The Breakfast Club in the morning, fans racing to the 16th hole. Concerts at night – including Snoop Dogg, who takes the stage Friday. In between? Plenty of exciting golf at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where fun is in abundance and trash is non-existent (six consecutive years of Zero Waste). Oh, and the loudest cheers will be for the local college grad who’s making his record 30th start in this event. THE FLYOVER The closing stretch at TPC Scottsdale includes three holes with plenty of scoring opportunities — the 553-yard par-5 15th (just avoid the water on the left); the famed 163-yard 16th, the easiest par 3 on the course; and the drivable 332-yard par-4 17th, which yielded 10 eagles last year. Combined, those three holes play to a stroke average of 0.649 under par. Even the closing hole, the 442-yard 18th, is not particularly difficult, with a stroke average just a shade over par. LANDING ZONE The most difficult hole at TPC Scottsdale is the 490-yard par-4 14th, which played to a stroke average of 4.178 last year. A pinched-in landing zone makes it the second toughest fairway to hit on the course, and finding the green in regulation is even tougher, ranking No. 1 in lowest greens in regulation on the course. A year ago, Charlie Beljan smashed a drive in the first round 398 yards – 44 yards longer than any drive in the final three rounds. He could still only manage par. Here’s a look at where all drives landed last year. WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner: “Dry weather is forecast for the first round of the tournament on Thursday, but clouds will thicken up Thursday evening with rain chances possible between midnight and 6 a.m. Skies will clear out on Friday with another warm day expected. Afternoon temperatures on Friday will reach the lower 70s. A stronger front is forecast to arrive in Arizona this weekend with rain chances possible Saturday afternoon, Saturday night, and Sunday morning. The best chance for rain at this time appears to occur Saturday night with total rainfall between a quarter and half inch.â€� For the latest weather news from Scottsdale, Arizona, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I think everybody appreciates what this tournament is and that is a special week, different than any other that we have on TOUR and guys that kind of embrace that and embrace this environment. BY THE NUMBERS 21 – Number of players inside the top 30 of the FedExCup standings who are in the field this week. That includes the top three of Xander Schauffele, Matt Kuchar (each a two-time winner this season) and defending champion Gary Woodland. 82 – Balls in the water at the par-5 15th last season. That was the second most of any hole on the PGA TOUR, exceeded only by the 15th at TPC River Highlands. 301.3 – Average driving distance at TPC Scottsdale last season, making it one of five courses on TOUR with a field average over 300 yards on all tee shots. -48 – Cumulative score under par by Jon Rahm in his three starts in the 2019 calendar year. He’s played all 12 of his rounds at par or better. SCATTERSHOTS ASU reps: Among collegiate programs, Arizona State alumni led the PGA TOUR in FedExCup points last season. Several ex-Sun Devil players are in the field this week – Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Chez Reavie and Grayson Murray. In addition, former ASU golf coach Tim Mickelson is caddying for his brother. High-ranking wins: World No. 1 and reigning FedExCup champion Justin Rose won last week at Torrey Pines, continuing a trend of high-ranking winners on TOUR this season. Of the 12 winners thus far, eight have been inside the top 40 in the Official World Golf Ranking at the time of their win. Fast starter: In his first 12 starts at TPC Scottsdale, Bubba Watson has played each opening round under par. Since 2007, he has more opening rounds under par at the WMPO than any other player (Mickelson, Kevin Na and Brian Gay are next on the list at nine). Those 12 opening rounds under par are the most for Bubba than any other tournament. Watson’s best results are a couple of T-2s.
Click here to read the full article…
