Week 7 Approach Shots: Waste Management Phoenix Open

text size

Kenny Perry had to wait a couple of extra weeks to defend his 2009 Waste Management Phoenix Open title. A year ago, the event at TPC Scottsdale ended on Feb. 1, with Perry defeating Charley Hoffman in a playoff.

At 48 years, 3 months, 21 days, Perry became the oldest winner in Waste Management Phoenix Open history last year and he's looking to add another win to the record books this year. This will be Perry's 23rd start at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he's notched six top-10 finishes, 12 top-25s and made 17 cuts.

Perry has played two PGA TOUR events this season -- tying for sixth at the season-opening SBS Championship and losing in the first round of last week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Perry is ranked No. 14 in the Official World Golf Ranking despite being less than six months away from his 50th birthday, which will make him eligible for the Champions Tour.

For the 24th consecutive year, TPC Scottsdale is hosting the tournament that dates to 1932 when Ralph Guldahl won at Phoenix Country Club. This marks the first year for Waste Management as the tournament's title sponsor.

Germany's Martin Kaymer and Spain's Alvaro Quiros, who both played in last week's Accenture Match Play Championship, will be making their first appearances at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Kaymer is ranked eighth in the Official World Golf Ranking, while Quiros is 31st.

Kaymer lives just 15 minutes from TPC Scottsdale and thinks being close to home could have its advantages.

"It's nice. Just stay at home. Obviously we don't have the possibility every week, but I think you have to see it as a nice week," he said. "...For me, playing kind of in front of my friends here, amazing spectators, of course I want to do well and just want to enjoy the week."

The only two players to finish with wins at the Accenture Match Play Championship were champion Ian Poulter (a 4-and-2 winner over Paul Casey) and Camilo Villegas, who defeated Sergio Garcia in the consolation match. Both Poulter and Villegas are in the field this week.

Columnists' predictions

Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Columnist Pick Comment Craig Dolch KEVIN NA: He has a second, a third and a fourth at Phoenix in four starts. Time for a win. Stan Awtrey J.B. HOLMES: He's been second and third in his last two tournaments and is fresh from a week off. He won in Phoenix in 2008 and went on to earn a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. He has similar ambitions this year. John Maginnes PHIL MICKELSON: Once again I am going with that left handed fellow. The law of averages have to be with me at this point. Phil is ready to win. Melanie Hauser DAVID TOMS: Why? Why not? He tied for fourth last year and has finished in the top 8 three of the last five years. He's straight off the tee and he can putt.

Bolton's Yahoo! selections

Fantasy columnist Rob Bolton will provide his Yahoo! picks as a starting point for you every week. Use the advice and opinion from his Power Rankings and Fantasy Insider to assist in determining lineups changes throughout each tournament. Group Starters Bench Group A Zach Johnson Phil Mickelson Group B J.B. Holmes, Kevin Na Brian Gay, David Toms Group C Brandt Snedeker Matt Kuchar

Sign up for our FREE fantasy golf game on Yahoo! Click here

MAJOR WINNERS HEAD TO PHOENIX: Phil Mickelson, a two-time Waste Management Phoenix Open champion and former Arizona State All-American, will make his 21st start in this event. Mickelson captured three titles in 2009 (Northern Trust Open, World Golf Championships-CA Championship and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola).

Lucas Glover, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, returns to TPC Scottsdale for the fifth consecutive year. He has yet to miss a cut in the previous four starts and holds a pair of ties for 20th as his best performances -- in 2006 and 2007.

Zach Johnson, six-time PGA TOUR champion, including the 2007 Masters, returns for a fifth start at TPC Scottsdale. This week, he hopes to improve on his tie for 12th from 2009.

Fred Couples, who won The ACE Group Classic two weeks ago for his first Champions Tour title, is also playing this week. Couples' best finish in Scottsdale was a runner-up showing in 1988 when he lost in a playoff to Sandy Lyle.

SHOT AT GLORY: Two lucky golf fans, along with a host of local media personalities, community heroes and tournament sponsors, teed it up for charity in a unique closest-to-the-pin contest on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Dubbed the "Shot At Glory," the friendly competition featured about 30 participants. This year's competition will pay tribute to the Wounded Warriors Project, as a number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans will be participating in the competition.

Tournament host The Thunderbirds will award more than $100,000 to the charities chosen by each competitor. Plus, for every hole-in-one, $1,000,000 will be given to the charity of their choice (paid in a multi-year annuity). If no one makes a hole-in-one, $40,000 will be donated to the charity of the participant who is closest-to-the-pin, while $25,000 and $15,000 will be donated to the 2nd and 3rd place finishers, respectively. Each of the remaining participant's charities will receive $1,000.

LOCAL TIES: Michael Sim, an Australia native who lives in Scottsdale, won three times in his first 12 starts on the Nationwide Tour last year en route to that Tour's Player of the Year honors. Sim tied for second at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January for his first top-10 of the 2010 campaign. Besides Sim, others playing this week who live in Scottsdale include Michael Allen, Aaron Baddeley, Mathew Goggin, Matt Jones, Martin Laird, Billy Mayfair, Ryan Moore, Pat Perez, Jeff Quinney and Chez Reavie. That group has combined for 11 PGA TOUR wins and one Champions Tour victory. Allen won the 2009 Senior PGA Championship.

Did you know?

Mark Calcavecchia has a rare opportunity this week. If he wins, he will have won this event in four different decades. Sam Snead performed the same feat in Greensboro and is the only person to do so.

Kodak Challenge

This week's Kodak Challenge hole is the famous par-3 16th at TPC Scottsdale, designer Tom Weiskopf's favorite par 3 on the stadium-style course. The green is an elusive target, requiring accuracy. Scores vary from 2-4, offering the player a good birdie opportunity. More on Kodak Challenge

What the winner gets

A win this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open will earn the following benefits: • Fully exempt for the remainder of 2010 and all of 2011 and 2012 • 500 FedExCup points. It took 354 points to qualify for the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup in 2009 and 494 to reach the Deutsche Bank Championship. • A spot in the following events in order of play: 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational, 2010 Masters, 2010 PLAYERS Championship, 2010 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, 2010 Memorial, 2010 AT&T National, 2010 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational (in all likelihood) and 2010 PGA Championship • A spot in the 2011 SBS Championship • For a U.S. player, 1,080,000 points towards making the 2011 Presidents Cup team. • If it is a second victory for a player since last June 4, a spot in the U.S. Open