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2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Top 10 power rankings

By Mike Randleman

Feb 2, 2020; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; A view of the trophy during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2020; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; A view of the trophy during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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The PGA Tour heads east from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the central Arizona desert.

We’re at the frenzied event known as the Waste Management Phoenix Open, a weeklong party at TPC Scottsdale filled with concerts, entertainment, and high-quality golf.

Everyone knows about the hubbub at the par-3 16th Stadium Hole, but 200,000-plus pack the grounds throughout the four days to annually make it one of the PGA Tour’s better-attended events.

On hand this week is a field of 132 players teeing it up on just one course, TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, in a change of pace from multi-course arrangements the past three weeks. The cut is the traditional 36-hole cut of top 65 and ties.

TPC Scottsdale is a desert course featuring splashes of green fairways and greens clashing against the brown desert surrounds.

TPC Scottsdale is a course where players can take it pretty low, but its risk-reward factor can also lead to some high numbers.

That’s particularly the case in the closing stretch of water coming into play on the par-4 15th, the famed par-3 16th, the driveable par-4 17th, and the closing par-4 18th.

Bombers do have an advantage here as there’s not a ton of trouble off the tee unless you get stifled behind a cactus or other native areas.  Water comes into play off the tee most notably on the 17th and on seven holes altogether.

According to Golfweek, 240 water balls at the 2021 Phoenix Open were fourth-most in a PGA Tour event last season.

The greens are generally not too fiery, but hitting proper approach shots to the right tiers is key.

Stats to keep an eye on this week include strokes gained approach, approach proximity from 150-175 yards, and par-5 scoring. It’s essential to take advantage of the par-5s, play the difficult holes around even par and finish the round strong on easy chances at 16 and 17.

Weather does not appear like it’ll be a big factor this week. Temperatures are forecasted in the low 50s to low 80s with no rain or high winds expected.

We’ve got a pretty strong field assembled in the Grand Canyon State. Two-time champion and 2021 victor, Brooks Koepka, is on hand and in my top 10.

Five of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings are also here.

Let’s get down to this week’s top 10 power rankings:

Home/Golf Power Rankings