Marco Penge continues his PGA Tour adventure at the WM Phoenix Open this week and I can guarantee that the English golfer will never have experienced anything quite like the atmosphere at TPC Scottsdale. And I reckon he is going to love every single second of it.
Penge is a big hitter who only knows one play to play – and that is to attack. It doesn’t always come off but when it does he is thrilling to watch. I believe he is quickly going to become a fan favourite in America and I am absolutely convinced that he is going to be a huge success.
From holding on to his card by the skin of his teeth at the end of 2024 and then being banned for betting irregularities, what he went on to achieve in 2025 is nothing short of remarkable.
He won three times on the DP World Tour and was desperately unlucky not to get a captain’s pick from Luke Donald for the European Ryder Cup team. He finished second to Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, thus securing a coveted PGA Tour card. Penge hits the ball a mile and will love playing on courses with little or no rough. The American galleries will adore him and he will relish the prospect of playing in front of them. I expect big things from him on the PGA Tour.
Also in the field is Xander Schauffele, one of the most consistent performers in professional golf. He has 10 PGA Tour wins to his name.
There is a perception that 2025 was a poor year for Schauffele and by his own high standards it was disappointing. He ended the campaign without a victory but he still played well enough to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs for the ninth consecutive year, advanced to the BMW Championship, and recorded four top-10 finishes while making the cut in all 16 of his starts in an injury-hit campaign.
A two-time major champion, Schauffele will be making his seventh career start at the WM Phoenix Open, where he has posted multiple top-10 finishes, including a runner-up result in 2021.
And then there is the conundrum that is Viktor Hovland. Ranked 16th in the world, he arrives in Phoenix after another decent season highlighted by his victory at the Valspar Championship, the seventh PGA Tour win of his career. The Norwegian finished 12th in the FedExCup standings and advanced to the Tour Championship for the sixth consecutive season. A three-time Ryder Cup player, Hovland will be making his fourth appearance at TPC Scottsdale. And yet again, he is tinkering with his golf swing. As he demonstrated during the Dubai Desert Classic, he is still struggling and admitted that the changes he has made still don’t feel comfortable.
Hideki Matsuyama is a fan favourite at Phoenix. The former Masters champion is a two-time Phoenix Open winner (2016, 2017) and is one of only eight players in tournament history to successfully defend the title. In 12 career starts at the event, he has recorded two wins, one runner-up finish, five top-10s, and nine top-25 finishes, so it is abundantly clear that he adores this course.
Canadian Nick Taylor captured the 2024 WM Phoenix Open in dramatic fashion, defeating Charley Hoffman in a two-hole sudden-death playoff. A five-time PGA Tour winner, Taylor has enjoyed some outstanding moments, none more so than his dramatic success at the Canadian Open when he holed a monstrous putt on the 18th green to break Tommy Fleetwood’s heart.
Rickie Fowler is another who enjoys playing here. He won the event in 2019 and after a long drought returned to the winner’s circle in 2023 with a win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. In 17 career starts at the Phoenix Open, Fowler has posted one victory, two runner-up finishes, and seven top-25 results.
But, of course, the man they all have to beat is the machine that is Scottie Scheffler. The world number one has developed a happy knack of being able to win golf tournaments when he is not at his best. And when he does turn up with his A-game then the rest may as well stay at home. There is more mad news – he is a two-time winner here and loves TPC Scottsdale. Would anybody bet against him completing the career grand slam in 2026? Not me, that’s for sure.
Last year saw another week on the PGA Tour and another European winner – and this one was long overdue.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry strolled to a magnificent seven-shot victory at the Phoenix Open – his first success on either the PGA Tour or DP World Tour. And boy did he do it in style. He had long been regarded as a world-class golfer but had never before been able to close the deal.
He will not be here to defend his title as he has joined LIV Golf.
Tournament Winners:
It was won in 2016 and 2017 by Hideki Matsuyama, in 2018 by Gary Woodland, in 2019 by Rickie Fowler, in 2020 by Webb Simpson, in 2021 by Brooks Koepka, in 2022 and 2023 by Scottie Scheffler, in 2024 by Nick Taylor and last year by Thomas Detry.
Form Guide:
All the smart money will be on Scottie Scheffler, who kicked off his 2026 season with a dominant victory at the American Express Championship. Furthermore, he has already won twice here. But I have a sneaky feeling that Hideki Matsuyama could upset the applecart.
The Course:
TPC Scottsdale is a par 71 measuring 7,261 yards. Designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, it opened in 1986, was redesigned in 2014 and is a classic PGA Tour stadium-style course. The fairways are pretty generous but there is a lot of sand.
Prize Money:
The total prize fund is $9.6m, with $1.7m going to the winner along with 500 FedEx Cup points.
How to Watch:
Thursday, February 5, Friday, February 6, Sky Sports Golf, 2.15pm; Saturday, February 7, Sunday, February 8, Sky Sports Golf, 5pm.
To Win:
Hideki Matsuyama. Loves the mayhem
Each Way:
Marco Penge. I have high hopes for him
Each Way:
Scottie Scheffler. Looking for a third win here
Five to Follow:
Hideki Matsuyama. Playing wonderful golf
Marco Penge. Fans will love his approach
Scottie Scheffler. He is a machine
Brooks Koepka. Big week for the five-time major champion
JJ Spaun. Looking to capitalise on the year of his life
Five Outsiders to Watch:
Eric Cole. Must breakthrough at some point, surely?
Max Homa. Hoping to recapture his best form
Matthieu Pavon. It’s become something of a struggle for the Frenchman
Rickie Fowler. At a career crossroads
Neal Shipley. Tremendous prospect
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
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