PGA Tour 2024 - WM Phoenix Open

[Splatt]

G’day Golfers,

Who’s ready to party??
Who’s ready to litter like an absolute mad-man if someone happens to even get close to the hole on a par 3??
Who’s ready for a million unnecessary comparisons to the LIV Party Zone (or whatever it’s called)?

That’s right!! It’s time for the WM Phoenix Open!!

The WM Phoenix Open is one of the biggest stop of the PGA Tour outside of the Majors and The Players Championship, so much has been made of it’s famous par-3 16th that it gets a mini-stadium built around it every year.

And rightly so, there’s some very famous shots on this hole.
A few here:

 

Before we get into the guts of this comp, an awful golf joke:

What do most golfers have to shoot to win their tournament?
*
The rest of the field!

 

The WM Phoenix Open is played in Phoenix, surprisingly, at TPC Scottsdale to be exact. TPC Scottsdale is a par-71, 7,261-yard Weiskopf designed course. It has been the host of the WM Phoenix Open every year since 1987!
If you’re wondering if that’s a long time, I was born around that time and my knees crack when I stand up and my back hurts, so yeah, that’s an old tournament.

All eyes are on Scottie Scheffler this year as he has won this event 2 years in a row and he becomes the latest in a fairly short list to attempt the three-peat at the Phoenix Open.
With a win this weekend he would become the first player to successfully defend a PGA Tour event since Steve Stricker at the John Deere between 2009 & 2011, and he’ll also become the first player to do it at the WM Phoenix Open since Arnold Palmer between 1961 & 1963. Hideki Matsuyama came close back in 2018 after winning the previous 2 years, but he was forced to withdraw with an injury.

Field Highlights

·         Scotty Scheffler – a highlight most weeks, but especially so this week given the three-peat opportunity. Scheffler has yet to put a foot wrong this year (if you exclude his putting), with 11 rounds of golf under his belt he’s only shot over 70 twice. Just actually sit back and imagine if your last 11 rounds of golf you broke par every time, but only failed to break 70 twice. That is consistency that is going to lead to many victories this year, if he can keep it up.
 

·         Wyndham Clark – Last weeks winner, even though it will forever have an asterisk, a win is a win. Clark has 3 professional wins in his career and all have come in the last 25 starts, including at Major win at last years U.S Open and last weeks Pebble Beach Pro-AM. To say he’s on an upward trajectory is a bit of an understatement at this point.
 

·         Justin Thomas – Speaking of upward trajectories; JT is here and he’s here to play. Of the 2 events he’s played this year he’s finished in the top 10 both times. But, that doesn’t tell the whole story, for that we have to go back to the tail end of last year. JT had been having a pretty poor season, he missed the cut at the Masters and the U.S Open, and after that finished T-60 at the Genesis Scottish Open, then went on to miss the cut at The Open and the 3M Open. After this he picked his game up finishing T-12 at the Wyndham, solo-5th at the Fortinet, and then solo-3rd at the Hero. JT’s stock is rising, are you on board?
 

·         Brian Harman – Anyone who’s listened to the No Laying Up podcast with Brian Harman will know how great a guy he is. Harman won once last season but it happened to be The Open Championship. I’m sure most pro golfers would take one win a year if the win was a major. Since then Brian has been on a bit of a roll with not missing a cut and racking up a few more top 10’s. This year he’s continued his run this year with 3 events played, he’s not missed a cut and racked up 2 top-25 finishes.

 

The rest of the field can be found here.

 

My next golf joke is really bad, like really really bad. It’s so bad, that I’m gunna leave it right to the end of the preview.

It should be a very entertaining week at the WM Phoenix Open, just like every year. All eyes will be on that famous par 3, and if anyone does happen to score a hole-in-one, may the golf-gods help the clean up crew and also that pros social media team.

If you’re a part of the MGS Pick ‘EM comp, this is your very last warning to put your picks in.

 

Alright joke time. I hope you’re ready.

Why didn’t the golfer say anything before he hit the ball off the tee?
*
He was at a loss FORE words.

I told you it was terrible.

 

SPLATT

[GolfSpy_APH]

I think I will actually watch a bit of this. 

Got some time this weekend set aside to watch and picks set for the pick'em!

[Stevew911]

J.t. all the way ? Can't wait for it to start this morning. 

[Splatt]

8 minutes ago, Stevew911 said:

J.t. all the way ? Can't wait for it to start this morning. 

I'm team JT all the way.

Would also love Scotty to get the Three-peat

[jbern]

I'm really pulling for Sahith Theegala. Last year he had a heartbreaker!

1 hour ago, Splatt said:

Would also love Scotty to get the Three-peat

The Scotty three-peat would also be pretty sweet!

[Stevew911]

I totally agree. Be nice to see Scott 3 peat and also agree about theegala..

