Waste Management Phoenix Open - 4th Feb to 7th Feb

[Bamford]

From the madness of Torrey Pines, we go to the manufactured craziness of TPC Scottsdale for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. A desert course, at altitude where power, aggressiveness and the ability to hit plenty of greens is the key. All sorts of players can win here, so Tour Maidens (Holmes, Stadler, Stanley, Koepka), experienced winners (Perry & Lefty) or journeymen (Wilson) can win. With fast conditions forecast, this should turn into a ball-striking grind, where the longest players can eagle/birdie their 12 looks at the par 5s and the drivable 17th. Keep your card clean across the more challenging holes, and a -15 to -17 score will get you right in the mix. 

For me this week I'm going for Matsuyama (28s), Palmer (33s), Piercy (80s), Henley (125s) and Rodgers (125s).

[Aidymac]

RICKIE FOWLER (16/1, Paddy Power) for me should be the favourite this week and in my view should be around 8/1 - 9/1 so this price is value. He comes here fresh off the back of a win in Abu Dhabi on the European Tour to see off the challenge of Thomas Pieters. 

He is now ranked the 4th best player in the world, so much for that journalists' predictions last year when he said he was the most over-rated player on tour. On the PGA Tour, he has been 5th in the Tournament of Champions and he finished 2nd here in Phoenix in 2010.

 

CHARLES HOWELL III (66/1, Sky Bet) has probably been the most consistent player on the PGA Tour so far this season and looks sure to get that all illusive win sooner rather than later. His game is in terrific shape this season and he looks overpriced in my view.

He has not missed a cut yet this season from 9 events and the form has been T17, 70, T10, T17, T9, T10, T13, T11, T16. He also finished T6 in this back in 2014 and was T4 in 2010. He looks a very solid each-way contender this week the way he is playing.

 

ZAC BLAIR (200/1, Stan James) is a player I have been following the past few weeks and this is last chance saloon for him but he is a must bet at the price. We tipped him at 66/1 two weeks ago and 125/1 last week so we have to stick with him at such a huge price.

He had his best ever PGA Tour finish a few weeks ago when he was 3rd in Hawaii, just missing out on a play-off by a millimetre as he missed an easy eagle putt on the Par 5 18th hole. He is still young and should continue to improve.

 

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