After a couple of trips to past U.S. Open courses, the PGA Tour comes to the desert for the WM Phoenix Open as first round action kicks off on Thursday at TPC Scottsdale.
Last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, former World No. 1 Justin Rose won by three shots after a long brutal week of rain and wind pushing the tournament to conclude on Monday. It marked Rose’s first PGA Tour victory since the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open and extended his membership to the Tour for another two seasons.
Twelve months ago, Scottie Scheffler won the WM Phoenix Open in a playoff over Patrick Cantlay for his first PGA Tour victory en route to recording a streak of four victories in a six-start stretch.
As the PGA Tour resides in the same city as the Super Bowl, one of the loudest places on the PGA Tour all season, will take place this week at the par-3 16th hole.
Related: TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole provides ‘different’ atmosphere
Grandstands are filled three stories high with fans and if players make a hole-in-one, let alone get close, onlookers go in wild celebration, which can include filling the entire hole in beer cans.
A year ago, there were not one, but two holes in one on the 16th hole from Sam Ryder in the third round and Carlos Ortiz in the final round.
The final three holes of the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, including the 16th hole, provides a stretch where players can have success or be too aggressive and fall off the leaderboard.
The 17th hole is a drivable par-4 lasting 332 yards as water is located beyond the green and to the left. So, if you long, you could be looking at just trying to save par. On the final hole, players need to take advantage of their practice earlier in the week as shots off the tee need to land in the fairway in order to avoid the church pew bunkers or the water.
What channel is the WM Phoenix Open on?
The WM Phoenix Open will be televised between CBS and the Golf Channel.
Television schedule for the WM Phoenix Open
| Round | Date | Time (PT) | TV |
| 1 | Thursday Feb. 9 | 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| 2 | Friday Feb. 10 | 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Golf Channel |
| 3 | Saturday Feb. 11 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Golf Channel CBS |
| 4 | Sunday Feb. 12 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Golf Channel CBS |
Other coverage for the WM Phoenix Open
In addition to CBS and the Golf Channel, the WM Phoenix Open will also be broadcasted on ESPN+ and Peacock. PGA Tour Live for the marquee and featured groups can be exclusively found on ESPN+. In addition, the tournament will also be on the airwaves of Sirius XM.
Thursday, Feb. 9 (Round 1)
ESPN+: 6:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT
Peacock: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT
Sirius XM: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT
Friday, Feb. 10 (Round 2)
ESPN+: 6:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT
Peacock: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. PT
Sirius XM: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT
Saturday, Feb. 11 (Round 3)
ESPN+: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
Peacock: 10 p.m. – 12 p.m. PT
Sirius XM: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
Sunday, Feb. 12 (Round 4)
ESPN+: 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
Peacock: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PT
Sirius XM: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PT
How much are tickets for the WM Phoenix Open?
General admission tickets range from $50 to $75 throughout the week.
There are six different club tickets for the 18th hole, ranging from a $450 daily suite or club ticket to $78,000 for an entire suite. On holes 9, 12, 17 and 18 there are member club packages for $3,200.
On the 16th hole, the Skybox Loge tickets can range from $500 each to $175,000 for an entire package. The Bay Club on the 17th hole costs $95,000 or you can get a 10-pack for $20,000 or $500 for daily credentials.
Payout for the 2023 WM Phoenix Open
The total purse for the event is set for $20 million and the winner will receive $3.6 million.
Who are some of the top golfers in the WM Phoenix Open?
With the WM Phoenix Open being the second designated event of the PGA Tour schedule, the game’s best will be on hand looking to get hot in the desert. The field will include 22 of the top 25 and 37 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, including World No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
In addition, nine of the top 10 and 26 of the top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings will be on hand, highlighted by the top three players, Jon Rahm, Max Homa and Keegan Bradley, being in the same pairing for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday.
| Official World Golf Ranking | FedEx Cup Standings |
| 1. Rory McIlroy | 1. John Rahm |
| 2. Scottie Scheffler | 2. Max Homa |
| 3. John Rahm | 3. Keegan Bradley |
| 5. Patrick Cantlay | 4. Seamus Power |
| 6. Xander Schauffele | 5. Tom Kim |
| 7. Collin Morikawa | 6. Tony Finau |
| 9. Justin Thomas | 7. Si Woo Kim |
| 10. Matt Fitzpatrick | 8. Taylor Montgomery |
| 11. Viktor Hovland | 9. Brian Harman |
| 12. Max Homa | 11. Mackenzie Hughes |
5 players who can hoist the WM Phoenix Open trophy on Sunday
John Rahm
Despite his hiccup in the final round at Torrey Pines a couple weeks ago, Jon Rahm continues to show why he is a contender for the title every time he is out on the course, even if he is hanging around the cut line on Friday.
