2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Top 10 power rankings

Course history be damned, there’s no one else to slide in the No. 1 slot other than Viktor Hovland.

Three worldwide wins in his last five starts are hard to ignore.

The hot stretch began with a win in December at the Worldwide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. Hovland added to his trophy case at the Hero World Challenge to cap 2021 and won in his last start a couple weeks ago at the DP World Tour’s Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

It was an interesting battle down the stretch in Dubai as the 24-year-old defeated Richard Bland, who turned 49 shortly after the tournament.

Hovland also took T-4th the week before Dubai at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Hovland’s worldwide made-cut streak is up to eight. It’s 13 if you discount a withdrawal at the U.S. Open.

The Norwegian ranks eighth on the DP World Tour in greens in regulation (75%) and eighth in stroke average (69.5). On the PGA Tour, he’s 10th in strokes gained off the tee (.682) and 17th in SG approach (.712).

His short game skills still leave something to be desired, but he’s gotten better at making those shots at the right times.

Besides, when you’re an elite ball-striker like Hovland, you don’t need to scramble often.

That should be the case at the Waste Management Phoenix Open where a benign weather forecast should allow him to hit tons of fairways and greens.

Hovland missed the cut in his only TPC Scottsdale appearance in 2020. However, rounds of 70-72 weren’t bad for a debut and it left him just one off the cut line. That appearance also came right after jetting from Dubai.

This time, Hovland’s got a week to prep.

The rowdy Arizona fans ought to love Hovland, and I think he’ll love them back.