Welcome back to 2026 Crush & Fade on Sandman Sports. This article series is a weekly look at the current PGA Tour event, along with a brief recap of the previous tournament and what’s happening around the world of golf.
After a one-week hiatus due to a new job and some travel, I am happy to be back weighing in on the biggest party week in golf, the WM Phoenix Open. Did I also mention that my favorite football team, the Seattle Seahawks, happens to be playing in a pretty big football game this week? Super Bowl LX is a great chance for the city of Seattle to exorcise some serious sports fandom demons against the same team that beat them in Super Bowl 49 when, inexplicably, Russell Wilson threw a slant inside the three-yard line instead of handing the ball off to Beast Mode. Make it right, boys. Go win a damn football game for all of us.
Farmers Open Recap
Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour last week got plenty of attention from the galleries and the golf world, but the real story was 45-year-old Justin Rose, who dominated the field from start to finish.
I don’t know what it is about Justin Rose, but I just like the guy. He continues to play some of the best golf of his career and doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all, posting 180 mph ball speeds and hitting greens in regulation like Tiger Woods in his prime. An incredible performance. Kudos, Rosey.
Phoenix Open Preview
The biggest buildout and the biggest party in professional golf. Super Bowl week in the NFL brings a similar type of atmosphere on the PGA Tour at TPC Scottsdale. Thomas Detry is the defending champion after shooting 24-under here in 2025.
Located in Scottsdale, this par-71 track tips out at 7,261 yards. Of course, the place is famous for the party on the par-3 16th, but I also love the par-5 15th and the drivable par-4 17th, which sets up drama every single year on Sunday.
Scottie Scheffler is in pole position for the Vegas oddsmakers once again, and it’s a really strong field this week. Scottie is sitting around +220 and continues to back up his lofty projections every time he steps on the course.
Sandman’s Crush Card
There really is no other outright pick besides Scottie Scheffler, but we still need to try to find some value. You might find that if your book offers markets like “Without Scottie Scheffler”.
Hideki Matsuyama +2500 to Win
It’s been a minute since Hideki found the winner’s circle in Phoenix after his back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017, but his form is right. Even without a recent win, he’s been a consistent Top 25 performer here, and I love the number.
Si Woo Kim +450 to finish Top 5
He doesn’t even need to be elite with the putter when his ball striking is this good. Look for his precision to keep big numbers off the card and rack up birdies all week.
Pierceson Coody +385 to finish Top 10
Coody just hits greens and avoids mistakes. He finished Top 20 at both the AmEx and the Farmers, which require elite ball striking. I like him to take another step forward here.
Maverick McNealy +125 to finish Top 20
This kid seems to be coming into his own and has finished Top 10 in Phoenix in each of the past two years.
Sandman’s Fade List
Picking fades is trickier since you are not placing an actual bet, but instead identifying popular players who I think might struggle.
My fade this week is Xander Schauffele (+1900 to win, +187 Top 10, -120 Top 20). He’s obviously a great player, but he hasn’t shown the consistency recently to justify his price. He missed his first cut in what feels like forever at Torrey Pines last week. This could be a bounce-back spot, but I would rather wait and see him regain form before buying in again.
Enjoy the biggest party in golf, and may all your bets land squarely on the green. Oh, and go Seahawks!
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