Waste Management Phoenix Open: Power ranking the top 10

9 of 11

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Xander Schauffele lines up a putt on the 16th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 1, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Xander Schauffele has the least experience among those in my top 10 this week. Not like a lack of course history so far in his career has slowed down the 25-year-old from racking up the accomplishments.

The X Man is already gunning for his fifth career win and second in 2019. Schauffele won the Tournament of Champions at the beginning of January with a scorching Sunday 62, 10 shots lower than Thursday.

After taking a couple weeks off after the win, Schauffele was steady in his native San Diego at the Farmers Insurance Open where he posted 69-70-70-70 to finish T25. Finding fairways was the issue at Torrey Pines, but TPC Scottsdale’s more generous fairways and lessened rough should help his cause. He gained over a stroke per round on the greens at Torrey and hit nearly 70 percent of his greens despite often being in the thick stuff.

Schauffele debuted at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2018 where he finished T17. He opened 68-67-66 and could have contended with another similar round, but settled for 72 on Sunday to close what was his fourth tournament in five weeks.

Schauffele has an overall game that supersedes his years. He’s first on Tour in overall strokes gained this season and 26th or better in each category. His short game and putter have improved.

Home/Golf Power Rankings