Golf best bets: Outright picks for the WM Phoenix Open

After a shortened week at Pebble Beach, the PGA Tour heads to Arizona this week for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. This tournament is always a fan favorite because of the raucous atmosphere at the stadium-esque 16th hole, but there's much more to this golf course than just the iconic par 3.

Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world and two-time reigning champion, is clearly the man to beat at +500. His recent success at TPC Scottsdale proves this week is about strong iron play, and putting is much easier here than at most PGA Tour stops. 

Justin Thomas (+1100 FanDuel)

We were on Justin Thomas at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and he finished T6 and just four strokes behind the leader. He had a chance to notch another one of his patented come-from-behind victories in the wind, but the tournament ended after 54 holes due to weather. 

So, what do we do after an unlucky break like that? We double down.

Thomas has been playing some outstanding golf, as he hasn't finished worse than T6 in his last five worldwide starts. He also has immaculate course history at TPC Scottsdale with six straight top-17 finishes and four top-10 finishes in that span. Amazingly, Thomas lost strokes putting at this tournament in each of his last two appearances, and he still finished solo fourth and T8. If he just has a mediocre putting week, JT will be in the mix on Sunday afternoon. 

Tom Kim (+3500 DraftKings)

We're looking to back hot iron players this week, and Tom Kim is near the top of the list in that category. The South Korean has gained strokes on approach in seven straight starts, and he has a win and four top-20 finishes in that span.

This issue for Kim lately has been his putter, which is odd considering he was one of the hottest putters in the world to close out the 2022-23 season. We're hoping a return to TPC Scottsdale will reinvigorate his flatstick, as he ranked 19th in the field in true strokes gained: putting here last season. 

Mark Hubbard (+12000 FD)

After starting with two names near the top of the odds board, we have to dig deeper for our third selection. 

Mark Hubbard isn't a household name, but he's on an impressive run of form heading into the WM Phoenix Open. The 34-year-old has gained strokes on approach in four straight starts, and he finished T4 at Pebble Beach thanks to a third-round 65. He finished the three-day tournament ranked second in the field in true strokes gained: putting. 

Hubbard finished T9 in his TPC Scottsdale debut in 2020, and he's playing much better now than he was leading into that event. The veteran might be a better bet in finishing position markets, but we'll still sprinkle an outright bet at 120/1.