The fourth stop of the PGA Tour in 2026, with which the circuit embarks on an exciting February, is not just any tournament. Far from it. From Thursday to Sunday, the noisy Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale opens its doors for a new edition of the WM Phoenix Open, an always special event on the calendar where, on this occasion, all eyes will be on a fascinating showdown between some of the most prominent names on the tour.
On one side, the World Number One and true dominator of the scene, Scottie Scheffler, will return to action. His first ranking tournament in months, the American Express a couple of weeks ago, allowed him to add a new title to his record, overwhelming his rivals with astonishing superiority. This week he will seek to repeat his success as the best possible preparation for the designated events at Pebble Beach and Riviera that are approaching.
However, his competition this time will be much tougher. Arizona will serve as a reunion between the giant from Ridgewood and the newly recovered Brooks Koepka. The West Palm Beach native, after leaving behind his stint at LIV Golf and meeting the conditions imposed by the organisation to play again on the PGA Tour, finished in a modest 56th place tied at last week’s Farmers and will seek to take advantage of the visit to Scottsdale to demonstrate that in environments where, besides good golf, nerves of steel are needed, he thrives.
With Scheffler seeking his second victory of the year, his third title at the Phoenix Open (having already won in 2022 and 2023) and aiming for his third consecutive tournament win (he won the Procore, the last official one he played in 2025, and the first of 2026 in California); with Koepka fighting for his 10th title on the tour, the third in this same tournament (he won in 2015, his first tour trophy, and in 2021); and with a good handful of other high-level rivals who will try to challenge them from the first stroke, the battle is set.
Players like the Norwegian Viktor Hovland, previous winners of this event Nick Taylor, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, and Hideki Matsuyama, or notable names on the tour such as Si Woo Kim, Sahit Theegala, Maverick McNealy and company will compete in the cauldron of the Stadium Course, where precision and the ability to withstand pressure are equally important. Especially on the famous 16th hole, the stadium, with more than 15,000 people in the stands who completely transform the usual experience on a golf course.
