The PGA Tour’s west coast swing continues this week as some of the biggest names in golf head to the desert for the WM Phoenix Open from TPC Scottsdale.
Also called “The People’s Open” or “The Greatest Show on Grass”, the WM Phoenix Open is always one of the highlight events on the Tour calendar, with relaxed rules for spectators creating some of the most rowdy and raucous galleries in the sport.
That is none more apparent than at the course’s iconic par-3 16th hole, where over 16,000 fans fill the three-story stadium seating to create what is known as the loudest hole in golf.
Good shots are cheered, poor shots are booed, while a rare hole-in-one will cause the patrons in attendance to finish their drinks and litter the green with cans and other various items.
It is a sight not seen anywhere else on the PGA Tour and creates one of the most iconic atmospheres in the game.
“Guys would be lying if they told you they don’t think about 16 before they get there,” said Sam Ryder, who caused quite the mess with his ace during the 2022 event. “You can’t not think about it. You can hear it from every point on the golf course. You know it’s coming.”
I’m ready! I’m ready! “The People’s Open” is BACK! pic.twitter.com/7wrFW4YLme
— WM Phoenix Open (@WMPhoenixOpen) February 2, 2026
The 123-player field has been set for Thursday’s opening round and there will be lots of big names vying for FedEx Cup points and a share of the $9.6 million purse.
Two-time champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returns to the site of his maiden PGA Tour victory this week in search of his second win of the season.
Last year, it took Scheffler until June to secure his first win after overcoming a hand injury, but he wasted no time getting in the winner’s circle this year, shooting 27-under for a four-stroke victory at The American Express.
He will play with Sony Open in Hawaii winner Chris Gotterup and three-time major champion Jordan Spieth for the first two rounds.
Brooks Koepka, a winner in Phoenix back in 2015 and 2021, is also teeing it up this week after a T56 at the Farmers Insurance Open in his return to the PGA Tour.
While never really in a position to contend last week due to his putting woes, Koepka was still welcomed back with open arms by the fans in attendance at Torrey Pines.
“I enjoy it. I think it’s great,” said the ex-LIV golfer. “I think people are just excited. I’m glad they’re excited to see me back, to have me back. I’m hopeful it continues.”
For Thursday and Friday, Koepka has been paired with 2025 American Ryder Cup star Cameron Young and world No. 8 Xander Schauffele, who had the longest active made cut streak in the sport snapped last week at 72.
Nick Taylor headlines the Canadian contingent heading to the Valley of the Sun, and will be joined by Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, and A.J. Ewart.
Taylor won this tournament in 2024, defeating Charley Hoffman at the second playoff hole to secure his fourth career Tour victory.
The Abbotsford, B.C. product also owns a solo second finish at the Waste Management in 2023, and recorded a T25 finish in defence of his title last year.
Taylor will play with 2025 Canadian Open winner Ryan Fox and Sepp Straka .
Conners, of Listowel, Ont., is set to make his second start of the season this weekend, and will look to build on a decent showing at the Sony Open that netted him a share of 24th on the leaderboard.
Hamilton, Ont.’s Hughes was in the field last week at the Farmers and rebounded nicely with a T59 finish after missing the cut altogether at The American Express.
Yellamaraju and Ewart, both PGA Tour rookies, get their first taste of the WM Phoenix Open, and are set to build off of promising starts to their careers on the sport’s top flight.
Winnipeg’s Yellamaraju had a T13 finish at the Sony, while Ewart, of Coquitlam, B.C., has posted back-to-back made cuts over the past two weekends.
Ewart was initially listed as the second alternate heading into the tournament, and will get the start with Koepka’s presence expanding the field by two as part of the Returning Member Program.
Overall, 11 of the top-20 ranked golfers in the world (according to the Official World Golf Rankings) will be teeing it up this week as part of a loaded field that also includes 10 major championship winners.
How to watch WM Phoenix Open on TSN, TSN+
The action gets underway on Thursday with Main Feed + Koepka & Scheffler coverage beginning on TSN+ at 9:15 a.m. ET / 6:15 a.m. PT,
Two additional feeds can also be viewed during the opening round, with the Featured Holes feed (4, 12, 16 & 17) starting at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT, followed by the Featured Groups (Theegala & Clark) at 10:15 a.m. ET / 7:15 a.m. PT.
Friday’s coverage mirrors the plan from Thursday, with all three streams beginning at the same time they did on the previous day on TSN+, with Max Homa & Viktor Hovland leading the featured groups.
For moving day, the Main Feed, Featured Holes, and Featured Groups are all set to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT on TSN+, before the action moves over to TSN3 at 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT.
Sunday’s final round gets started on TSN+ with Main Feed coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT. Additional streams for the final round include Featured Holes and Featured Groups, both starting at 11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT.
Coverage of the final round then shifts over to TSN3 at 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT for the remainder of the tournament.