Entering this week, the Arizona State alum leads the PGA Tour in numerous categories, including greens in regulation percentage (79.17%), strokes gained off the tee (1.038) and scoring average (68.932). All three of those statistics will be key as Rahm meticulously works around the course and placing balls to make the next shot as easy as possible.
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler is making his first start as a reigning champion from an event last season. This event was the beginning of a run to the Masters and magical run to being the PGA Tour Player of the Year last year.
The key to last year’s win was he movement on moving day with a 9-under 62 in the third round. Scheffler also has a seventh-place finish at this event so expect him to be somewhere near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Patrick Cantlay
Last year was Patrick Cantlay’s first appearance at the WM Phoenix Open and did not have a bad finish with his runner-up to Scheffler last year. The consistency in Cantlay’s game was on display as he went 67-66-68-67 through his four rounds.
The 30-year-old finished tied for 16th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and tied for 26th at The American Express last month.
Xander Schauffele
Since withdrawing from the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii last month, Schauffele has looked back to his normal self. He tied for third at The American Express, which was fueled by albatross from 225 yards out en route to his final round 62 to get within one shot back of the lead at one point.
Schauffele ranks third on Tour in strokes gained total (2.588) this season and fifth in stroked gained around the green (.717). Schauffele, who has had success at TPC Scottsdale in the past, has be good with his irons as he leads the PGA Tour in approach shots between 150-175 yards.
Rory McIlroy
This is Rory McIlroy’s first appearance on the PGA Tour since his victory at The CJ Cup in South Carolina in October, which also helped him moved back into the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking.
McIlroy’s is coming off of a victory at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour a couple weeks ago. With time to adjust from the jetlag, McIlroy is another player to watch coming down the back nine on Sunday.
WM Phoenix Open pairings
Round 1 tee times (Thursday; all times PT)
6:15 a.m.
Tee #1: Kevin Streelman, Brandon Wu, Aaron Rai | Tee #10: Adam Long, Scott Piercy, Taylor Pendrith
6:26 a.m.
Tee #1: Troy Merritt, Jhonattan Vegas, Stephan Jaeger | Tee #10: Charley Hoffman, Tommy Fleetwood, Davis Thompson
6:37 a.m.
Tee #1: Emiliano Grillo, Nick Watney, Rory Sabbatini | Tee #10: Keith Mitchell, Sam Ryder, Taylor Montgomery
6:48 a.m.
Tee #1: Garrick Higgo, Brendon Todd, Shane Lowry | Tee #10: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa (Marquee Group)
6:59 a.m.
Tee #1: Ryan Brehm, Sungjae Im, Nick Taylor | Tee #10: Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth (Featured Group)
7:10 a.m.
Tee #1: Chad Ramey, Kevin Kisner, Erik van Rooyen | Tee #10: Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sam Burns (Featured Group)
7:21 a.m.
Tee #1: Cameron Champ, Robert Streb, Andrew Landry | Tee #10: Mackenzie Hughes, Chez Reavie, K.H. Lee
7:32 a.m.
Tee #1: Lucas Herbert, Lucas Glover, Gary Woodland | Tee #10: Harris English, Tyrell Hatton, Tyler Duncan
7:43 a.m.
Tee #1: Martin Laird, Richy Werenski, Cameron Young | Tee #10: Adam Hadwin, Peter Malnati, Matthew NeSmith
7:54 a.m.
Tee #1: Corey Conners, Kevin Tway, James Hahn | Tee #10: Denny McCarthy, Lee Hodges, Callum Tarren
8:05 a.m.
Tee #1: Jimmy Walker, Ricky Barnes, Andre Metzger | Tee #10: Patrick Rodgers, Matt Wallace, Greyson Sigg
11 a.m.
Tee #1: Brian Harman, Ryan Moore, Scott Stallings | Tee #10: Russell Knox, Mark Hubbard, Adam Schenk
11:11 a.m.
Tee #1: Davis Riley, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Max McGreevy | Tee #10: Beau Hossler, Kramer Hickok, Taylor Moore
11:22 a.m.
Tee #1: Aaron Wise, Maverick McNealy, Kurt Kitayama | Tee #10: Nate Lashley, Patton Kizzire, David Lipsky
11:33 a.m.
Tee #1: Max Homa, Jon Rahm, Keegan Bradley (Featured Group) | Tee #10: J.J. Spaun, Jim Herman, Francesco Molinari
11:44 a.m.
Tee #1: Justin Thomas, Joel Dahmen, Sahith Theegala | Tee #10: Stewart Cink, J.B. Holmes, Matt Kuchar
11:55 a.m.
Tee #1: Tom Kim, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland (Featured Group) | Tee #10: Luke List, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson
12:06 p.m.
