The PGA Tour’s loudest and most unpredictable stop returns to the desert as TPC Scottsdale plays host to the 2026 WM Phoenix Open from February 5–8, and once again, all roads seem to lead to Scottie Scheffler.
Nicknamed The People’s Open for its carnival-like atmosphere and raucous galleries, the tournament blends elite golf with chaos, but even in that environment, the world’s No. 1 golfer looks comfortably at home.
Scheffler arrives in Arizona carrying the momentum of a dominant early-season run, headlined by his victory at The American Express. His combination of precision ball-striking, controlled aggression and elite scrambling makes him perfectly suited for Scottsdale’s low-scoring demands. It’s no surprise that bookmakers have installed him as the clear favorite, with his odds reflecting both recent form and a proven ability to thrive on courses where birdies come in bunches. When Scheffler is gaining strokes across every key metric, he tends to separate himself quickly, and this setup plays directly into that strength.
Still, the Phoenix Open has a habit of rewarding smart value picks alongside the obvious favorite, and that’s where Rick’s sharper angles come into play. Sahith Theegala continues to look like one of the safest value options in the field. His comfort level at TPC Scottsdale is well documented — he has never missed a cut here and already owns two top-five finishes on the Stadium Course. Combine that with a string of recent top-eight performances, and a top-20 finish feels less like a gamble and more like a logical extension of his consistency.
There’s also quite confidence around Si Woo Kim, particularly in markets focused on regional or matchup-based outcomes. His iron play has been trending upward, ranking him among the stronger approach players in the field, and when Kim’s ball-striking clicks, he has the tools to hang around leaderboards deep into Sunday.
Not every pick is about upside, though. Rick isn’t afraid to fade players when the numbers and history don’t align, and Harris English falls into that category this week. Despite his pedigree, Scottsdale has been unkind to him, with four missed cuts in his last six appearances, making him a risky proposition to trust in a volatile field.
Beyond the headline names, several players lurk as potential disruptors. Michael Thorbjornsen’s recent form and impressive tee-to-green efficiency make him an intriguing option for a strong finish, while Maverick McNealy’s steady season-long consistency keeps him firmly in the top-20 conversation. Cameron Young and Hideki Matsuyama also continue to feature prominently in power rankings, both seen as legitimate threats if Scheffler shows even the slightest opening.
As always, the WM Phoenix Open offers more than just numbers and scorecards. From the thunderous roars at the par-3 16th hole to the festival-like energy surrounding the Stadium Course, the environment has a way of lifting fearless players and unsettling the unprepared. It’s why momentum swings quickly and why long shots so often flirt with contention.
When the dust settles, Scheffler remains the man to beat, Theegala stands out as one of the smartest value plays, and a handful of quiet contenders wait for the desert to tilt in their favour. At Scottsdale, logic matters — but so does nerve.
