The PGA Tour has been full of drama throughout the month of January with three straight playoff finishes. Fresh off Jason Day’s win at the CareerBuilder Challenge, the PGA Tour heads to Scottsdale, Arizona and the TPC Scottsdale Golf Course for the Waste Management Phoenix Open this week. Hideki Matsuyama has absolutely dominated at this tournament over the past couple of years, but he won’t be the sports betting favorite when he tees off this upcoming Thursday. Here is a look at what to expect at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Event Details
Event: Waste Management Phoenix Open
Category: PGA
Date: February 1st-4th, 2018
Location: TPC Scottsdale Golf Course, Scottsdale, Arizona
Matsuyama just happened to win the last two editions of this tournament in a playoff. However, the world’s fifth-ranked golfer will be the second in line in terms of sports betting favorites to win this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open behind Jordan Spieth. Both golfers have the potential to deliver this weekend as part of an absolutely loaded field that has made its way to the desert for this tournament.
Past Five Winners
2017: Hideki Matsuyama -17 (Playoff)
2016: Hideki Matsuyama -14 (Playoff)
2015: Brooks Koepka -15
2014: Kevin Stadler -16
2013: Phil Mickelson -28
What To Know About The Course
This tournament is known for the loud cheers and jeers from the legendary crowds that make their way to TPC Scottsdale every year. Golfers need to have thick skin and maintain their composure regardless of whether fans are yelling at them following their swing or just before they tee off. Birdies are easy to find but golfers must beware of the treacherous holds that dot the course on their tee and approach shots. The Par 3 16th hole in particular stands out as the most exciting hole. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this event is consistently one of the most entertaining on the PGA Tour calendar, especially with the close play that has resulted in playoff finishes the past couple of years.
The Field
Spieth is the sports betting favorite to win this tournament at +900 odds. Matsuyama and Jon Rahm are right behind him with both golfers listed at +1000 to win this event outright. Rickie Fowler is expected to be in the mix at +1400 to win. Justin Thomas rounds out the top favorites at +1600 odds. Marc Leishman, Daniel Berger and Webb Simpson are all expected to be in the mix this weekend. Meanwhile, there are plenty of quality sleeper picks including last week’s playoff runner-up Alex Noren and veteran Phil Mickelson.
A Good Matchup To Bet: Kyle Stanley over Brandon Steele
Steele is listed ahead of Stanley in terms of the sports betting favorites to win this week, which makes Stanley an excellent value pick. Steele has struggled with consistency on the PGA Tour and while he should be in the mix again this week it makes sense to fade him versus a quality sleeper pick in Stanley. Stanley has placed in the top-10 in two of his last four starts. Meanwhile, he also won this event back in 2012 and he got back in the win column on the PGA Tour last season. A popular sleeper pick heading in to this week, it might be worth it to take a chance on Stanley to beat out Steele in the head-to-head betting matchup.
Top-Five Pick: Hideki Matsuyama
While the betting odds might not be incredible in terms of a value perspective, Matsuyama is the closest thing to a lock to finish in the top-five in this tournament. Matsuyama won this tournament last year after placing second here in 2015 and fourth here in his debut at this tournament in 2014. After three straight top-five finishes, it should be safe to trust Matsuyama to once again place in the top-five while contending for the outright win at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this weekend.
Odds To Win 2018 Waste Management Open
Jordan Spieth +905
Hideki Matsuyama +905
Jon Rahm +1015
Rickie Fowler +1415
Justin Thomas +1550
Marc Leishman +2850
Webb Simpson +3250
Tony Finau +3250
Gary Woodland +3250
Alex Noren +3550
Daniel Berger +3550
JB Holmes +4050
Brendan Steele +4550
Phil Mickelson +4550
Zach Johnson +4550
Byeong Hun An +4550
Shane Lowry +4550
Matt Kuchar +4550
Austin Cook +5050
Harris English +5050
Patton Kizzire +5050
Patrick Reed +5500
Keegan Bradley +6550
Russell Henley +6550
Cameron Smith +6550
Kevin Chappell +6550
Bubba Watson +6550
Scott Piercy +6550
Kyle Stanley +6550
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