Who better than world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to break down the closing stretch at TPC Scottsdale? With wins at the WM Phoenix Open in 2022-23 and a T-3 last year, there has been some talk of renaming it TPC Scottie-dale.
On Wednesday, during his pre-tournament press conference, Scheffler, 28, was asked to describe the finishing stretch, which consists of a reachable, risk-reward par 5 at 15 guarded by water in front of the green, the infamous par-3 16th with 20,000 screaming fans, the drivable par-4 17th, where Andy Magee once made an ace, and the par-4 18th with a ball-eating bunker right and water looming left.
“What I like about the finish here is the room for opportunity. There’s punishment. I think when I think of the great golf courses and the great tests, it’s not always necessarily the hardest test. I love to see opportunity for great shots and punishment for poor ones,” Scheffler said.
He continued: “You look at a hole like 15 where you can step up there and hit two really good shots and make eagle, but you can easily pull it in the water off the tee. The second shot you can hit a great shot on the green or you could easily hit it in the water and make bogey.
“You never quite feel like you’re out of the tournament. There’s always opportunity there if you’re close. I think that’s what makes for the great finishes, and I think that’s what makes for great golf. I think sometimes we get so obsessed with the hardest test is the best, but I think as players we want to see rewards for good shots and punishment for bad ones.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open 2025: Scottie Scheffler breaks down last four holes
