Waste Management Phoenix Open
This is one of the most entertaining PGA tournaments to watch from multiple reasons. (1) It gives you something else to watch besides the NFL-heads repeating themselves ten times to fill the 12 hours of Super Bowl pre-game hype, (2) HOLE #16 – watch and you know what I mean and (3) the field I is usually solid!
This past week was, again, unusual. Playing at Pebble in early February isn’t optimal because of the weather. We ended up with a 54-hole NO-CUT tournament. That sucks! I had several lineups that were right on the border of cashing (one was a $200 entry) and had a really good chance to move up.
Well, back to the cut events! We can gain an advantage if we can get 6/6 through to the weekend. Getting 5/6 isn’t bad either. Less than that and you better have 4 guys in the Top 20 if you want to even have a chance.
Scottie Scheffler is $1,200 higher than the next guys – Schauffele and JT. Only those three are priced above $10K this week. Want to know why? Look:
- Scheffler Win-Win-T7-MC
- Xander T10-T3-T2-T16-T10-T17
- JT 4th-T8-T13-T3-3rd-T17-MC-MC-T17
- Xander Schauffele withdrew! Last week, Tyrrell Hatton left the PGA tour to join LIV and didn’t play. FanDuel never did mark him as out! Xander is marked this week.
From Scheffler ($11,600) to Spieth ($9,500) you also have the guys that are playing outstanding currently. Those guys have competed in 22 events this season. Wins? 1 Top 10s? 12 Top 20s? 5. Problem this week is going to be the lower end of the player pool. You can’t just take a low $7K or high $6K guy and get the points you need.
Highlights: TPC Scottsdale – Par 71 @ 7,261 yards
Ball strikers’ course with narrow fairways but little penalty for being less than accurate off the tee. The desert area can cause some issues if players are extremely wild. A few water hazards, but the one to left of Hole 17 seems to be the one that gobbles up the most due to players driving the Par 4.
Bombers will be able to take advantage of the course somewhat due to the lack of a penalty for being wild. Example: Hole 17! Drive it in the water and it’s still not too difficult of an up-and-down for these guys.
NOTE: All pricing is based on DraftKings
** are my favorites in each category – could be pricing or the fact I think they play best.
$10,000 and Above
With the Xander withdrawal, there are only two – and both are in play if you can fit them in and are comfortable with the paydowns you have to use to get them. FYI: I put them both in a lineup and I’m not totally distraught with who I have at the other four spots!
$9,000 to $9,900
- Sam Burns ($9,600)** – T6-MC-T22 in last three years where Sam has become an elite player. But, I’m more into his current form: 10th-T6-T33-T16
- Jordan Spieth ($9,500)** – A little bit of both current form and history here. T39 last week but 3rd and 6th in the previous two events. He’s played here 7 times with two MCs, but in 4 of the other 5? Top 10s!
- Max Homa ($9,800) – I hate to go with the most expensive guys in the Tier but they are playing the best.
- Sungjae Im ($9,300) – Model of consistency!
$8,000 to $9,000
- J. T. Poston ($8,900)** – He’s pretty hot right now so I’m riding it while I can.
- Hideki Matsuyama ($8,400)** – His only real poor performance here in the last 10 years was a WD in 2018. He’s not the same Hideki that won The Masters but he’s not washed up either. Comfortable course and I look for comfortable play! Top 20!
- Adam Hadwin ($8,000) – Minimum price in this Tier! Eight straight made cuts in this event including a T10 last year. He struggled a bit last year but appears to be back.
- Eric Cole ($8,500) – I’m not dissing Ben An or Tom Kim who are slightly higher, but Cole is playing as good as anyone right now. He’s young and this atmosphere should suit him.
$7,000 to $7,900
- Thomas Detry ($7,600)** – No experience here, but he’s been near the top of the leader board each of the last two weeks. Honestly, there are a lot of guys in this wage playing well.
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($7,400)** – Called a Top 15 last week and I think I would have had it had they not stopped at 54 holes. Finished T20.
- I think you need to look at the guys who are playing well in this Tier. Besides the two above, I’d consider:
- Emilian Grillo ($7,500)
- Mark Hubbard ($7,400)
- Kevin Yu ($7,300)
- Tom Hoge ($7,300)
Under $7,000
If you use Scheffler and Thomas in the same lineup, you have an average of $7,100 per golfer for the final four selections. There are 5 guys at $7,100 and, if you choose them, you wouldn’t be crazy – Billy Horschel, Luke List (10/10 on cuts made this year), Erik Van Rooyen (11/12 and, yes, I played him), Aaron Rai (8/10), and Michael Kim (6/6).
Matt Kuchar, Adam Svensson, Chesson Hadley, Austin Eckroat and Ben Griffin (played him too) are all $7,000 so there are plenty of opportunities.
- Sam Ryder ($6,900)** – I love him at this price. Top 25s in the last two years.
- Scott Stallings ($6,700)**- T23 & T21 in last two years.
- Grayson Murray ($6,600)
- Maverick McNealy ($6,500)
Longshot(s)
- Austin Eckroat ($7,000) – Noted above. I think he wins one event this year.
CORE PLAYS (Listing 6 – Maybe play 3):
- Scottie Scheffler ($11,600)
- Justin Thomas ($10,000) – probably my overall favorite this week
- Jordan Spieth ($9,500)
- J. T. Poston ($8,900)
- Hideki Matsuyama ($8,400)
- Adam Hadwin ($8,000)
Ask questions on Discord if you have them. Make sure to tag me so I don’t miss it!
GOOD LUCK!!