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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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Jan 31, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Ryan Palmer plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – South Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; Ryan Palmer plays his shot from the second tee during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – South Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Past success at the Phoenix Open compared with recent success on the PGA Tour makes Ryan Palmer an attractive option this week.

For starters, the 44-year-old Texan has made 15 Phoenix Open starts. He’s come close to grabbing the trophy, finishing T-2nd (68-66-64-72) in 2006, fifth (64-73-66-62) in 2013 and T-2nd (64-72-68-66) in 2015.

Palmer’s a fairly fun-loving guy and meshes well with the hundreds of thousands of fans usually at this event. I think he’ll still find success at a more sparsely attended Phoenix Open.

That’s because he’s playing some of his best golf leading in. Palmer’s still seeking his first individual win since 2010, but he’s done everything else.

In his last five starts, Palmer’s finished T-17th, T-4th, 4th, T-41st and T-2nd. He’s missed just one cut since June.

The T-2nd came last week at the Farmers Insurance Open. He and the field were five shots back of champion Patrick Reed, but it was still an impressive showing and something to keep in mind when looking for U.S. Open sleepers for Torrey Pines in June.

Palmer was second in the field in strokes gained putting (2.6) in the three rounds measured at the South course. He shot 66 and putted well on the North, too.

He was transcribed Friday by Tee Scripts talking about how his putting has come a long way since the fall. He was 150th last season in SG (-.272) and is up to 37th (.55) in 2020-21.

“At Shriners this (October) we drew a line on the ball. My alignment was really off and Neale Smith and (caddie James Edmondson) were out there with me and they said, hey, we’ve got to try something different during a pro-am,” Palmer said. “James drew a line on the ball and I just started trusting that. Obviously James is not here this week (due to a COVID-19 positive test), but I’m trusting the line, judging the green with the lines that I’m lining the ball up with.

“From there I’m able to kind of free up my mind on the putts. As long as I just put a good stroke and be an aggressive putter with it, the ball’s on line most of the time. It’s freed me up and gave me a lot more confidence.”

Palmer put his old high school friend, Judd Burkett, on the bag last week as Edmondson recovers. Whether Edmondson can return or not, Palmer’s game is in great shape to contend this week.

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