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Power Rankings: Waste Management Phoenix Open
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February 01, 2016
By Rob Bolton , PGATOUR.COM
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Bubba Watson has placed inside the top 15 in each of his past four appearances at TPC Scottsdale. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
It took an extra day but the Farmers Insurance Open is in the books. When it concluded, the clock began to tick for Tom Weiskopf and Wadsworth Golf Construction to renovate and upgrade the North Course at Torrey Pines. The project is expected to be extend into the summer.
It was at this time last year when Weiskopf was at TPC Scottsdale to show off another updating of a southwestern PGA TOUR stop. In what took only three months in 2014, the 16-time TOUR winner applied his architectural eye to the Stadium Course which hosts the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In advance of the tournament, he had numerous expectations for the first edition of the event on the par 35-36=71 test, most of which were fulfilled.
• Scoring would remain comparable. Weiskopf predicted a generous window of 14- to 18-under-par for the winner. (Six of the previous seven champions had landed in that range.) On cue, Brooks Koepka hung up 15-under 269, one clear of a trio in pursuit. It marked his first TOUR title.
• Weiskopf surmised that the thinking off the tee would evolve as a result of new, strategic bunkering. Indeed, the field of 132 was a quick study as its 61.38-percent clip for fairways hit was in line with history. However, it came at a cost since the average distance of all drives of 285.4 yards was down 10-15 yards from each of the previous four years, and this despite a layout stretched 114 yards to its highest-ever measurement of 7,266 yards. Still, it mattered little in determining the final leaderboard. Koepka ranked T47 for the week in fairways hit and still played his last 47 holes in bogey-free 14-under.
• Where Weiskopf found the bull’s-eye was in his assessment of the par-4 14th hole, which underwent the most drastic changes. Registering a sporty 490 yards and playing uphill all the way to a relatively small target, it was 46 yards longer than previously designed and now comfortably the longest of the 11 par 4s on the card. Weiskopf thought that it would be at worst the third-hardest hole, but it finished as the No. 1 handicap. Fittingly for a champion, Koepka played it birdie-birdie-par-par. Incidentally, the 14th was the hardest hole in 2005 and the sixth-hardest as recently as 2012, but it was the sixth-easiest in 2014.
Overall scoring was a more-than-fair 70.752 last year even though the greens-in-regulation split of 62.48 percent was a six-year low. Scoring was tempered in part due to a tournament-high 63.82 percent in scrambling (since such data was first collected in earnest in 1992 when TPC Scottsdale hosted its sixth edition).
Koepka ranked fifth in distance of all drives, T4 in GIR, T2 in scrambling and T18 in strokes gained: putting. Weiskopf wanted a fair test with the modernized array of bells and whistles for the pros, and a fun, playable destination for all. He’s repeated this mission when discussing plans for Torrey Pines North.
The nasty weather that thwarted the Sunday finish north of San Diego took aim at the Valley of the Sun that evening. However, by tournament time, seasonable conditions will have regained control. Gently climbing high temperatures to right around 70 degrees are expected throughout. It will be dry and winds shouldn’t be too much trouble despite a northerly push.
POWER RANKINGS: WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN
RANK PLAYER COMMENT 1 Bubba Watson Quite comfortable at TPC Scottsdale where he’s par or better in all 34 career rounds with an actual scoring average of 68.24. T2 in last two editions.
2 Brandt Snedeker Beaming from a for-the-ages, closing 69 at Torrey Pines. T3 and P2 in previous two starts. Four top 10s at WMPO includes a T10 last year.
Beaming from a for-the-ages, closing 69 at Torrey Pines. T3 and P2 in previous two starts. Four top 10s at WMPO includes a T10 last year.
3 Brooks Koepka First career title defense. Also his first start since a T3 at Kapalua four weeks ago where his third-round, 10-under 63 was a tournament low.
First career title defense. Also his first start since a T3 at Kapalua four weeks ago where his third-round, 10-under 63 was a tournament low.
