Tee Time Titans: Your Ultimate Guide to the 2026 WM Phoenix Open First Round
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Alright, let’s talk golf. The PGA Tour’s back in Arizona for the 2026 WM Phoenix Open, and you know what that means. Big crowds. Big drama. And most importantly, big names teeing it up at TPC Scottsdale. We’re talking about the real deal here, the kind of event that sets the tone for the entire year. If you’re trying to figure out who’s playing when, and you don’t want to wade through a thousand pages of official jargon, you’ve come to the right damn place.This isn’t just another stop on the tour; it’s the WMPO. It’s the rowdy one. The one where the fans are as much a part of the show as the players. And for 2026, it’s kicking off with the first round on Thursday, February 5th. You want the schedule? You want to know if your favorite player is going to be on the course when you’re sipping your morning coffee or winding down in the afternoon? We’ve got you covered. No bullshit.
The Headliners: Who’s Dominating the Fairways?
Let’s be honest, everyone wants to know about the big dogs. And at the top of that list, you’ve got the undeniable force that is Scottie Scheffler. This guy’s been on an absolute tear. Two-time winner of this very event. He might not have hoisted the trophy last year, but he cleaned up everywhere else in 2025. Six wins. That’s not a typo. And just two weeks ago, he kicked off his 2026 season at The American Express like he never left. Twenty PGA Tour wins. Twenty! Now he’s rolling into Scottsdale looking for WMPO win number three and career win number twenty-one. The betting lines? Yeah, they’re not subtle. He’s the heavy favorite, and frankly, who’s going to argue with that?Scheffler isn’t rolling solo, though. He’s out there with Jordan Spieth and Chris Gotterup for his opening round tee-off. You know Spieth. Always a threat, always entertaining. Gotterup? He’s one of the guys looking to make his mark. It’s a solid group to kick things off.But it’s not just about Scheffler. You’ve got other heavy hitters in the mix. Brooks Koepka, the four-time major champ, is always a contender. Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young are paired up. That’s a serious firepower right there. Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa – these are names that usually mean a leaderboard battle. It’s going to be a stacked field, no question about it.
Navigating TPC Scottsdale: Where the Action Unfolds
TPC Scottsdale. It’s a beast. It’s known for its stadium-like atmosphere, especially on the famed 16th hole, but the whole course demands respect. For the opening round, knowing who’s teeing off from where and when is key if you’re planning to follow along, whether in person or from your couch.The tournament kicks off with a split tee start, meaning players will be heading out from both the first and tenth tees. This helps keep the pace of play moving and gets more guys on the course earlier. We’re talking about tee times starting bright and early, around 9:20 AM Eastern Time, and running through the afternoon, with the last groups heading out just before 4:00 PM Eastern.If you’re looking to catch the action on TV, the Golf Channel will be your best bet for the first round coverage, running from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern Time. And for you cord-cutters, or those who want to dive deeper, PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ has you covered with exclusive streaming, including featured groups and holes. You won’t miss a single swing if you’re plugged in.
The Full Rundown: Thursday’s Tee Times
Alright, let’s get down to brass tacks. Here’s the full breakdown of who’s teeing off when. Pay attention, because this is where the rubber meets the road.
