The PGA TOUR’s annual desert party is back, and the WM Phoenix Open once again promises equal parts elite golf and controlled chaos. Known affectionately as “The People’s Open,” the 39th edition at TPC Scottsdale brings together a stacked field, ideal weather, and one of the most electric atmospheres in professional sports. From the roars at the par-3 16th to a Super Bowl Sunday finish, this week checks every box for fans and bettors alike.

TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, a par 71 stretching 7,261 yards, has hosted this event every year since 1987. Designed by Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf, it rewards aggressive iron play, precise wedges, and a steady hand on fast, undulating greens. The course record for 72 holes is 256, while the magic number for a single round is 60, most recently fired by Nick Taylor in 2024. Scoring will be available again this week, especially with calm desert conditions and firm, fast fairways.

The field of 123 players is loaded with star power. Ten former major champions and 11 of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking headline a week that feels closer to a signature event than a standard TOUR stop. Scottie Scheffler returns to the site of his first PGA TOUR victory in 2022, fresh off a win at The American Express in his season debut. That victory was the 20th of his career, pushing him past $100 million in on-course earnings and earning him a lifetime TOUR exemption. Scheffler finished T25 here last year, which oddly marked his worst result of the entire season.

Brooks Koepka is back at a venue that has treated him well. The two-time WM Phoenix Open champion won here in 2015 and again in 2021, and he arrives after making the cut last week at the Farmers Insurance Open. Xander Schauffele looks to rebound after his remarkable 72-event cut streak ended at Torrey Pines, while Viktor Hovland makes his 2026 PGA TOUR debut following a T14 finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour.

Depth is everywhere you look. Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Tony Finau, Wyndham Clark, Max Homa, Sam Burns, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Brian Harman all tee it up this week. Justin Thomas will be the notable absence as he continues his recovery from back surgery.

Several intriguing storylines add extra spice. The WM Phoenix Open plays a key role in the Aon Swing 5 standings, with FedExCup points determining entry into upcoming signature events like the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational. Andrew Putnam currently clings to the final qualifying spot, while Sahith Theegala is charging from just outside the top five after a T7 finish at Torrey Pines.

Theegala is also part of the sponsor exemption group, along with fan favorite Joel Dahmen and veteran Charley Hoffman. Dahmen arrives with momentum after a T7 last week, while Hoffman will try to recapture the magic of his 2024 playoff loss here after closing with back-to-back 64s.

Of course, no WM Phoenix Open preview would be complete without a look at Johnny’s Winning Picks.

For outright winners, Cam Young (22-1), Hideki Matsuyama (24-1), and Si Woo Kim (24-1) headline the card. The long-shot “Ham Sandwich” play is Sahith Theegala at 55-1. Top-10 value targets include Maverick McNealy (+300) and Jake Knapp (+330), while Top-20 plays feature Rickie Fowler (+155) and Daniel Berger (+210).

With sunny skies, highs near 80 degrees, and a raucous crowd ready to erupt, the stage is set. The WM Phoenix Open once again delivers world-class golf with a party atmosphere that no other event can touch.