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2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Reflections on a Thriller

By Derek Vadnais

Feb 5, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Hideki Matsuyama reacts on the green of the 17th as his putt nears the hole during a playoff against Web Simpson during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Hideki Matsuyama reacts on the green of the 17th as his putt nears the hole during a playoff against Web Simpson during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Matt Kuchar grabbed the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open spotlight early.  On Thursday Kuch carded a 7-under 64, assembling a bogey-free round which included 5 birdies and an eagle.

Kuchar would go on to shoot 69, 69 and 70 in his final three rounds, which was good for 9th place and his first top 10 finish of the season.

2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open
Feb 2, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Matt Kuchar with his tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports /

Nevertheless, despite his fine round the glory didn’t last long for Kuchar.  Hideki Matsuyama was already nipping at his heels from 2nd place Thursday night.

Matsuyama knew it was crucial to strike quickly if he wanted to retain his Waste Management title. Hideki’s opening 18-holes consisted of 6 birdies and 12 pars, as well as one of ten bogey-free cards. Matsuyama drew thousands of eyes, each tossing around the idea of a repeat title defense.

Phil Mickelson, always a crowd favorite in the desert and battling for his 4th win at the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open, found himself just 4-strokes off the lead Thursday evening. “Lefty” also carded a bogey-free round with 3 birdies and 15 pars.

On Thursday the win seemed within reach but Mickelson hovered around 10th place for most of the tournament.

Brendan Steele also carded a 65 to go along with Matsuyama but Steele didn’t maintain the pace.

The Thursday leaderboard was jam-packed. Five players carded 66’s (Scott Brown, Robert Garrigus, Chris Kirk, John Peterson and Byeong Hun An) and 8 carded 67’s (Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Martin Laird, Graham DeLaet. J.B. Holmes, Steve Stricker, Brooks Koepka and Alex Cejka. Yet none got close to the final Sunday contest for the hardware.

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