Tee No. 1
Morning Wave:
- 9:20 a.m. – Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Rasmus Hojgaard, Kevin Roy
- 9:31 a.m. – Patton Kizzire, Michael Thorbjornsen, Danny Walker
- 9:42 a.m. – Daniel Berger, Michael Kim, Bud Cauley
- 9:53 a.m. – Jake Knapp, Chris Kirk, Webb Simpson
- 10:04 a.m. – Ryan Fox, Sepp Straka, Nick Taylor
- 10:15 a.m. – Brian Harman, Harris English, Davis Thompson
- 10:26 a.m. – Kurt Kitayama, William Mouw, Joe Highsmith
- 10:37 a.m. – Adam Schenk, Gary Woodland, Jacob Bridgeman
- 10:48 a.m. – Tom Hoge, Eric Cole, Marco Penge
- 10:59 a.m. – Dan Brown, Kensei Hirata, Keita Nakajima
- 2:00 p.m. – Rafael Campos, Corey Conners, Chandler Phillips
- 2:11 p.m. – Tom Kim, Thorbjorn Olesen, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
- 2:22 p.m. – Max Homa, Joel Dahmen, Keith Mitchell
- 2:33 p.m. – Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa
- 2:44 p.m. – Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, Brooks Koepka
- 2:55 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Rickie Fowler, Si Woo Kim
- 3:06 p.m. – Maverick McNealy, Matt McCarty, Billy Horschel
- 3:17 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Charley Hoffman, Matti Schmid
- 3:28 p.m. – Zach Bauchou, Emilio Gonzalez, Chandler Blanchet
- 3:39 p.m. – Haotong Li, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Neal Shipley
Tee No. 10
Morning Wave:
- 9:20 a.m. – Mackenzie Hughes, Ryo Hisatsune, Max McGrevy
- 9:31 a.m. – Max Greyserman, Nicolai Hojgaard, Pierceson Coody
- 9:42 a.m. – Brice Garnett, Mark Hubbard, Vince Whaley
- 9:53 a.m. – J.J. Spaun, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns
- 10:04 a.m. – Ben Griffin, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick
- 10:15 a.m. – Scottie Scheffler, Chris Gotterup, Jordan Spieth
- 10:26 a.m. – Michael Brennan, Karl Vilips, Tony Finau
- 10:37 a.m. – Peter Malnati, Patrick Rodgers, Alex Smalley
- 10:48 a.m. – Zecheng Dou, John VanDerLaan, A.J. Ewart
- 10:59 a.m. – David Chatfield, S.T. Lee, Thomas Avant
- 2:00 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Rico Hoey, Takumi Kanaya
- 2:11 p.m. – S.H. Kim, Mac Meissner, Kristoffer Reitan
- 2:22 p.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Chad Ramey, Sam Stevens
- 2:33 p.m. – J.T. Poston, Davis Riley, Stephan Jaeger
- 2:44 p.m. – Andrew Novak, Harry Hall, Akshay Bhatia
- 2:55 p.m. – Brian Campbell, Aldrich Potgieter, Cam Davis
- 3:06 p.m. – Sami Valimaki, Garrick Higgo, Nico Echavarria
- 3:17 p.m. – Erik van Rooyen, Hank Lebioda, Johnny Keefer
- 3:28 p.m. – Jordan Smith, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Pontus Nyholm
- 3:39 p.m. – Austin Smotherman, John Parry, Christo Lamprecht
- 3:50 p.m. – Alejandro Tosti, Adrien Saddier, Jeffrey Kang
Beyond the Tee Sheet: What to Watch For
This isn’t just about who’s playing. It’s about the storylines. Can Scottie Scheffler continue his dominance and make it three at this iconic event? Will Jordan Spieth find that magic again and challenge for the win? And what about the guys like Koepka, Schauffele, and Hovland – are they going to make a statement early?The WM Phoenix Open is always a spectacle. The energy is electric. You’ve got the party atmosphere, the cheers, the groans. It’s a different beast than your typical PGA Tour stop. It’s designed to test players not just on their skill, but on their ability to handle the pressure and the noise.And let’s not forget the betting angle. If you’re into that sort of thing, the WMPO is a prime opportunity. We’ve seen some crazy odds shift throughout the years. Want to get in on the action? There are plenty of sportsbooks out there ready to take your bet. Just remember to gamble responsibly. Check out resources like Golf Distillery’s course management tips to gain a better understanding of how the pros tackle a course like TPC Scottsdale.
The Stakes Are High
This first round sets the stage. A strong opening 18 holes can give a player the momentum they need to carry through the weekend. A shaky start, however, can put them in a hole they’ll be fighting to climb out of. With a field this deep, every shot is going to count.So, there you have it. The complete rundown for the opening round of the 2026 WM Phoenix Open. Get your popcorn ready, because this is going to be a good one. The titans are ready to tee off. Let the games begin.