First Round Leader Odds at 2022 Waste Management Phoenix Open

• The Waste Management Phoenix Open from TPC Scottsdale tees off Thursday, February 10th
• Jon Rahm is the slight +1600 favorite over Justin Thomas to lead after the first round
• See the best bets and odds to grab the first-round lead in the article below 

After two straight PGA Tour events saw first-time winners get on the board in Luke List (Farmers Insurance Open) and Tom Hoge (Pebble Beach), a very deep field descends on TPC Scottsdale. Six of the top-ten golfers on the planet and 15 of the top 20 are competing, making it much more difficult for the trend of maiden winners to continue.

Players will be bracing for the always electric and raucous crowd that greets them at the famed par-3, 16th hole where everybody is partying. World number one Jon Rahm is teeing it up, and this is something of a pseudo home game for him, having golfed at nearby Arizona State. He’s the Phoenix Open betting favorite to capture his first title of 2022, ahead of Justin Thomas. You can also check out our WM Phoenix Open Sleepers and longshots for further value.

2022 WM Phoenix Open First Round Leader Odds

Odds as of February 9th at DraftKings Sportsbook

The forecast is expected to be mainly sunny throughout the day. Temperatures will range from mid 50’s early and go up to high 70’s in the afternoon. The players in the morning face a lighter breeze, gusting to just seven MPH, with that reaching the low teens in the afternoon.

A benefit for those teeing it up in the morning is the exact same as it is every week – less bumpy greens with fewer players chewing them up.

Cantlay Tops In First Round Scoring

To end last season, Patrick Cantlay was on fire, capturing the last two events to take the FedEx Cup title. He’s started this year in similar fashion, though he doesn’t have a victory. His results have been 4th, 9th and T-4th.

He’s gotten off to a hot start in those three tourneys shooting opening rounds of 66-62-65. Subsequently, he leads the tour in first round scoring average.

2021-22 PGA Tour First Round Scoring Average Leaders

He’s also on our radar to take the title this week considering there are three golfers with shorter odds than him. In his last 24 rounds on tour, nobody is better than Cantlay in total strokes gained.

• Pick: Patrick Cantlay (+2500)

Harold Varner III Riding High

An intriguing mid tier option to consider is Harold Varner III after his dramatic finish at the Saudi International. He drained a 90-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole to wrestle the title away from Bubba Watson in scintillating fashion.

The dramatic eagle putt that sealed the victory for Harold Varner III ⛳😍@SaudiIntlGolf @HV3_Golf #SaudiIntlGolf #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/1RIAI4jIaW

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) February 6, 2022

Coming back to the United States with a ton of confidence, Varner also steps onto a venue that he’s been solid at in two of the last three years. In 2019, he was T-10th, and in 2021, HVIII was T-13th. In the last twelve rounds at this track, he’s third in SG: tee-to-green, seventh in ball striking and tenth off-the-tee.

• Pick: Harold Varner III (+4500)

Branden Grace Has Had Success at This Track

A player that sports long odds is Branden Grace, and that’s because of his inauspicious start to 2022, where he’s missed a cut and also finished T-33rd. However, in his limited time playing TPC Scottsdale, he’s excelled, finishing second in 2019 and T-9th in 2020.

In those eight rounds, he’s been phenomenal in several strokes gained categories.

Grace’s Strokes Gained Stats In Last Eight Rounds TPC Scottsdale

Grace has always been a streaky golfer, so perhaps you can get him on the upswing at a course he’s very comfortable on. With these super long odds, it’s worthwhile to sprinkle on him.

• Pick: Branden Grace (+10000)