Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm duking it out as early favorites at Phoenix Open
While the Pebble Beach Pro-Am was still wrapping up early on Monday, many PGA Tour fans have already begun setting their sights -- and placing their bets -- on next weekend's Waste Management Phoenix Open in Arizona. And with two of the best in the game finally facing off this season, sportsbooks have differing opinions on which heavy hitter will win it all.
To no one's surprise, World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 3 Jon Rahm are the two heavy favorites at TPC Scottsdale. However, oddsmakers appear split early in the week as to who the clear frontrunner is. BetMGM listed the Irishman and the Spaniard both at +800 odds on Monday morning, while Rahm opened as the early frontrunner at DraftKings at +650 and McIlroy had the slight edge over at FanDuel at +800.
The Phoenix Open marks the first time this season that McIlroy and Rahm will compete in the same event.
McIlroy has kept a grasp on No. 1 in the standings and had an emphatic victory over Patrick Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic to open up his 2023 campaign.
Meanwhile, Rahm has been the player to beat stateside with back-to-back wins at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express and is on the record saying he is the best player in the world as of late.
"Had they not changed the world ranking points [system] I would have been pretty damn close [to world No 1] right now," Rahm said back in January, via Sky Sports. "But in my mind, I feel like since August I've been the best player in the world."
He'll get his opportunity to prove it this week.
The 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open tees off on Thursday.
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