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

There was speculation building about Jon Rahm’s health going into last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. He withdrew prior to The American Express the week prior citing a back injury.

Rahm told us before the tournament the buzz about his back injury was overblown. He then proved it with his play.

The fiery Spaniard would like to have some shots back on the weekend, but he was stellar once again at Torrey Pines on the way to T-7th (69-67-72-72).

“That was blown out of proportion like crazy,” Rahm was transcribed by Tee Scripts on Wednesday. “It was a little bit of a tweak in the gym, nothing much. I think it was more overdoing it in the winter, maybe not getting rest. And I could have played last week. I decided not to just because I didn’t want to force it, I didn’t want — I just wanted to be 100 percent sure it was going to be fine for this week.”

Rahm now finds himself near his old stomping grounds at Arizona State. The former Sun Devil has never won the Phoenix Open, but he’s certainly fattened his wallet there.

He debuted at TPC Scottsdale as an amateur in 2015 in incredible fashion. Scores of 70-68-66-68 netted him T-5th, which stands as his best tournament result.

His ensuing finishes weren’t far off: T-16th (70-69-65-70) in 2017, T-11th (67-68-65-72) in 2018, T-10th (67-68-70-69) in 2019 and T-9th (67-68-68-70) last year.

This is a course where he can demolish the par-5s and have eagle chances everyday on 17. A lack of rough allows Rahm to take on more risk off the tee.

Rahm put in a new Odyssey 2-Ball Prototype putter in play last week. Shotlink data was only recorded at the South Course last week. Rahm was 40th in the field in strokes gained putting (.261).

Perhaps the switch to a more predictable surface going from poa annua to Bermuda, as well as another week to get the feel going with the new flatstick, will lead to more putts falling.

The other question with Rham was how we would handle the switch from Taylormade clubs to Callaway. So far so good using his old college brand as he also finished T-7th at the Tournament of Champions.

Funny enough, he also ended 2020 with a T-7th at the Masters.

The 26 year old has finished in the top 25 in 10 straight events.