Scottie Scheffler is back-and if history tells us anything, he’s right where he wants to be.
After opening his 2026 PGA Tour season with a win (because of course he did), the world’s No. 1 golfer returns to action this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. And once again, he’s the odds-on favorite. That’s not just a nod to his current form-it’s a reflection of what he’s done here before.
TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course is one of the most electric venues in golf. The par-71 layout is famous for its rowdy, amphitheater-style 16th hole and a crowd that brings more of a football-Saturday energy than your typical Sunday stroll on the links.
Some players tense up in that environment. Scheffler?
He’s thrived in it.
Let’s take a look at his track record at this event over the past six years:
- 2020: Missed the cut
- 2021: Tied for 7th
- 2022: Win
- 2023: Win
- 2024: Tied for 3rd
- 2025: Tied for 25th
That’s two wins, a top-three, and another top-10 in a six-year stretch-plus one stumble and a more forgettable showing last year. But even that T-25 in 2025 came amid a season where Scheffler still managed to assert his dominance across the Tour. And given the way he’s started 2026, it’s fair to say he’s trending in the right direction again.
What makes this week particularly interesting is the combination of form and familiarity. Scheffler’s game is sharp-he’s already got a win under his belt-and he knows how to navigate the Stadium Course under pressure.
He’s handled the unique atmosphere, the risk-reward layout, and the expectations before. That’s a hard combo to bet against.
But this is golf, and golf doesn’t always follow the script. One bad bounce, one mistimed swing, one gust of desert wind-anything can flip the leaderboard.
Still, when Scheffler tees it up on Thursday, it won’t just be another tournament. It’ll be another chance for him to remind everyone why he’s the top dog in the game right now.
If the past few years are any indication, we might be in for another Scottie Scheffler clinic in the desert.