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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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Nov 15, 2020; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy looks over his putt on the tenth green during the final round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy looks over his putt on the tenth green during the final round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National GC. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports /

Besides alternate field events, there aren’t many places Rory McIlroy can go on the PGA Tour (or European Tour, for that matter) for the first time anymore.

The Northern Irishman’s been a full-time pro for over a decade and has spanned the globe in competition. He’s usually playing in the desert of the Middle East this time of year on the Euro Tour. McIlroy’s recently opted to play more of an American-based schedule as he continues to be based in Florida, now with a baby in tow.

McIlroy is in the Southwestern desert for the first time in 2021. All signs point to him contending in right away at TPC Scottsdale.

For starters, he thrives on desert layouts. McIlroy’s won three times in Dubai and has a slew of high finishes in Abu Dhabi. If he bothered to play The American Express in Palm Springs, I’m sure he’d dominate there, too.

TPC Scottsdale is a place he can let it rip if he wants, or if the swing’s not dialed in he can whack a driving iron or fairway wood. It’ll feel like a reprieve compared to the usual brutish test of Torrey Pines.

McIlroy sputtered on Sunday with a 73, but rounds of 68-71-70 had him in contention through 54 holes on the way to T-16th.

The Northern Irishman hasn’t played a ton of West Coast Swing golf historically, particularly on poa annua greens. Switching to Bermuda should be a boost for someone who’s won a ton on that surface in Florida and beyond.

McIlroy ranked 43rd in the field last week in strokes gained putting (.35).

“I’m looking forward to getting on some truer greens,” McIlroy was transcribed by Tee Scripts on Sunday. “As the poa gets soft here, obviously it gets a little bumpy and you start to just make some really tentative strokes and I sort of started to do that over the weekend here.“

The 31 year old is on a streak of eight straight top-21 finishes. A remarkable stretch for most pros, yet underwhelming for the four-time major champ who does not have a win in the span.

He didn’t win in a calendar year for the first time as a pro in 2020. The pandemic shortened season is partially to blame, but he isn’t making excuses.

McIlroy will get back to his winning ways in 2021, and it could very well be here. That’d be sure to get the early Masters buzz going.

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