Tee #1: Russell Henley, Seamus Power, Rickie Fowler | Tee #10: Adam Svensson, J.T. Poston, Brian Gay
12:17 p.m.
Tee #1: Billy Horschel, Michael Thompson, Jason Day | Tee #10: Si Woo Kim, Trey Mullinax, Tom Hoge
12:28 p.m.
Tee #1: Dylan Frittelli, Andrew Putnam, Danny Lee | Tee #10: Ryan Palmer, Brendan Steele, Chris Kirk
12:39 p.m.
Tee #1: Alex Noren, Wyndham Clark, Hayden Buckley | Tee #10: Jason Dufner, Chesson Hadley, Austin Smotherman
12:50 p.m.
Tee #1: Michael Hopper, Dalton Ward, Brett White | Tee #10: Doug Ghim, Matthias Schwab, Justin Lower
1:01 p.m.
Tee #10: Kelly Kraft, Doc Redman
Round 2 tee times (Friday; all times PT)
6:15 a.m.
Tee #1: Russell Knox, Mark Hubbard, Adam Schenk | Tee #10: Brian Harman, Ryan Moore, Scott Stallings
6:26 a.m.
Tee #1: Beau Hossler, Kramer Kickok, Taylor Moore | Tee #10: Davis Riley, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Max McGreevy
6:37 a.m.
Tee #1: Nate Lashley, Patton Kizzire, David Lipsky | Tee #10: Aaron Wise, Maverick McNealy, Kurt Kitayama
6:48 a.m.
Tee #1: J.J. Spaun, Jim Herman, Francesco Molinari | Tee #10: Max Homa, Jon Rahm, Keegan Bradley (Marquee Group)
6:59 a.m.
Tee #1: Stewart Cink, J.B. Holmes, Matt Kuchar | Tee #10: Justin Thomas, Joel Dahmen, Sahith Theegala (Featured Group)
7:10 a.m.
Tee #1: Luke List, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson | Tee #10: Tom Kim, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland (Featured Group)
7:21 a.m.
Tee #1: Adam Svensson, J.T. Poston, Brian Gay | Tee #10: Russell Henley, Seamus Power, Rickie Fowler
7:32 a.m.
Tee #1: Si Woo Kim, Trey Mullinax, Tom Hoge | Tee #10: Billy Horschel, Michael Thompson, Jason Day
7:43 a.m.
Tee #1: Ryan Palmer, Brendan Steele, Chris Kirk | Tee #10: Dylan Frittelli, Andrew Putnam, Danny Lee
7:54 a.m.
Tee #1: Jason Dufner, Chesson Hadley, Austin Smotherman | Tee #10: Alex Noren, Wyndham Clark, Hayden Buckley
8:05 a.m.
Tee #1: Doug Ghim, Matthias Schwab, Justin Lower | Tee #10: Michael Hopper, Dalton Ward, Brett White
8:16 a.m.
Tee #1: Kelly Kraft, Doc Redman
11 a.m.
Tee #1: Adam Long, Scott Piercy, Taylor Pendrith | Tee #10: Kevin Streelman, Brandon Wu, Aaron Rai
11:11 a.m.
Tee #1: Charley Hoffman, Tommy Fleetwood, Davis Thompson | Tee #10: Troy Merritt, Jhonattan Vegas, Stephan Jaeger
11:22 a.m.
Tee #1: Keith Mitchell, Sam Ryder, Taylor Montgomery | Tee #10: Emiliano Grillo, Nick Watney, Rory Sabbatini
11:33 a.m.
Tee #1: Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa (Featured Group) | Tee #10: Garrick Higgo, Brendon Todd, Shane Lowry
11:44 a.m.
Tee #1: Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth (Featured Group) | Tee #10: Ryan Brehm, Sungjae Im, Nick Taylor
11:55 a.m.
Tee #1: Patrick Cantlay, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sam Burns | Tee #10: Chad Ramey, Kevin Kisner, Erik van Rooyen
12:06 p.m.
Tee #1: Mackenzie Hughes, Chez Reavie, K.H. Lee | Tee #10: Cameron Champ, Robert Streb, Andrew Landry
12:17 p.m.
Tee #1: Harris English, Tyrell Hatton, Tyler Duncan | Tee #10: Lucas Herbert, Lucas Glover, Gary Woodland
12:28 p.m.
Tee #1: Adam Hadwin, Peter Malnati, Matthew NeSmith | Tee #10: Martin Laird, Richy Werenski, Cameron Young
12:39 p.m.
Tee #1: Denny McCarthy, Lee Hodges, Callum Tarren | Tee #10: Corey Conners, Kevin Tway, James Hahn
12:50 p.m.
Tee #1: Patrick Rodgers, Matt Wallace, Greyson Sigg | Tee #10: Jimmy Walker, Ricky Barnes, Andre Metzger