2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open Betting Card Preview

Feb 08, 2022

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The Waste Management Open has changed drastically over the years and now fits perfectly as the best Super Bowl pre-game show on Sunday afternoon. With over 600,000 in attendance, it's equal parts tailgate party, Mardi Gras vibes and golf all rolled into one four-day weekend in the Arizona desert. There truly is nothing else like it on Tour. The Par-3 16th gets all the attention, but the 17th hole, a driveable Par-4 with water very much in play, is one of the most exciting holes on Tour.

TPC Scottsdale is a pretty straightforward track, not to be confused with a future major championship venue like Torrey Pines, but the event has grown in gravitas each year. This year, 14 of the world's top-20 players will tee it up here, including Arizona State alum and World No. 1, Jon Rahm. The final few holes here make for an intriguing finish to each round, with risk-reward choices all over the back nine. This is a 7,266 yards par-71 track, a ball-strikers paradise at altitude with fast greens. This is a ball-strikers event, and a quick look at the most recent winners here shows a shift from a wide-open event to a place where the top of the board thrives.

Past Winners at The Waste Management Phoenix Open:

2021: Brooks Koepka (-19)
2020: Webb Simpson (-17)
2019: Rickie Fowler (-17)
2018: Gary Woodland (-18)
2017: Hideki Matsuyama (-17)
2016: Hideki Matsuyama (-14)
2015: Brooks Koepka (-15)

Handicapping early-season events when we have less relevant form data than we do in the spring and summer is a bit more of a feel thing than I'd like it to be. I'd prefer to lean on as much data as possible, but we're all in the same boat so let's work with what we have. At this point, we've seen most of the field stateside for a start or two, so that helps. For more course-specific data and event trends, please check out Ron Klos's tournament preview. It's the most comprehensive preview you'll find anywhere.

There are so many ways to bet on this beautiful game, and I want to touch on all of them. Picking outright winners is fun, (thank you, Tom Hoge) but must be done responsibly. Unit sizing is key, and I've shared my approach with our subscribers in the Discord chat. In this space, I want to touch on the players I'm targeting this week and share my opinion on the best way to bet them at this event.

Please take advantage of the Discord feature and community. It's the best way to get up-to-the-minute lines and advice, and if you need help getting started, please reach out. That's where my full card will be posted, along with any live in-tournament bets.

Betting markets are fluid, but I'll note the best number available at the time of this writing.

*Betting lines accurate at the time of publication.