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2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Scottsdale

By Mike Randleman

Bubba Watson watches his sho onto the 16th green during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale February 2, 2020,Phoenix Open
Bubba Watson watches his sho onto the 16th green during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale February 2, 2020,Phoenix Open /
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The craziest party in golf is here! Well, not entirely.

Normally, TPC Scottsdale is welcoming in over 100,000 of its closest friends for the Waste Management Phoenix Open and its famed par-3 16th stadium hole.

Not this time.

There will still be fans, unlike almost every PGA Tour event since the pandemic began, but it’ll be limited at 5,000 per day.

That takes away a lot of juice for an event that is beginning to lose the players taking appearance fees to play in the European Tour’s Saudi International.

Five of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings are in Arizona this week, as well as 12 of the top 25.

The Phoenix Open originated in 1932. TPC Scottsdale has hosted annually since 1987.

It’s a standard desert layout where the course is a collection of splotches of green grass juxtaposed next to brown sand and man-made water hazards.

The Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish design measures 7,261 yards for a par 71. Length can be an asset around here, particularly in tackling the par-5s. With that said, the shorter hitters can usually rely on good rollout on the fairways to make up ground.

The weather forecast for the week looks fairly dry with light wind and temperatures in the 40s and 60s. That could lead to firm conditions if the PGA Tour desired it, but this event tends to be dart board golf, at least on approach.

Being precise with irons is of high importance at TPC Scottsdale. The greens tend to be slower and don’t have a ton of slope, so giving yourself lots of makeable putts inside the 10-15 foot range is huge.

Strokes gained off the tee can be a useful stat, but as long as you’re not driving so far off line into unplayable desert lies or water, missing the fairway isn’t a big deterrent.

The winning score has been between 14- and 18-under each year since 2014 and every year since 2008, save for 2013. Phil Mickelson broke the tournament record of 28-under that year thanks in part to an opening 60 that saw him come oh so close to 59.

Here are the 10 players who won’t be wasting their time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

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