This article is part of our PGA Tour Stats Review series.
This week is a big week on the PGA Tour as the Greatest Show on Grass, the Phoenix Open, collides with Super Bowl 49 -- being played in Glendale, Ariz. It also coincides with Tiger Woods' season premiere. Here's our stats preview:
One Note
TPC Scottsdale was remodeled for 2015 with completely reworked bunkering and some other changes on green complexes. While the changes aren't major -- only the 14th hole changed majorly in stature -- they are something players have to adapt to quickly.
History Lesson
Kevin Stadler, the defending champion, withdrew last week as he continues to battle a stress fracture in his right hand. He won by one over Graham DeLaet and Bubba Watson. In 2013, Phil Mickelson beat Brandt Snedeker by four (that was the year Mickelson almost shot 59 and wound up with 60), and in 2012 Kyle Stanley beat Ben Crane by one.
Mickelson showed flashes of strong play last week -- he ranked 19th in strokes gained-total last week, though it should be noted ShotLink stats only covered the Palmer Private course, en route to a T24. We recommend Mickelson next week, however, when he'll have three straight weeks under his belt. But if you start him this week, it's totally understandable.
Watson is also a viable pick as he's from this area, feasts on the wild atmosphere that is the Phoenix Open, and has a win already this season. He's first in birdie average and third in total driving so far this
This week is a big week on the PGA Tour as the Greatest Show on Grass, the Phoenix Open, collides with Super Bowl 49 -- being played in Glendale, Ariz. It also coincides with Tiger Woods' season premiere. Here's our stats preview:
One Note
TPC Scottsdale was remodeled for 2015 with completely reworked bunkering and some other changes on green complexes. While the changes aren't major -- only the 14th hole changed majorly in stature -- they are something players have to adapt to quickly.
History Lesson
Kevin Stadler, the defending champion, withdrew last week as he continues to battle a stress fracture in his right hand. He won by one over Graham DeLaet and Bubba Watson. In 2013, Phil Mickelson beat Brandt Snedeker by four (that was the year Mickelson almost shot 59 and wound up with 60), and in 2012 Kyle Stanley beat Ben Crane by one.
Mickelson showed flashes of strong play last week -- he ranked 19th in strokes gained-total last week, though it should be noted ShotLink stats only covered the Palmer Private course, en route to a T24. We recommend Mickelson next week, however, when he'll have three straight weeks under his belt. But if you start him this week, it's totally understandable.
Watson is also a viable pick as he's from this area, feasts on the wild atmosphere that is the Phoenix Open, and has a win already this season. He's first in birdie average and third in total driving so far this season on the PGA Tour.
Who is Playing
This field is stacked. It has 11 of the top 25 in the world, including Woods, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler all making their PGA Tour season debuts.
Woods is known yet unknown: everyone seemed to like his swing at the Hero World Challenge. No one liked his chipping. He hasn't played this event in 14 years. He also hasn't played in a month. Our recommendation: save him for Torrey next week. Although he's historically played well in his season premieres, the majority happened at the Farmers Insurance Open, not here.
Spieth, meanwhile, was the hottest golfer on the planet last December. He was first in driving accuracy and third in greens in regulation in his runaway victory at the Hero World Challenge. He has been off for more than a month, but if you think he'll carry over the momentum from last year, start him this week.
Fowler went to Abu Dhabi a couple weeks ago and finished T66, making too many mistakes in the process. Like Tiger, we recommend him next week, as he will probably continue to work the kinks out this week.
One name to watch this week: Justin Thomas, who has had consecutive solid weeks as a rookie. He made a poor decision on the 16th hole last week and washed away his chance at victory, but continues to impress. He ranked second in driving distance at nearly 311 yards, and was 12th in strokes gained-tee to green. We recommend starting him this week.
Quick Sunday Surger Recommendations: Charley Hoffman, Brendan Steele and James Hahn.
