One of the most popular, raucous and action-packed tournaments on the PGA Tour takes place this week in the form of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. TPC Scottsdale is famed for drawing in large and passionate crowds, and it's regularly credited with being the best-attended events in the sport.
So, who's going to come out on top?
A popular pick will be Hideki Matsuyama who is bidding to become only the second player in history to win the "Greenest Show on Grass" three times in a row following his back-to-back successes in 2016 and 2017.
The legendary Arnold Palmer is the only player to conjure up a Phoenix Open three-peat back in the early 1960s, while Phil Mickelson, Gene Littler and Mark Calcavecchia are all three-time winners.
Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that no one has won the same PGA Tour event three times in a row since Steve Stricker achieved this remarkable feat at the John Deere Classic between 2009-2011.
Not only does Matsuyama love Scottsdale - he has top-4 finishes in his other two appearances - he has the form too, finishing in the top-12 in each of his last three tournaments, including last week’s Farmers Insurance Open (12th).
Both of Matsuyama’s wins have come in a play-off, with this nerve-shredding outcome priced at 3/1 to occur for the third year in a row, and sixth time in 11 years.
Matsuyama, who jets off to Arizona priced at 10/1 to finish at the summit of the leaderboard, is joined in the top echelons of the betting by some of the biggest names in the business. Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm all in feature in what promises to be a fiercely competitive event, which brings together 22 of the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings.
None of those four players have ever triumphed at the Phoenix Open, but you can bet your last penny that at least one of the quadruple will be in contention this weekend, with World No.2, and Arizona State star, Rahm worth keeping a close eye on at 10/1.
One player who will be roared on is the popular three-time champion Phil Mickelson, who went to Arizona State University, as he makes his 29th appearance at the event (a joint record). Mickelson is without a tour win in nearly four years, but what a venue to end this drought as he seeks to become the first player to win the tournament four times (50/1).
Ryan Palmer agonisingly lost out in a play-off at the Farmers Insurance Open, but he looks a decent price at 66/1 to go on step better this week as he bids to win his fourth tournament on the tour, and first in eight years.
The tournament's par-3 16th is one of the most famous holes in golf. Over the years it has produced a catalogue of memorable moments, including that stunning Tiger Woods hole-in-one 21 years ago, which is one of nine aces on the 16th. If you think this number will reach double figures this week then you can back another one at 11/10.
16th Hole Aces At TPC Scottsdale
- 1988 - Hal Sutton
- 1990 - Brad Bryant
- 1990 - David Edwards
- 1991 - Jay Delsing
- 1997 - Tiger Woods
- 1997 - Steve Stricker
- 2002 - Mike Sposa
- 2011 - Jarrod Lyle
- 2015 - Francesco Molinari
