WM Phoenix Open 2024: Top 10 power rankings at TPC Scottsdale

After a middling finish to 2023, Sam Burns looks like a new man in 2024.

A T-33rd at The Sentry didn’t jump off the page, but T-6th at The American Express and 10th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am are more up his alley.

Last week at Pebble Beach, Burns carded 4-under-par 68 at Spyglass Hill, 3-under 69 and 5-under 67 at Pebble.

He now arrives to a venue he seems to have taken a liking to in recent years. Burns posted T-22nd (64-68-73-68) in 2021 and a career-best T-6th (70-71-64-68) in 2023.

The former LSU Tiger was 30th or higher against the field in all Strokes Gained categories last year. That includes ninth in SG: Around-the-Green (3.224) and 14th in SG: Off-the-Tee (3.022). A lack of rough at TPC Scottsdale is helpful for a player who can get a bit squirrely with the driver at times. Burns just needs to avoid the big mistake that can lead to some precarious lies in the desert terrain.

“I think you have to pick and choose around this place. You get a little wind, some tucked pins, you can get yourself in kind of a tough situation around the greens,” Burns was transcribed by ASAP Sports in 2021. “I think just managing the golf course, attacking when you have good numbers to good pins. I think that's kind of key around here.”

The 27-year-old ranked fifth last season on the PGA Tour in SG: Putting (.584). He’s a bit more comfortable rolling the rock on Bermuda greens, so this week’s TifDwarf variation could help him recreate that type of prowess on the greens.