Power Rankings: Waste Management Phoenix Open

text size

Something for everyone.

In varying degrees, most tournaments promote that as an experience, but the Waste Management Phoenix Open is diversity personified. From the Birds Nest to Saturday's "Green Out" to the one-of-a-kind par-3 16th hole to the drivable par-4 17th that Andrew Magee famously aced 10 years ago, TPC Scottsdale illustrates why it hosts the PGA TOUR's best-attended event.

Got a fantasy question for Rob? Click here to e-mail him. You can also follow Rob on his Twitter account.

The theme of the week extends inside the ropes as well where recent winners Kenny Perry (2009) and Hunter Mahan (2010) pummeled greens, J.B. Holmes (2006, '08) brought the track to its knees off the tee and Aaron Baddeley (2007) found lightning in his putter. This come-from-any-angle approach makes it play more like THE PLAYERS or even a U.S. Open.

Handicapping it is always tricky if for no other reason than it rates as one of the most benign on paper year after year. Save for an anomaly in 2009 when it ranked third in fairways hit -- usually an ignorable stat anyway -- the par-71 venue hasn't cracked the top 15 most difficult in any basic category used to determine a challenge factor. The event can be disguised as a shootout with a twist; that is, trouble lurks in 79 bunkers and undulating greens as well as at the gut-check otherwise known as the enclosed stadium shot at raucous 16.

A chilly midweek will give way to warmer temperatures, but it may not hit 70 degrees throughout the tournament. Thursday's temps will top out in the mid-50s with steady winds that are likely to inflate scores. The breezes are expected to calm by Friday. No rain is forecast all week.

Power Rankings: Waste Management Phoenix Open

Rank Player   Comment Dustin JOHNSON Closed with a bogey-free 66 at the Farmers for a tie of third place. Led the field in birdies. Also ranked fifth in distance off the tee, T18 in fairways, T4 in greens and seventh in putting. Perfect fit this week. Phil MICKELSON The two-time champ (1996, 2005) is No. 1 on the all-time money list here. Also co-owns the course-record of 60. Coming off a solo second at Torrey Pines, where he was T2 in greens hit, T11 in putting and had just seven bogeys. Nick WATNEY Backdoored a share of sixth place at the Farmers with a Sunday 63. Ranked T7 in greens, but needed three rounds to shake off the rust on his putter. Cashed five of six times here, including top 25s the last two years. Ben CRANE Classic case of a veteran ball-striker in top form (i.e. minimizing his mistakes) that could dissect the host course. Placed T4 here in 2008. Posted a T14 at the Farmers, where he ranked fifth in putting. Jhonattan VEGAS Normally, rookies don't work their way into this feature, but there isn't anything normal about his game lately. Has just 16 bogeys over his last 167 holes. Comes in with 10 consecutive rounds in the 60s. Bill HAAS Despite the Sunday fade at Torrey Pines, where he closed with a 75 to finish tied for ninth, he has three top 10s in as many starts this year. Also placed T9 at the 2008 edition of this event, ranking T2 in greens hit. Brandt SNEDEKER In his second start since having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, placed T9 at last week's Farmers, where he led the field in putting. Posted a T9 at this event in 2008. Sneaky fit on this track. Ryan MOORE Returns to action after the flu bumped him after one round of the Bob Hope Classic. Two top 15s in his last two appearances here. Led the field in birdies en route to a T14 a year ago despite ranking T59 in greens hit. Charles HOWELL III Arrives on the heels of a pair of top 15s the last two weeks. Has cashed in eight of nine showings here, including a career-best T4 a year ago, when he sustained just five bogeys all week. Currently 14th in the all-around. Kevin NA Although he missed the cut at the Farmers (two double bogeys made all the difference), and placed T53 here a year ago, he has three top-four paydays in five starts here. Always a threat to ride a hot putter, too.