Welp, the Boogey Man is back, and his name is Scottie Scheffler. Fortunately, we got to have a little fun last week, as Stephen Hennessey cashed a huge 60-1 winner with Justin Rose at the Farmers Insurance Open. Fun time is now over.

Unless, of course, you believe in the underdog story, which has been the prevailing story at this tournament the last two years with wins from longshots Thomas Detry and Nick Taylor. Of course, Scheffler went back-to-back the two years prior. So there's that.

The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, Ryan Noonan of Betsperts, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line.

RELATED: WM Phoenix Open DFS picks 2026: Why I’m all in on Jordan Spieth this week

Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2026 Waste Management Phoenix Open:

Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Cameron Young (25-1, FanDuel) — Cam shook off the rust last week and managed a solid (but not great) ball-striking performance—right where he left off in 2025, yet much closer to those numbers from where he was at this point last year. We know the driver is going to be elite, something essential at a driver-heavy course, but Torrey marked the fifth time in six starts he gained at least 2.85 strokes on approach against the field. Young’s gained an average of +6.31 SG/putting the last two years in Phoenix. Sniff that number again, along with the regular ball-striking and we have ourselves a winner.

Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Maverick McNealy (35-1, Bet365) — I really like the way Maverick McNealy is playing this year. McNealy has gained an average of 5.5 strokes/total in his two starts. That does sound great, but what I really love, Maverick is gaining in every strokes gained category in each start! Coming off a top 10 at the Farmers, Maverick is a top gun at TPC Scottsdale. His last two starts at the WM Phoenix Open? Sixth and ninth.

Ryan Noonan, Content Manager 4for4/Betsperts: Maverick McNealy (33-1, BetRivers) — Let’s pretend that Scottie Scheffler isn’t going to win, even though I don’t believe that. The sample is small, but McNealy's ball speed is up 2 mph so far in 2026. That added distance pairs well with his improved iron play and elite short game. McNealy was second in the field in proximity from 150-175 yards on Sunday at Torrey Pines, and he's finished T-6 and T-9 the past two years in Scottsdale.

Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Kurt Kitayama (56-1, without Scottie Scheffler market, Bet365) — Scheffler's coming off a five-stroke win in a putting contest and returning to a venue he’s already won twice. I think the “without Scottie Scheffler” market is the play this week. The value here is Kitayama at 56-1. The 3M Open winner can rack up the birdies and is a top-20 off-the-tee and approach player over the past 12 months, per Betsperts Golf’s Rabbit Hole. He’s also top 20 in SG/total at TPC Scottsdale in this career, so despite losing strokes/putting in every event back to August, if we get some positive putting this week, he’s live ... at least finish second.

Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Jordan Spieth (50-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Like so many of you out there, I simply don’t know how to quit this man, especially at TPC Scottsdale, where he’s gone T-4/T-6/T-6/T-60/T-4 in his last five trips. As Ron Klos pointed out in our DFS column this week, course history carries significant weight at Scottsdale, and Spieth has it in abundance.

Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Cameron Young (25-1, BetOnline) — Cameron Young is coming off a solid 22nd-place finish at Torrey Pines where he gained strokes in all three major tee-to-green categories. Young is now returning to TPC Scottsdale where he has already recorded two top-12 finishes in four appearances.

Past results: We have our FIRST winner of 2026, with Stephen Hennessey correctly predicting Justin Rose’s victory at Torrey Pines at 60-1!

Listen to Golf Digest's weekly betting podcast, "The Loop," (below) where we interview the industry's leading experts (and sometimes tour pros) to help you make your bets and pick your fantasy lineups. And be sure to subscribe to "The Loop" wherever you get your podcasts!

Mayo: Brooks Koepka (45-1, BetMGM) — I needed to see something from Brooks at Torrey Pines and I did. Despite a T-56 result, Brooks was 11th tee-to-green on the South Course, he just happened to lose an ungodly 7.23 strokes putting. Worst in the field. Now, this isn’t a new thing. Koepka has been plagued by terrible putting for over a year now. It’s unfortunate he didn’t leave that issue with LIV. In his post-round interview, it was mentioned how he spent hours working on his putting stroke Saturday evening. And out worked, kind of. After losing 5.45 strokes in round three Brooks only lost 0.31 on Sunday. Improvement! This is probably going to persist all year but TPC Scottsdale is a perfect spot to spike back the other way and start rolling it in the cup. In five career Phoenix starts, Koepka has two wins, a T-3, and has never lost strokes putting in any of those appearances; gaining an average of 3.37 strokes.

