Fantasy Golf Tournament Preview- Waste Management Phoenix Open

OVERVIEW
My favorite non-major week is finally here! TPC Scottsdale, the 16th hole, drunk fans, and players who are more inclined to make it look like they’re having a good time etc. The course typically sets up as a middle of the road course in terms of difficulty compared to other events on Tour, but this course isn’t that tough. The rough is typically cut down/dormant, and most of the difficulty comes on the greens as they’re usually fast and firm. Par 5 scoring is the primary scoring stat to target this week as you absolutely have to score on these and the short, par 4 17th hole. Outside of that we’ll be targeting the same stats as usual from a strokes gained perspective. Bombers get the recognition here, but you don’t necessarily need to be super long off the tee. I think the main thing to recognize is gaining strokes off the tee, so making sure you’re in a position to hit the green in regulation would be a priority when looking at stats. Also, collegiate sensation Matthew Wolff is in the field this week and even though he looks to have all the talent in the world to make him a star, is not someone I would load up on in GPPs, but will definitely have a few sprinkles of in with a couple different cores this week. Sometimes you get amateurs who play as if they have nothing to lose and things go well (Lee McCoy comes to mind) and other times you get a kid who’s playing as if this is his one shot of showing the world who he is. I don’t think it’s a smart decision to throw it all down on him this week even if you think he’ll play really well (for DFS purposes). He’s much better suited for Top 10 or Top 5 bets if you think that’s where he finishes. If you’re going to be out at the event, shoot me a tweet as I’ll be out there on Sunday on the 16th hole. For 1AD’s this week I’m looking at Hideki (chalk), Rahm (chalk), Fowler (chalk-ish), Finau & Berger (as a longer shot). I already used JT (though he would be the low owned pivot at the top), and Woodland, but both are firmly in play this week as well.

TOURNAMENT BACKGROUND

o The Courses
• TPC Scottsdale
• Par: 71
• Yardage: 7,200 yards
• Greens: Bermuda
o Location: Scottsdale, AZ
o Corollary Tournaments/Courses: Torrey Pines (FIO), PGA West Stadium (Desert Classic), Silverado Resort (Safeway), Plantation Course Kapalua (ToC), GC Of Houston (Shell/Houston Open)
o Past Champions:
• 2018: Gary Woodland -18 in a playoff over Chez Reavie
• 2017: Hideki Matsuyama -17 in a playoff over Webb Simpson
• 2016: Hideki Matsuyama -14 in a playoff over Rickie Fowler
• 2015: Brooks Koepka -15 over Hideki Matsuyama, Ryan Palmer & Bubba Watson
• 2014: Kevin Stadler -16 over Graham DeLaet & Bubba Watson

KEY STATS TO TARGET
o Strong Emphasis – SG: APP, SG: P, P5 Scoring, Birdie or Better
o Important – SG: OTT, P4 Scoring 400-450 & 450-500, APP 150-175y, APP 175-200+

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