Phoenix Open Betting – TPC Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona hosts the 2013 Waste management Open this weekend – one of the most fan-friendly crowd pleasing events on TOUR. TPC of Scottsdale is one of the few courses on TOUR that doesn’t favor any one style of play – leads a gained and lost here at the drop of a hat which adds to the intrigue.
2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Course: TPC of Scottsdale
Date: Jan 31 – Feb 3, 2013
Total Purse: US $ 6,100,000
Winner’s Share: US $ 1,098,000 (18% of total purse)
Golf Odds from Bovada
Defending Champion: Kyle Stanley ($1,098,000)
The host course has traditionally been among the easiest Par 71s on the circuit although distance control and strong putting are essential as per usual at this level.
Let`s take a look at some of the names to watch this week:
The Favorites:
Jason Dufner 14/1
Making his 2013 U.S. mainland debut. After a T18 at Kapalua, he posted a pair of T9s on the European Tour’s Desert Swing to extend his string of top 20s to eight. He has made the top ten on both of his appearances at Phoenix and he is coming off a year that he finished ranked 1st in Driving Accuracy and 19th in Greens in Regulation – tremendous qualities for this track. Duf has had success here as well – 8th last year and losing in a playoff the year before. His globetrotting may slow him down but as we saw last week with Tiger – long trips don’t seem to affect players the way we think!
Nick Watney 14/1
Comes into the Waste Management having finished top 20 in his last five starts. He has made six of seven cuts here including five in a row with three top 25s and a T5 in 2011. He was T4 last week at the Farmers and he was T13 at the Hyundai already this year – it is safe to say that Watney is in fine form. His obvious affection for this course and his present form make Watney one of the betting favorites this week.
The Contenders:
Brandt Snedeker 16/1
Finished third at the Tournament of Champions and was T2 behind Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines last week making Sneds one of the hotter golfers on TOUR early in the season. He has fared well at this event in the past – 5 for 6 including two top 10s. He is the reigning FedEx Cup Champ and has the all around game to get it done this week.
Rickie Fowler 16/1
Has finished sixth two times already in this young season including last week with a strong finish at Torrey Pines – an opening round 77 was his undoing. He is 4-for-4 at TPC Scottsdale with a solo second in 2010. Fowler was very impressive last week minus his brutal opening round and he has shot under par in 11 of his last 12 rounds at this event. He may be ready to break through this week!
Bubba Watson 16/1
Has been out of action since a T4 at Kapalua to start the season. He has finished top 10 twice here and has made the cut five of six appearances with a nice T% last year. Illness and inactivity could haunt him this week against a good field. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Phil Mickelson 22/1
Phil played his college golf at nearby Arizona State and has been good in recent years at this event – two wins, a runner-up and nine top 10s. He is not exactly on top of his game but is a threat in any event he enters.
Charles Howell III 25/1
Started the season with a T3 and a second place finish in the heels of a terrific the Fall Series. He was a respectableT9 last week at Torrey Pines and comes in having played very well at TPC Scottsdale in the past – in 11 starts, he’s amassed five top 25s including a personal-best T4 in 2010.
Martin Kaymer 25/1
Has six top 11 finishes in his last seven starts worldwide and is coming off a T9 at the Quatar Masters. Kaymer makes his first start in the S since the Ryder Cup in decent form.
Hunter Mahan 28/1
Won this event in 2010 but has just one other top 25 in six appearances although he has been under par in his last eight rounds at TPC Scottsdale and has made the cut five of his last six appearances. Mahan is coming off a T16 last week but he looked good in the process.
Bo Van Pelt 33/1
Van Pelt was the hottest player on the planet to close out 2012 but has started 2013 slowly a T78 last week. He has a good history here however – he’s finished T18 (2011) and T8 (2012) in a tournament he co-led the field in greens in regulation and ranked first in proximity to the hole. Last year Van Pelt ranked 15th in Ball Striking, 11th in Strokes Gained Putting, 7th in Birdie average and 5th in Total Driving – perfect stats for TPC Scottsdale.
Keegan Bradley 40/1
Any time Bradley tees it up he has to be in the conversation. He only has one start here however – a T15 last year. Bradley has all the talent in the world to compete here – there’s just not enough history to allow us to trust him this week.
The Sleepers:
Brian Gay 50/1
Won the Humana Challenge already this year and has looked good, especially off the tee. Gay has a solid history at this event as well – four top 25s in his last six appearances here with a T6 in 2009. Gay looks like a new man with his added length off the tee and should do well once again at TPC Scottsdale.
J.B. Holmes 66/1
Holmes is flying under the radar here despite having won this event twice and having finished T% as well. He missed the cut last week but based on his great history here has to be in the conversation.
Pat Perez 80/1
Scottsdale resident Pat Perez has started strong in 2012 and was a Sleeper already for yours truly with a top-10 finish at the Sony Open and a tie for 21st last week at Torrey Pines. He has finished top 25 in his last three appearances in this event and enters in career best form – don’t sleep on the home town boy!
The Pick:
My pick this week is Nick Watney at 14/1. He is playing some terrific golf at the moment and his showing at Torrey Pines gives me reason to think that he is ready for his first win of the year this week. I also have a feeling about Hunter Mahan at 28/1
My sleeper is former two-time champion J.B. Holmes at 66/1 who loves the Scottsdale stage. He isn’t in the greatest form at the moment but history tells me he will have a good week.
