 last year and T3 in 2020. It is only a matter of time until he gets a win here. I am a bit worried about his recent form. Hopefully, he can find it this week at the WM Phoenix Open.
Top 5 Pick: Max Homa
Max Homa, in the past 4 events that Max has played he has not finished outside of a top 5 position. We have him finishing in the top 5 this week. It is no the greatest odds but he seems like the right guy for the job.
Top 10 Pick: Keegan Bradley
Keegan Bradley is coming off a T-2 at the Farmers Insurance Open. He is playing very well in 2023 and he has some of the best odds for a top-10 finish and win play.
Top 20 Pick: Keith Mitchell
As I am writing this article Keith Mitchell is in contention at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Keith’s player profile fits well at TPC Scottsdale and we think he will keep this hot play going into the WM Phoenix Open.
Top 40 Pick: Brian Harman
Brian Harman, why not right? We picked Brian for a top 10 at The American Express. Brian missed the cut… So let’s back off a little. We have Brian at a Top 40 this week. Brian normally plays well at WM Phoenix Open.