Preview: Waste Management Phoenix Open
We take a look at the tournament at TPC Scottsdale
ORGANISERS of the Waste Management Phoenix Open will hope reigning champion Phil Mickelson can recover from the back injury he suffered at last week's Farmers Insurance Open in order for the World No.4 to compete at TPC Scottsdale.
Currently we're unsure whether he will play but if he does tee it up he will be one of the favourites for the event which he has won three times.
The competition draws the biggest crowds of any in golf with a record of 538,356 attending in 2008 and 179,022 turning up on Saturday last year – a single day PGA Tour record.
Graham DeLaet comes into the competition in good form after finishing runner-up last week and his seven top-ten finishes in his last 14 starts will see punters backing the Canadian.
PGA Tour star Webb Simpson will be looking for his first win of 2014 and Billy Horshel, who possesses one of my favourite swings in golf, will surely challenge.
Where?
TPC Scottsdale, Phoenix, USA
When?
January 30 – 2 February
The course
Par-71; 7,216 yards
Defending champion
Phil Mickelson (-28)
Multiple winners
Phil Mickelson (3) Mark Calcavecchia (3) Gene Littler (3) Arnold Palmer (3)
Did you know?
here have been only two double eagles in the history of the Phoenix Open. Tom Pernice, Jr. made the first one on the 558-yard par-5 15th hole in 1990. Andrew Magee scored the second on the 332-yard par-4 17th hole in 2001. Magee's shot is believed to be the first-ever hole in one on a par-4 in PGA Tour history.
TV times
Sky Sports 4: Thursday 8pm – 12pm
Sky Sports 4: Friday 8pm – 12pm
Sky Sports 4: Saturday 6pm – 11pm
Sky Sports 4: Sunday 6pm – 10.30pm
Where's the money going?
If Mickelson plays he looks good value at 14/1 as does Horshal at 25/1. Long-hitter Bubba Watson is at 30/1 while DeLaet is fantastic value at 35/1.
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