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The WM Phoenix Open Predictions - Best bets for victory at TPC Scottsdale

Brad Newcomb

Editor

Last updated: 03 Feb 2026

Brad Newcomb 03 Feb 2026

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The WM Phoenix Open takes place between 5-8 February
The tournament takes place at TPC Scottsdale, Arizona
Top contenders include Matsuyama, McNealy, Knapp, and Haotong Li.

Expired

Hideki Matsuyama has won the WM Phoenix Open twice (Getty Images)

The PGA Tour returns to Arizona this weekend for the WM Phoenix Open, featuring many of the world's top golfers. Who take the title at TPC Scottsdale come Sunday?

Thomas Detry will not be back to defend his title after a seven-stroke victory over Daniel Berger and Michael Kim in 2025.

Past and present Major winners who will tee off on Thursday include Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, and Gary Woodland.

These are our four selections that could win the title this weekend.

Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama has been in excellent form on the DP World Tour, Asian Tour, and PGA Tour lately, placing T13 at the BMW PGA Championship, T20 at the Baycurrent Classic, T7 at the Genesis Championship, T5 at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, a victory at the Hero World Challenge, T13 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and T11 at the Farmers Insurance Open last weekend.

Other prominent performances achieved by Matsuyama last year include a victory at the Sentry, a T16 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, a T13 at the Genesis Invitational, a T22 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a T21 at the Masters, a T17 at the Truist Championship, a T13 at the Rocket Classic, a T16 at the Open Championship, a T19 at the Wyndham Championship, and a T17 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

The former Masters champion has compiled an impressive record at the WM Phoenix Open, placing T4 in 2014, T2 in 2015, victory in 2016, victory in 2017, WD in 2018, T15 in 2019, T16 in 2020, T42 in 2021, T8 in 2022, T29 in 2023, T22 in 2024, and T25 in 2025.

Matsuyama will fancy his chances this weekend, as he has a proven track record at TPC Scottsdale.

Maverick McNealy

Maverick McNealy has been in solid form on the PGA Tour in recent outings, placing 3rd at the BMW Championship, T23 at the Tour Championship, T13 at the Procore Championship, MC at the Bank of Utah Championship, and 10th at the Farmers Insurance Open last weekend.

Other notable results achieved by McNealy last season include a T8 at the Sentry, a 2nd at the Genesis Invitational, a T3 at the Valero Texas Open, a T3 at the RBC Heritage, a T5 at the Memorial Tournament, a T17 at the Travelers Championship, a T22 at the Genesis Scottish Open, and a T23 at the Open Championship.

The American golfer has featured three times at the WM Phoenix Open, withdrawing from the 2023 event before finishing T6 in 2024 and T9 in 2025.

McNealy has been showing signs that he is ready to return to the winner's circle.

Jake Knapp

Jake Knapp has been playing well on the PGA Tour in his last eight starts, placing T4 at the Rocket Classic, T21 at the John Deere Classic, T22 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T3 at the 3M Open, MC at the Wyndham Championship, T62 at the FedEx St Jude Championship, T11 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and T5 at the Farmers Insurance Open last weekend.

Additional highlights achieved by Knapp last season include a T17 at the Genesis Invitational, a T25 at the Mexico Open, a T6 at the Cognizant Classic, a T12 at the Players Championship, and a T3 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

The 31-year-old has contested the WM Phoenix Open twice, finishing T28 in 2024 and T44 in 2025.

Knapp has found some form lately and could upstage the others in Arizona this weekend.

Haotong Li

Haotong Li has been in great shape on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour this season, placing T10 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, T55 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T8 at the American Express, and T11 at the Farmers Insurance Open last weekend.

Other noteworthy results achieved by Haotong Li last season include a T22 at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, a victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, a T16 at the South African Open Championship, a T9 at the Porsche Singapore Classic, a T4 at the Volvo China Open, a T2 at the Turkish Airlines Open, a T4 at the Soudal Open,

a T4 at the Open Championship, and a T8 at the Betfred British Masters.

The four-time DP World Tour winner will make his debut at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open this weekend.

Haotong Li has threatened to put in a winning performance lately and can secure the title at TPC Scottsdale this weekend.

Verdict

WM Phoenix Open

Matsuyama has the form to emerge victorious at the WM Phoenix Open for a third time this weekend.

McNealy has been thereabouts and will aim to go all the way and win another PGA Tour title come Sunday.

Knapp comes into this event in solid form and offers excellent value in Arizona.

Haotong Li has the game to cause a surprise victory at TPC Scottsdale this weekend.

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Brad graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bcom-Management Accounting degree and has a financial background.

His love of sport has seen him venture down the road of researching sporting history for the past several years, specifically boxing, cricket and football.

Other sports of particular interest are golf, tennis, horse racing and motorsports.

Additionally, he spends his time researching the military history of his home country of South Africa.

He is an ardent Liverpool supporter and is known to DJ and release music on occasion.