GOLF

Daily Fantasy Golf Course Primer: Waste Management Phoenix Open

As Hideki Matsuyama looks to three-peat at TPC Scottsdale, what information can we glean about the course?

We got some extra golf this past weekend in a few senses -- and not all were good.

J.B. Holmes really stretched out the back nine, leading to a lot of ire on Twitter. And equally important, Jason Day and Alex Noren had to finish up their playoff on Monday, with Day taking the crown.

But, hey, the PGA Tour rolls on to the Waste Management Phoenix Open this week at TPC Scottsdale.

Course and Tournament Info

TPC Scottsdale is a par 71, spanning just over 7,200 yards. It hasn't been the most difficult course on tour over the past 10 years, but it's far from a birdiefest for these pros.

Year Difficulty Rank Course Par Yds Avg Score Avg O/U Par
2017 33 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,266 70.192 -0.808
2016 20 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,266 71.030 0.030
2015 22 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,266 70.752 -0.248
2014 33 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,152 70.644 -0.356
2013 40 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,216 68.954 -2.046
2012 29 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,216 70.758 -0.242
2011 42 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,216 69.516 -1.484
2010 38 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,216 69.930 -1.070
2009 27 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,216 70.877 -0.123
2008 36 TPC Scottsdale 71 7,216 70.306 -0.694


The field is a bit thinner than last week, with 132 golfers teeing it up at TPC Scottsdale.

What stats have mattered most here in recent years?

Key Stats

Strokes gained: tee-to-green over recent weeks is always worth factoring into your analysis, but these stats stand out as the most vital at TPC Scottsdale.

Key Stats for the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale
Driving Distance
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Strokes Gained: Around the Green
Birdie or Better Rate


Some course renovations were made in 2014, but distance is still vital here, provided the launchers don't spray it into the bunkers and water. For that reason, strokes gained: off the tee should carry a little more weight than just distance this week.

Play around the green -- and scrambling, if you want -- should also be baked into your must-haves this week.

And while this course doesn't play particularly easy relative to par, birdiemakers matter. All eight winners at TPC Scottsdale since the event rebranded to the Waste Management were at least 15 under.

Course History Studs

The obvious candidate here is Hideki Matsuyama, the back-to-back champion. In case the two wins weren't enough, he was second and fourth in his two prior seasons at TPC Scottsdale.

Jordan Spieth has a pair of top 10s at this course (7th in 2015 and 9th in 2017), and last week's favorite Jon Rahm followed up a 5th in 2015 with a 16th in 2017.

Shane Lowry tied Rahm for 16th last year, after a 6th-place showing in 2015.

Since 2012, Brendan Steele's finishes at TPC Scottsdale read 5th, 6th, 6th, 26th, 17th, and 16th. Daniel Berger bookended a 58th in 2016 with a 10th in 2015 and a 7th a year ago.

Zach Johnson has reeled off three straight top 15s over the past three years but hasn't done better than 10th in that span.

Webb Simpson finished second a year ago, after a 14th in 2016, a 10th in 2014, and a pair of 8ths in 2012 and 2011. Bubba Watson missed the cut last year, ending a five-year top-15 streak (5th, 15th, 2nd, 2nd, 14th).

Rickie Fowler has had some duds mixed into strong outings. After two missed cuts in 2013 and 2014, he bounced back with a 46th, 2nd, and 4th.