Waste Management Phoenix Open: Final Fantasy Thoughts

Sep 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Bubba Watson watches his shot on the second green during the second round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is one of the tournaments that I circle on my calendar every year, but after Tiger Woods committed to this year’s event, I put a double circle around it, and a star. I love the raucous beer drinking crowds that remind me more of a European Soccer Match, than an American golf tournament. What could be a better than a shootout in Scottsdale before the kickoff to Sunday night’s Super Bowl?

The Front Runners

You have to remember the 2014 edition when Bubba Watson pissed away the lead down the stretch, and lost with a bogey at the 18th hole to Kevin Stadler just minutes before kickoff. Kevin Stadler will not be in the field to defend his title this week due to continued problems with his wrist, but a new and improved Bubba will be!

I have been pulled in by the New and Improved Tiger Woods this week

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Bubba lost his patience with the crowds, and as a huge Denver Broncos fan, wanted to be done with golf, and watch the football game. He had an attitude meltdown, and gave Kevin Stadler his first win on the PGA Tour, and an invitation to play with his dad at Augusta.

I would expect that a new, and improved Bubba Watson will show up in Scottsdale looking for some revenge. The Denver Broncos are not in the Super Bowl this year, so maybe Bubba can keep his head in the game, and finally get a win at the Phoenix Open.

Bubba has three top tens in eight starts in Scottsdale, and the added length this year at 7266 yards on the par 71 layout, definitely plays into the tours longest driver’s hands.

"One thing to keep in mind when making your Fantasy Picks this week, is the cut-line in Phoenix. The daylight runs out early and the pace of play is slow because of the huge crowds, tournament organizers only field 132 players for the last two rounds."

That, in conjunction with the strength of the field, will put a premium on the first two rounds. Anyone getting behind in the first two rounds, can get left in the dust at the 16th hole, and not play the weekend.

I like to pick players coming to Phoenix, who have played well since the holiday break. That means picking the likes of Jimmy Walker and Patrick Reed.

Patrick Reed is trying to make good on his boast about being one of the top five players in the world, and I think on a mission in 2015 to prove the point.

Jimmy Walker is also a big hitter, and learned a valuable lesson at Kapalua about keeping his foot on the gas when leading a golf tournament. With his distance, and after what I saw in Hawaii, I think Jimmy Walker wants to make 2015 his year, and he is off to a great start.

Wild Cards

With two wins on his résumé at Phoenix, and the all time leading money winner at the WMPO, Phil Mickelson is always a threat at Scottsdale. Phil used the Humana Challenge as a springboard to Phoenix. The 44 year-old legend had not teed it up since the Ryder Cup, and used the off-season to get his health, and golf game ready to compete this week in Scottsdale.

Mickelson finished T 24 last week, but was ranked inside the top 20 in fairways and greens hit in regulation. He loves this tournament, he loves the excitement, and is a threat anytime he tees it up in Scottsdale.

The last time we saw Jordan Spieth, he was embarrassing a world-class field at the Hero Challenge. He won the Australian Open, hopped on a plane, and played at Isleworth after stopping in Dallas for a day. It would be nice to be young again.

The big unknown for Spieth is his game. He hasn’t played since December, and one has to wonder if he is tournament ready. I was surprised that he didn’t follow in Lefty’s footsteps, and use The Humana Challenge as a place where he could get game-ready.

Playing alongside of Rory McIlroy in Abu Dhabi, Rickie Fowler looked spot-on during the first round in the African Desert, but faded during round two, and never got back in the contention. Fowler missed the cut here last year, but finished runner-up in 2010.

Rickie Fowler needs to make something happen this year if he wants to keep pace with the youngsters who are climbing in status. Although he finished in the top 10 in all the majors last year, he still only has one victory on the PGA Tour.

With added distance after working with Dick Harmon, Rickie can compete this week, but picking him is a crap-shoot, to say the least.

The Sentimental Favorite

Aug 8, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; PGA golfer Tiger Woods tees off on the 5th hole during the second round of the 2014 PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Like everyone else, I have been pulled in by the New and Improved Tiger Woods this week. But beware! Tiger is using this tournament for one purpose, to get ready for The Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines, and Augusta.

We saw a huge improvement with Tiger’s driver at Isleworth, but he has said he was embarrassed with his shot game. He said in his Press Conference on Tuesday that he has hit thousands of chips during his break, and is good to go.

I think it would be great for Tiger, and the PGA Tour if Tiger can just make the cut this weekend, and stay healthy through the final round. Tiger has not played at TPC Scottsdale since 2001, and Phoenix remains as one of the rare places he has never won.

I would love to see Tiger, Phil, and Bubba on Sunday with a chance to win, but with discretion being the best part of valor, I’m going to put my money on Bubba Watson this week!

Source:PGATour.com

Next: Phoenix Open Fantasy Sleeper Picks

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