Bidding farewell to the Pacific panoramas of Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, the PGA Tour is all set to embrace the heat at the desert oasis of TPC Scottsdale for the Phoenix Open 2024. Although Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, two of the world’s best players, have withdrawn from the event, their absence is unlikely to dampen the excitement as other golfing elites gear up to join the desert party.
TPC Scottsdale will welcome a loaded field to its 7,261-yard par 71 course with Bermuda greens. Returning to the usual format after weeks of changing courses, it’s a full-field event with a 36-hole cut this week. The entourage includes two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who will be eyeing an unprecedented third in Phoenix. Scheffler’s Ryder Cup comrades Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, and Brian Harman will also be in the mix, along with Wyndham Clark, who was the 54-hole winner at Pebble Beach last week.
Can anyone stop Scheffler, the reigning number one, from rewriting the history books in Phoenix? We look at what the current betting odds for the tournament say according to bookmaker William Hill.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 7th, 7:00 A.M. (GMT)
Unsurprisingly, Scheffler is the odds-on favorite to replicate his last two season’s success. He is in line for winning the Phoenix Open for a record third consecutive time and becoming the first golfer since Steve Stricker to win a PGA event three times in successive years, with odds of 5.50.
Justin Thomas is the closest contender in Phoenix, but his odds are only half as favorable as Scheffler’s at 11.00. The two-time PGA Championship champion enters the fray with two consecutive top-10 finishes and requires just 50 points to secure a spot in the Genesis Invitational.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 7th, 7:00 A.M. (GMT)
In terms of the best bets to make on the WM Phoenix Open, we say Wyndham Clark could be a great high-risk, high-reward investment at 34.00. On his way to AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am glory, he hit a Pebble Beach course record with a 12 under 60. The Scottsdale native will rely on strong hometown support and his recent form, having secured three titles in the past 10 months.
For those interested in some proposition betting, the first six entries in the first round leader list match the names occupying the first six positions in the winner’s odds list. Scheffler, Thomas, Homa, Spieth, Burns, and Sungjae Im hold on to their respective positions. Meanwhile, Clark shares the seventh spot with Poston, Lee, Fitzpatrick, An and Kim.
Backing Scheffler to make a strong start on day one would be a conservative bet that pairs nicely with the longer odds wager on Clark.
