The PGA Tour gets back to business as usual with this week’s betting selections playing at the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Stadium Course, Scottsdale, Arizona.
After a long weekend at Pebble Beach with a Monday finish, I’m so glad to see the back of the recent PGA multi-course events with unpredictable weather and also the return of the big guns for this star-studded event.
The 132 field with the top 65 including ties making it to the weekend will all be competing for a share of the mammoth $20M prize purse with the winner collecting the Waste Management Phoenix Open title and a winner’s cheque for a cool $3.6M.
This is where it all started for Scottie Scheffler last year as he scooped his maiden title beating Patrick Cantlay in a playoff just as I had advised at 25/1. If you read my previews then you’ll know I had been saying for a while he was going to win anytime soon and that lots more would follow and that’s just how 2022 went for Scottie who is back again this year to defend his title. His winning scorecard read 268, -16.
TPC Scottsdale will be playing 7,261 yards long this week, it’s a par 71 desert layout that attracts the biggest crowds on the PGA Tour, nearly half a million golf-crazy fanatics will be in attendance over the next few days at Scottsdale hence why it’s dubbed the greatest show on grass. The par 3 16th is probably the most famous par 3 anywhere with crowds similar to those on the football terraces.
The key attribute at the Stadium Course will be power, this venue is a big hitters paradise but precision along with a hot putter will also be required.
The weather is forecast to be nice and pleasant throughout with breezes peaking at around 10mph. This event will be screened on Sky Sports Golf with live coverage starting at 3 pm on Thursday afternoon.
So let’s crack on with my best betting tips for the Waste Management Phoenix Open where 22 of the World’s Top 25 players will be in attendance. With this being such a big event I’m sure you all won’t mind if this week I include 4 selections instead of my normal three as there is someone I don’t want to leave out on my shortlist.
Hideki Matsuyama 33/1 EW Unibet 1-6 places
For my first and primary selection at TPC Scottsdale I’m going to point you all in the direction of Hideki Matsuyama 33/1 EW Unibet 1-6 places but also available with Coral at 25/1 EW 1-10 places.
The 30-year-old from Ehime, Japan has a phenomenal record at this event winning back-to-back victories in 2016 & 2017 and also finishing runner-up in 2015. He was inside the Top 10 around here yet again last year finishing in 8th place so it’s clear for all to see that Hideki simply thrives at this tournament.
My only concern surrounding Matsuyama is that he does have lots of previous for withdrawing or even being disqualified at events but I’m sure or I hope I’m sure that this won’t be the case this weekend.
Last time out at the Farmers Insurance he earned yet another Top 10 place finishing T9th and hasn’t missed a cut at all three tournaments entered this year. He won his first major at The Masters in 2021 and with that just around the corner expect Hideki Matsuyama to up his game and put on a show once more at his favourite stomping ground when he makes it a hat-trick of Ws at TPC Scottsdale this coming Sunday in Arizona.
Collin Morikawa 18/1 EW Coral 1-10 places
For my next best selection I’m going to single out Collin Morikawa 18/1 EW Coral 1-10 places.
The 26-year-old kid from Los Angeles, California ticks all the boxes for me this week with his not-too-shabby long game and remarkable precision irons. The two-time major winner at such a tender age has got off to an excellent start in 2023, 3rd last time out at the Farmers Insurance and an even better runner-up spot at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. This kid simply oozes talent and when firing on all cylinders he’s virtually unplayable.
It’s going to take something special to come up trumps in this star-studded field full but the six-time champion could be the ace in the pack. Winner at the 149th Open Championship and also the USPGA Championship before he was 25 years old is something special and although he never won an outright event in 2023, I just have a feeling another victory is awaiting this talented kid, possibly this weekend.
It wasn’t exactly a poor 2022 for Morikawa with ten Top 20 finishes which include runner-up at The Genesis Invitational, 5th at The Masters,5th at The US Open and 5th also at the FedEx St Jude Championship. Still, it was the first time in four years he hadn’t won an event.
Morikawa had three eagles in one round here in 2020 and I’m predicting that he will be flying again with birdies and eagles galore as he gets back where he belongs with another W in the winner’s enclosure this coming Sunday evening.
Tony Finau 20/1 EW Skybet 1-8 places
For my penultimate pick I’m going to suggest a player who’s been flashing up all over the radar, Tony Finau 20/1 EW Skybet 1-8 places.
Now if you follow my selections you’ll know I’ve tipped him twice recently and although I’m not keen on pursuing a player who doesn’t do the business, I’m willing to give him another chance this week.
The 33-year-old gentle giant from Salt Lake City, Utah has finished inside the Top 20 at all three events entered this year, I tipped him at two of them where he finished inside the Top 10 at both but without the W. However he is still in fantastic form at the moment and a victory beckons and I don’t want to miss out when it happens.
At his last eleven events Finau has won three of them, back-to-back victories at the 3M Open and Rocket Mortgage Classic can be backed up with another W at the Houston Open and with seven of those last eleven tournaments being Top 10 finishes, it would be crazy not to include Tony this weekend in Arizona. I’ve already mentioned that not only a victory is just around the corner but also if you want my advice, one of them could possibly be a major this year. If anyone can shoot down the big guns then look nowhere else than the big man himself as he fires his way to his fourth victory in as many months in the desert this weekend. Come on Tony, show them my radar’s working perfectly.
Rickie Fowler 70/1 EW Unibet 1-6 places
Now for something I’ve never done since providing my golf tips here at MFT. This week theirs a player I’ve been keeping a close eye on and he seems to have found a groove again and getting back to where he belongs, it’s the one and only Rickie Fowler available at 70/1 EW Unibet 1-6 places or why not try, although it’s a massive difference 45/1 EW Ladbrokes for the 1-10 places.
As mentioned I’ve been watching the 34-year-old from Murrieta, California closely and he’s been popping up on my radar. At the tail end of last year, the ever-likeable Rickie Fowler finished runner-up at the Zozo Championship and finished 11th last time out at this year’s Farmers Insurance where I’m sure he’d be the first to admit, it could have been much better.
Now if your looking for clues to the puzzle around here then this could be what solves everything. The last time Rickie Fowler won an event was way back in 2019, almost 4 years ago to be exact and wait for it, guess where it was, yip that’s right it was here at this event when he successfully negotiated his way around here to claim his 5th PGA Tour title. He has twice been beaten here in a play-off and after a triple bogey on the 11th hole on the way home, he eventually held it together with birdies at two of the final four holes to finally prevail at TPC Scottsdale. His putter was on fire when winning here in 2019 and I’m going for more of the same in 2023 as the fan’s favourite ignites this passionate crowd with a well-deserved victory which could also spark his career.
Expect fireworks from Rickie Fowler and a packed Stadium Course full of enthusiastic golfing spectators over the next few days at this gladiator-style golfing venue.
So all that’s left now is the ever-reliable match bet and for this week’s NAP, it has to be a SuperBanker Nap.
I’m going to stick with my main selection with Course management in mind which is so important on this desert track, Hideki Matsuyama but this time to get the better of Jordan Spieth over 72 holes 10/11 SuperBanker Matchup Nap Bet365.
Waste Management Phoenix Open Betting Tips
- Hideki Matsuyama 33/1 EW Unibet 1-6 places
- Collin Morikawa 18/1 EW Coral 1-10 places
- Tony Finau 20/1 EW Skybet 1-8 places
- Rickie Fowler 70/1 EW Unibet 1-6 places
- Hideki Matsuyama to beat Jordan Spieth over 72 holes 10/11 SuperBanker Matchup Nap Bet365
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