The PGA Tour swaps the California coast for the Southwestern desert as the Waste Management Phoenix Open takes place in Arizona this week.
Usually one of the most vibrant events of the PGA Tour season due to its party atmosphere, especially at the infamous 16th hole, the event will undergo a few changes for the 2025 tournament in light of several crowd incidents last year.
In total, 54 arrests were made across the four days of competition, with Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson among the players who showed displeasure at the antics of those in the crowd.
Due to overcrowding, the sale of alcohol stopped, while the sheer volume of patrons meant safety was a concern. Digital ticketing and more entrances should make a big difference in 2025, allowing for a more enjoyable experience at “The Greatest Show on Grass” – due to it being the most sustainable tournament in the world.
Previously known as the Arizona Open, the event was first staged 93 years ago and features an impressive list of winners, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh.
Last year, Nick Taylor prevented Scottie Scheffler from making it a trio of victories at the Phoenix Open, prevailing in a playoff over Charley Hoffman.
The Canadian opened up with a stunning round of 60 (-11) and deserved his fourth PGA Tour win. Scheffler had his chances to win the tournament, but several missed putts inside six feet during his final round hampered any hopes of securing a three-peat.
Taylor returns to the desert to defend his title, although with a stacked field featuring Scheffler, Tom Kim and Justin Thomas, it will be an incredibly difficult task.
Course details: TPC Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale has played host to the Phoenix Open ever since 1987, taking over duties from Phoenix Country Club.
The par-71, 7,261 yard Stadium Course is located just northeast of downtown Phoenix and its link style desert layout provides a stiff challenge to even the very best in the world, especially with an exciting final few holes.
The 15th is a very reachable par-5, although water is in play down the left side of the fairway, placing a premium on accuracy not only off the tee, but also with an approach shot to the island green.
Next up is the par-3 16th, which is arguably the most enthralling hole played across the entire PGA Tour season. Known as the Coliseum Hole, a 20,000-strong crowd waits in anticipation to see just how well the professionals deal with the claustrophobic environment.
The tournament finishes with two par-4 holes. The 17th measures just 332 yards, presenting an ideal birdie opportunity, while the final hole comes in over 100 yards longer, with water coming into play off the tee.
Mastering the closing stretch is key to winning at TPC Scottsdale.
The field
As mentioned, Scheffler heads the 144-player field this week. The American returned to action at Pebble Beach last week after undergoing surgery on his hand due to an unfortunate injury during the festive season.
A top-ten finish marked an impressive season debut for the two-time Masters champion. Phoenix has been kind to him in the past. Can he tame the Stadium course once again?
Elsewhere, Thomas has enjoyed a solid start to 2025. He struggled throughout 2024, but a runners-up finish at the American Express a few weeks ago suggests his game is in the right shape.
The European contingent is strong this week, headlined by recent PGA Tour winner Sepp Straka, who produced some wonderful golf to win the American Express last month.
Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard, Robert MacIntyre and Matt Fitzpatrick will be aiming for solid performances to bolster their Ryder Cup ambitions.
Bookies favourite is Scottie for a repeat win.
WM Phoenix Open Winner
- Scottie Scheffler – 11/4
- Justin Thomas – 12/1
- Hideki Matsuyama – 14/1
- Sam Burns – 18/1
- Sungjae Im – 22/1
- Tom Kim – 25/1
- Corey Connors – 33/1
- Nick Taylor – 33/1
- Sepp Straka – 33/1
- Byeong Hun An – 40/1
- Rasmus Hojgaard – 40/1
- Robert MacInyre – 40/1
- Sahith Theegala – 40/1
- Si Woo Kim – 40/1
- Billy Horschel – 50/1
Odds provided by Betway
Phoenix Open: Previous ten winners
| Year | Winner | Winning score | Winner(s) share ($) |
| 2024 | Nick Taylor | -21 | 1,584,000 |
| 2023 | Scottie Scheffler | -19 | 3,600,000 |
| 2022 | Scottie Scheffler | -16 | 1,476,000 |
| 2021 | Brooks Koepka | -19 | 1,314,000 |
| 2020 | Webb Simpson | -17 | 1,314,000 |
| 2019 | Rickie Fowler | -17 | 1,278,000 |
| 2018 | Gary Woodland | -18 | 1,242,000 |
| 2017 | Hideki Matsuyama | -17 | 1,206,000 |
| 2016 | Hideki Matsuyama | -14 | 1,170,000 |
| 2015 | Brooks Koepka | -15 | 1,134,000 |
Waste Management Phoenix Open: Prize fund and how to watch
The 2025 event will have a prize fund of $9.2m, with the winner receiving a cheque for $1.6m while also taking home 500 FedEx Cup points.
Viewers in the United States can watch the tournament on the Golf Channel. For those in the UK, coverage starts at 9pm on Sky Sports Golf (Thursday 6 and Friday 7), while the weekend action begins at 6pm on the same channel.
