The WM Phoenix Open is typically one of the most entertaining events on the PGA Tour schedule, as boisterous crowds welcome the world’s best golfers at TPC Scottsdale.
Over the years, Waste Management has hosted some of golf’s great moments, including Tiger Woods’s hole-in-one on the 16th in 1997 and Andrew Magee’s ace on the par-four 17th, the only event of its kind in PGA Tour history.
Furthermore, Scottie Scheffler’s first PGA Tour win took place at TPC Scottsdale three years ago. The American has been golf’s dominant force ever since.
Woods also played the Phoenix Open during his more active PGA Tour years, and the former world number one was partnered with Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed during the 2015 edition.
2015 WM Phoenix Open: What Jordan Spieth said about Tiger Woods group
Spieth, who was about to go on a stunning run of major championship form, admitted he was expecting to be partnered with Woods before the tournament tee times were announced.
“To be honest, I actually called it a couple of weeks ago to some of my friends, just because the last two times he’s come back from injuries, I have been paired with him the first two rounds,” Spieth said during his pre-tournament press conference.
“For whatever reason, I just thought it might happen. I think it’s cool. It will be fun playing with Patrick. We both play well together. Not just the Ryder Cup, but in a lot of events we have been paired together. It will be a lot of fun.
“There will be — I probably won’t get yelled at as much on 16 because of the pairings, but it will be a good time. Obviously, I respect them both. Tiger, I grew up idolizing his game, and it’s always fun to be paired with arguably the greatest player to play the game and a nice guy to play with, too. Patrick, we have good energy together.”
Tiger Woods, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth’s 2015 WM Phoenix Open performance
During the 2015 edition of the Waste Management, Spieth impressed, finishing tied for seventh and four shots back of eventual winner Brooks Koepka. The American carded rounds of 70, 68 and 70 before shooting 65 (six under) on the final day.
Reed ended the week in a tie for 40th, and Woods missed the cut after finishing 13 over. Tiger shot 82 during the second round, which was one of his worst on the PGA Tour.
Woods doubled the 14th and 4th holes and made a triple-bogey eight on the par-five 15th. He also dropped shots on six more holes at TPC Scottsdale. Woods’ worst-ever round came at the 2015 Memorial Tournament, where he shot 85.
Jordan Spieth’s PGA Tour return
Spieth returned from injury at last weekend’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and the two-time major winner came through the event on the Monterey Peninsula unscathed.
For Spieth, the Signature Event in California was always about ensuring his wrist withstood the pressures of a PGA Tour tournament. Given that he’s teeing it up at the Phoenix Open this week, he appears back to full fitness.
His on-course performance at Pebble was a slightly different story, however. Spieth finished T69 (level par) and was well off the pace. A seven over 79 on Saturday ended any chance he had of competing. Fortunately, Spieth ended his week on a positive note after carding a 67 during the final round.
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