Jon Rahm is out to bounce back from a disappointing end to his Farmers Insurance tilt, a pair of 72s over the weekend proving costly as he finished seventh, but the Arizona-based Spaniard is playing a home game this week and could bounce back immediately.
Rahm knows every blade of grass at TPC Scottsdale and has finished in the top 20 in each of his previous five appearances.
The world number two seemed to have got to grips with his new Callaway clubs at Torrey Pines last week and should go close to a sixth PGA Tour title on Sunday.
Rahm won twice last year – the Memorial and the BMW Championship – and has looked determined to start 2021 with a bang.
There has been an aggression and desire about the 26-year-old at Kapalua and Torrey Pines, and the 13/2 will do for many this week as he tees off at a course which seems ideally suited to his talents.
McIlroy set to make Phoenix Open debut
Rory McIlroy is teeing up in the Phoenix Open for the first time this week, having previously ignored one of the most infamous events on the PGA Tour.
The TPC Scottsdale gathering is traditionally a noisy party, with around 200,000 spectators crammed into the course, but only 5,000 fans per day will be granted access this time.
McIlroy is well suited to the layout, which has generous targets and encourages aggressive golf, so plenty of punters may opt for the Northern Irishman at 10/1.
The four-time Major champion was humbled by Tyrrell Hatton in the Abu Dhabi Championship last month, though, and he had a disappointing time in the Farmers Insurance Open last week.
One great swing, four camera angles
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McIlroy was in contention at halfway point before fading to 16th place, suffering plenty of difficult questions over the weekend after his controversial free drop at the 18th hole in round three.
The 31-year-old is winless since November, 2019 and will need to go some to win the Phoenix Open on his debut.
Thomas Bidding to Put Bad Stretch Behind Him
This year has not started well for Justin Thomas, whose behaviour at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii landed him in hot water.
The Kentucky native jetted off to the Middle East to compete in the Abu Dhabi Championship, but his putting was terrible and he missed the cut, so he has returned to the States with plenty to prove.
Thomas has finished third in the Phoenix Open the last two years – it is a track where his typically accurate iron-play is usually shown to great effect – so the world number three will definitely have his backers at 8/1.
Thomas has become one of the most prolific champions in the world over the last few years – he has won 13 times on the PGA Tour – and a Phoenix triumph seems likely at some stage. If it comes this week, drawing a line under his disappointing start to the campaign, JT will become all the rage in the betting for April’s Masters.
Jones Holds Appeal
Matt Jones is a nice each-way alternative at 125/1. He is a Scottsdale resident who was fourth in the Sony Open last month and is a proven winner having triumphed at two Australian Opens and the Houston Open.
*All odds correct at time of writing