4 Hideki Matsuyama No matter which test he’s taken, he loves himself some TPC Scottsdale. Chased a T4 in his debut here in 2014 with a T2 last year.
No matter which test he’s taken, he loves himself some TPC Scottsdale. Chased a T4 in his debut here in 2014 with a T2 last year.
5 Kevin Kisner Continue to ignore course history. Last four starts dating back to WGC-HSBC Champions: 2nd-Win-9th-T5. Leads the TOUR in the all-around ranking.
Continue to ignore course history. Last four starts dating back to WGC-HSBC Champions: 2nd-Win-9th-T5. Leads the TOUR in the all-around ranking.
6 Jason Dufner Playoff win at PGA WEST was culmination of rapid rise in form. T9 at Waialae. Three top 10s; already one more than 2014-15. Second at 2011 WMPO.
Playoff win at PGA WEST was culmination of rapid rise in form. T9 at Waialae. Three top 10s; already one more than 2014-15. Second at 2011 WMPO.
7 Ryan Moore Sufficiently rested and recharged since a T10 at the CIMB Classic. Seven straight cuts made at the WMPO with three top 10s and another two top 20s.
Sufficiently rested and recharged since a T10 at the CIMB Classic. Seven straight cuts made at the WMPO with three top 10s and another two top 20s.
8 Rickie Fowler Among the throng of notables cut at Torrey Pines was attempting to piggyback an impressive win in Abu Dhabi. Chased last two MCs with wins.
Among the throng of notables cut at Torrey Pines was attempting to piggyback an impressive win in Abu Dhabi. Chased last two MCs with wins.
9 Ryan Palmer Prone to a crooked number at TPC Scottsdale but co-runner-up last year; solo fifth in 2013. Top 20s in last three events. Fourth in the all-around.
Prone to a crooked number at TPC Scottsdale but co-runner-up last year; solo fifth in 2013. Top 20s in last three events. Fourth in the all-around.
10 David Lingmerth The streaky Swede opened 2016 with a T15-T13-P2 spurt. Rank of ninth in the all-around is true representation of his complete game.
The streaky Swede opened 2016 with a T15-T13-P2 spurt. Rank of ninth in the all-around is true representation of his complete game.
11 Kevin Na Horse for a course is a glistening 9-for-10 here with four top fives, but none since a T5 in 2012. Four top threes in 2015-16, including T3 at CareerBuilder.
Horse for a course is a glistening 9-for-10 here with four top fives, but none since a T5 in 2012. Four top threes in 2015-16, including T3 at CareerBuilder.
12 Webb Simpson Top 20s in both starts this season quickens eradication of concern with putting. TPC Scottsdale is another comfort zone, too. Top 10s in last three trips.
Top 20s in both starts this season quickens eradication of concern with putting. TPC Scottsdale is another comfort zone, too. Top 10s in last three trips.
13 Martin Laird Converging trends support the Scot. Survived a closing 77 at Torrey Pines to finish T8. Placed T5 here last year; led after both 36 and 54 holes.
Converging trends support the Scot. Survived a closing 77 at Torrey Pines to finish T8. Placed T5 here last year; led after both 36 and 54 holes.
14 Charles Howell III A T16 at Torrey Pines is his sixth consecutive top 20 and seventh this season. Fixture at TPC Scottsdale is 12-for-14 with six top 25s; T6 in 2014.
A T16 at Torrey Pines is his sixth consecutive top 20 and seventh this season. Fixture at TPC Scottsdale is 12-for-14 with six top 25s; T6 in 2014.
15 Zach Johnson Mixed results with new equipment in first three starts, but hardly devoid of success. Ended four-year hiatus at WMPO with T10 last year.
Mixed results with new equipment in first three starts, but hardly devoid of success. Ended four-year hiatus at WMPO with T10 last year.
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Quite comfortable at TPC Scottsdale where he’s par or better in all 34 career rounds with an actual scoring average of 68.24. T2 in last two editions.