Phoenix Open Preview

The tournament features three past champions, including Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama, and Brooks Koepka. A total of 10 players ranked within the top 20 globally will contend for the esteemed title. The prevailing question among fans is whether American players will mount a strong challenge to retain the title on home soil. The previous two editions of the event saw winners from outside the United States, potentially ending the dominance of local players. It remains to be seen if international players can secure a third consecutive victory, a feat yet to be achieved. Let’s preview the tournament.

Hideki Matsuyama

In the past decade, two golfers, Hideki Matsuyama and Scottie Scheffler, have achieved the feat of winning the Phoenix Open twice. Furthermore, they share a unique record of being the only players to secure consecutive victories. Matsuyama’s maiden win was significant, as it ended a long-standing dominance by local athletes, with him being the first overseas player to claim the title in eight years. The 33-year-old Japanese golfer then successfully defended his title the following year, proving that his initial win was not a one-time occurrence. Matsuyama arrives at the tournament having had a respectable performance this year. In his season opener, the Sony Open, he finished tied for 13th place against a quality field. Last week, he secured 11th place overall in the Farmers Insurance Open, demonstrating continuous improvement in each event he participates in. This upward trend is expected to provide a significant morale boost as he strives to regain his winning form.

Sam Burns

Sam Burns has established himself as a reliable performer on the PGA Tour over the past two years. Despite a disappointing 49th-place finish in last year’s event, Burns demonstrated resilience and improvement as the year went on, culminating in a strong finish. In his most recent 10 events, the 29-year-old American has recorded three top-10 finishes and six top-20 finishes. His world ranking indicates that he is a formidable competitor in every tournament he enters. Burns has a special affinity for the event, having achieved a personal best finish of third place in the 2024 edition. His knowledge of the course, where he sometimes trains, provides him with a significant edge over his rivals. The onus is now on him to leverage this advantage to his benefit.

Prize Money

The event features a staggering $9.6 million in total prize money to be shared among the players. The overall winner will take home $1.728 million.

Past Winners

2025 – Thomas Detry

2024 – Nick Taylor

2023 – Scottie Scheffler

2022 – Scottie Scheffler

2021- Brooks Koepka