The desert southwest is home to some incredible landscapes. While the Grand Canyon and Mount Charleston provide tourists and locals breathtaking views and recreational opportunities abound, it is the sports world that is drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. The Super Bowl is being held in Las Vegas, and pitchers and catchers from Major League Baseball are due to report to Spring Training next week. Winter is cracking early here.
The WM Phoenix Open is a staple event on the PGA Tour. It boasts the biggest crowds and the most vivacious atmosphere in golf. TPC Scottsdale is a course as unremarkable as it is fair and demanding of sharp form. The par-71 layout is of average length and sports spacious fairways and greens lacking tricky undulation. A unique pressure descends upon the golfers, where hoards of well-lubricated patrons hang on every shot without a hint of emotional restraint. It's a party.
Sports wagering hits a fever pitch this week. Silly me; I used to only bet on the Super Bowl, leaving many great opportunities to correlate with the golf tournament slip away. This is our week to enjoy some incredible action.
2024 WM Phoenix Open: Odds, Picks & Predictions
(Odds Courtesy of DraftKings SportsBook)
Key stats that correlate with TPC Scottsdale are nearly all related to ball striking from tee to green. Gaining birdie opportunities and avoiding bogeys in the desert landscape is also important. Instead of throwing emphasis on other analytics that seem to counteract the key ones, I will also consider recent form and success at this particular event. Shirtless with golf spikes, let's throw on a hard hat full of beer and tee off.
Scottie Scheffler
The two-time defending champion at this event also happens to be the No. 1 golfer in the world. Scottie Scheffler’s balky putter was better last week at Pebble Beach, lending confidence that he will again put himself in the mix this weekend. From tee to green, there is no one better. I successfully bet on Scheffler last year, but my Super Bowl parlay was squashed when I went against Patrick Mahomes. I won’t make that mistake this year. It is also smart to wait and see if Scheffler starts off slowly on Thursday. His live odds could slip to a better number, so pay attention.
Picks: Outright +450 [2u]; Parlay with Kansas City ML +1011 [1u]; Top-5 +120 [1u]
Max Homa
I love Justin Thomas this week. I don’t love him at such a short number. Max Homa is a fan favorite and endearing to everyone who follows him on social media. When it comes to putting it together on the course, this is exactly where I expect him to rise to the occasion. His tee-to-green game is incredible, with a strong short game to boot. With Xander Schauffele and Viktor Hovland absent from the field, Homa is one of the only players with enough firepower to keep pace with Scheffler.
Picks: Outright +1800 [1u]; Top-10 +190 [1u]
JT Poston
Hot golfers stay hot at the WM Phoenix Open. JT Poston is sizzling. While not an elite player off the tee, he is world-class on approach and is among the best putters in the world. His odds are a tad short for my liking, but I have this very strong gut feeling that his breakout moment is imminently on the horizon. I also can’t wait to throw out the cringeworthy “The Postman delivers on Sunday!”
Picks: Outright +3500 [0.5u]; Top-10 +300 [1u]
Beau Hossler
It was a very long time ago, but Beau Hossler was once a prodigal rising star in professional golf. His career has since plateaued into a respectable, somewhat noteworthy footnote, but his form has seen a nice resurgence over the last six months. Hossler’s ball striking has improved immensely, pairing nicely with what has always been an immaculate short game. Events such as this one that will require maximizing birdie opportunities are where he shines. If he can avoid his patented “one catastrophic round,” Hossler can absolutely rise to the top of the leaderboard.
Picks: Outright +5500 [0.5u]; Top-10 +400 [1u]
Chesson Hadley
Chesson Hadley is my sneaky hired gun this week. Just 165 pounds soaking wet, the Georgia Tech alum is a dart thrower on approach and a wizard around the green. Where his game lacks firepower won’t matter as much at TPC Scottsdale, hence why Hadley has fared well in this event over the years. He appeared third in this field in my weighted statistical model, as well.
Picks: Outright +15000 [0.25u]; Top-20 +450 [0.5u]
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday:
- NFL Super Bowl PrizePicks Player Predictions: 49ers (2024)
- 2024 WM Phoenix Open: Odds, Picks & Predictions
- NBA Same Game Parlay Odds, Picks & Predictions
- College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions
- NHL Prop Betting Cheat Sheet
