Bob Weeks Pick Six: Waste Management Phoenix Open

TSN Senior Reporter

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This week brings us the Waste Management Phoenix Open, or what the sponsor calls The Greenest Show On Earth in a nod to its great efforts to reduce waste at the tournament.

Of course, most people know it also as home of the Rowdiest Hole in Golf, that being the 16th which serves as a coliseum of madness as players attempt to navigate through the par-3 hole.

There are six Canadians in the field: Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Roger Sloan, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, and Etienne Papineau. The latter two made it through Monday qualifying to earn their spots in the field.

The best finish in this tournament by a Canadian was Graham DeLaet’s runner-up finish in 2014.

Favourites

Jon Rahm +600

In six starts at the WMO, Rahm has never been worse than a tie for 16th, with his best finish being a tie for fifth in 2015. In his last 24 rounds at the tournament, 15 of them have been 68 or lower. He’s a combined 56 under par over the last five years. He’s also coming in playing well (that’s why he’s No. 1 in the world), sitting second in Strokes Gained: Total, third in Greens in Regulation and sixth in Birdie Average. He currently has a streak of 201 holes without a three-putt.

Hideki Matsuyama +1400

In eight visits to this tournament, Matsuyama has pretty much dominated the event. He has two wins, a second and a third. He’s also first in SG: Total per round, SG: Approach, SG: Ball Striking and number of rounds in the 60s. Oh and he also has the second-best scoring average. So far this season, he’s doing pretty well too, with wins in two of his last four starts.

Mid-Range

Xander Schauffele +2000

Tied for runner-up last year, Schauffele has two top-10s in his last four starts and has been inside the