Waste Management Phoenix Open: Power Rankings

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 04: Matt Kuchar plays a tee shot on the 17th hole during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 4, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Matt Kuchar is slowly trending in the right direction at this event. The 39-year-old’s played the Waste Management Phoenix Open six times with a T9 in 2017 his best result. Leading up to his first top-ten in Scottsdale was a T43 in 2010, T33 in 2012, T30 in 2015 and then 2017.

While this event hasn’t been an annual stop on Kuchar’s calendar, it’s still one that gives him a shot to win.

Since TPC Scottsdale was renovated in November 2014 by Tom Weiskopf, scoring has gotten a little tougher. Last year was relatively benign, but a 70.977 field scoring average in 2016 was the highest since 2005. In 2015, it was 70.752.

Kuchar finished 11th on Tour in strokes gained putting, and I like him to hang around even if he doesn’t bring his “A” game after a return from the Middle East a week ago. In recent starts, Kuchar had a modest T32 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship to kick off his pursuit of European Tour status this season.

TPC Scottsdale can come up to bite you, but it can also reward an aggressive player who’s clicking. Kuchar was his best on Sundays (15th on Tour in fourth round scoring) and is known to squeeze out the most of each start. If he’s within five of the lead after 54 holes, he could sneak up to win for the first time since 2015.

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