[JaySavay]

I just want to see Joel have as much fun as he did last year

[CB Lobo 4 Life]

Outside of majors, this is my all-time favorite event! Being an AZ native I got to go and be a scorer every year I was in high school ('08-'11). Sat at 16 numerous times and there is nothing quite like it. Honestly, I enjoyed it more than the few NFL games I have been to. Bias? Maybe. I am hoping to see JT, Wyndham Clark, and Nick Dunlap do well. The course seems to fit their playstyles. Can't wait to see how they do with the weather as well. Up here in Northern AZ the weather has taken a massive turn for the worse with lots of wind and snow. Hoping it will be a great event!

[Byrnzee]

Hope no one had Lucas Glover in the pick 'em! WD from the tournament after missing his tee time... apparently he misread the text and mixed up the time. Rookie move!

[Splatt]

3 hours ago, Byrnzee said:

Hope no one had Lucas Glover in the pick 'em! WD from the tournament after missing his tee time... apparently he misread the text and mixed up the time. Rookie move!

That's terrible.

Sounds like something I'd do, haha

[ParFore74x]

This weather delay is killing me! I’m just kidding. It’s giving me a great chance to see quite a bit of what I missed while at work today. One of my favorites to watch aside from the Majors as well. 

[cnosil]

2 minutes ago, ParFore74x said:

This weather delay is killing me! I’m just kidding. It’s giving me a great chance to see quite a bit of what I missed while at work today. One of my favorites to watch aside from the Majors as well. 

I thought they were showing the 2019 event and not a replay of the the earlier play.   Unless you are watching the replay not on the GC. 

[ParFore74x]

1 minute ago, cnosil said:

I thought they were showing the 2019 event and not a replay of the the earlier play.   Unless you are watching the replay not on the GC. 

ESPN+ is showing rounds from this morning. I was able to see Spieth play for a while early on today so now I am able to continue on like there was no break in play for me.  

[MichaelC_81]

9 hours ago, JaySavay said:

I just want to see Joel have as much fun as he did last year

Peak male athletes!! Let's go Joel!

3 hours ago, Splatt said:

That's terrible.

Sounds like something I'd do, haha

Sounds exactly like something you HAVE done.

[Splatt]

Weather delays suck.
Round 1 was only partially completed.

Leaderboard presently:

Novak is sitting pretty, only 1 behind Theegala with 9 to play

[GolfSpy_APH]

1 hour ago, Splatt said:

Weather delays suck.
Round 1 was only partially completed.

Leaderboard presently:

Novak is sitting pretty, only 1 behind Theegala with 9 to play

Definitely some interesting names on that list!

[Josh Parker]

This is always a fun tournament to watch, and we will see how my pick'em does!  

[billybogey]

Yep; Joke was BAD!!

Really; enjoy watching the "The Peoples Open". It sure beats shoveling Snow & beats listening to "How To Live My Life!!"

Just sayin'

 

Bill Bamber

Edmonton Alberta

 

 

 

[Wheelieb]

It's terrible for me as this is the Drilling weekend. Being at a command that is a reserve command but you are active duty is not as fun. Although we do get the next 2 Friday's off so 3 day weekends two times in a row is pretty sweet

[ChuckZ]

We had a group of 100 out there playing both courses on Dec 1 and 2.  They were in the process of completing the set up.  When we came to hole 16 they had a DJ playing music giving us conditions similar to what is going on this week.  Very intimidating.  Tough shot to the green.  Lovely course and conditions were awesome.  Only lost one golf ball and only three putted one green while there.  Recommend playing it.  

[ChuckZ]

Just now, ChuckZ said:

We had a group of 100 out there playing both courses on Dec 1 and 2.  They were in the process of completing the set up.  When we came to hole 16 they had a DJ playing music giving us conditions similar to what is going on this week.  Very intimidating.  Tough shot to the green.  Lovely course and conditions were awesome.  Only lost one golf ball and only three putted one green while there.  Recommend playing it.  

 

[billpierce]

The worst is watching Spieth, Theegala etc sink slowly. I was doing so well!

Edited February 9 by billpierce

[Splatt]

Nick Taylor is your 2024 WM Phoenix Open Champ!

He won in a 2 hole playoff against Charley Hoffman:

 

Scotty Scheffler missed out on the 3-peat by 3 shots.

[FrogginBullfish]

Taylor was lights out with the putter down the stretch.

[Splatt]

5 hours ago, FrogginBullfish said:

Taylor was lights out with the putter down the stretch.

I love when you can see an athlete in the zone.
Eyes on the prize, pure focus!!

[GolfSpy_APH]

@Splatt a true big thanks for posting these each week! They don't get nearly the attention they deserve!

[Wheelieb]

I don't know what it is about Scheffler that I...I'm just not a big fan of his for some reason. I just don't know what it is.

[StrokerAce]

name another tournament - anywhere - that this happens:

[bens197]

Glad this one's over with...just an absolute disgrace of an event.  

On to Riviera

 

[jbern]

9 hours ago, FrogginBullfish said:

Taylor was lights out with the putter down the stretch.

I did not get to watch NEARLY as much of Sunday's action as I was hoping to, but I did watch enough to see that Taylor's putter was on fire. I'll admit I wasn't rooting for Hoffman or Taylor, but it's always fun when things go into a playoff!