Stewart: Kurt Kitayama (70-1, Bet365) — If you want players to challenge the present-day king, you’ll need a serious ball-striker. Kurt Kitayama has gained tee to green in 13 straight measured events. You can’t slip by Scottie without the putter, and that can be a weakness for Kurt. The greens at TPC Scottsdale are pretty flat, and Kitayama has conquered them twice, gaining over three strokes with the putter in two of his three desert starts. Any player will need the planets to align if they are going to get Scheffler, but Kurt’s isn’t too far apart.

Noonan: Kurt Kitayama (70-1, Bet365) — Kurt Kitayama is among the leaders in the field in driving distance, and he trails only "you-know-who" in SG/tee-to-green on courses with average, easy, and very easy scoring conditions over the past 12 months. We're looking to pick a winner here, not someone to make the cut, so I like the putting upside when paired with his exceptional tee-to-green chops. Per Betsperts Golf, he’s gained strokes on the greens in eight of his 12 rounds played at TPC Scottsdale.

Hennessey, Golf Digest: Andrew Novak (76-1, without Scottie Scheffler, DraftKings) — Shoutout to our guy Tom & Marty’s on X, who went viral for his Scheffler hot take. A scorching hot premonition he’s put out in the universe since December was Andrew Novak winning this event. I’m absolutely on board and love the form he’s giving us—equaling Justin Rose’s SG/approach numbers last week at Torrey Pines. He told us on The Loop podcast last year he loves the WM Phoenix Open, and he finished T-8 here in 2024.

Powers, Golf Digest: Max Greyserman (150-1, BetRivers) — This was the first bet I made Monday morning, because the number is flat-out disrespectful. Over the last 18 months, Greyserman has finished in the top four six times. His ceiling is as high as anybody’s, and it feels like a matter of when, not if, he nabs his first win this year. If you’re giving me triple digits on him, I’m taking it.

Lack: Rasmus Hojgaard (66-1, BetRivers) — Rasmus Hojgaard was my pick to win last week, and while he certainly underwhelmed with a 30th-place finish, I was still impressed with what I saw from the big-hitting Dane. Hojgaard gained over a stroke off the tee in three rounds at the South Course, and he finished 12th at TPC Scottsdale last year.

RELATED: LIV Golf sounds off after finally receiving World Ranking points

Mayo: Hideki Matsuyama (25-1, BetRivers) — If Hideki was driving the ball anywhere near the standard he was producing in his back-to-back wins in his Phoenix era, he’d likely be the main competition for Scottie. But he’s nowhere near that with a driver in his hand anymore. Yet he’s still a betting favorite at this event. Pass.

Stewart: Xander Schauffele (20-1, BetMGM) — Something about Xander Schauffele’s game is off since the rib injury early last year. I know he won in the fall, but his ball-striking just has not been the same. Phoenix requires great driving to contend, let alone win. With the cut streak behind him, Schauffele should be working on his game in preparation for major season. If he’s looking ahead, so am I this week.

Noonan: Jake Knapp (40-1, FanDuel) — I’ve seen a handful of folks discuss Jake Knapp as a viable look this week, coming off back-to-back strong showings at Waialae (T-11) and Torrey Pines (T-5). He’s bleeding strokes on approach of late, losing 0.52 strokes per round over his past 24. His putter is doing a lot of the heavy lifting with his recent success, but I’m going to let others chase that this week.

Hennessey, Golf Digest: Sam Burns (22-1, Betsperts) — This number is way too short for someone who was mediocre at The AMEX, an event where he typically performs well. He’s missed the cut in three of his seven appearances at the WM Phoenix Open. I’d need to see more from him than considering him at this number.

Powers, Golf Digest: Xander Schauffele (20-1, BetMGM) — After his cut streak ended last week, Schauffele seemed to allude to some last-minute equipment-tinkering as the reason he didn’t find the weekend. He’s good enough to be able to clean that up quickly, but I’ll pass on him here.

Lack: J.J. Spaun (33-1, FanDuel) — After a breakout season in 2025, I’m expecting a bit of regression from J.J. Spaun in 2026. The reigning U.S. Open champion is still being priced like the player he was in 2025, despite beginning the season with two underwhelming results at the Sony Open and Farmers Insurance Open.

Mayo: Cameron Young (-110) over Hideki Matsuyama (Coolbet) — My pick to win over my biggest fade. If I can’t bet this, what can I bet?

Stewart: Brooks Koepka (+162) over JJ Spaun (FanDuel) — JJ Spaun’s iron game is off, and his putter is a problem. Spaun has lost strokes with the flatstick in four straight measured events. TPC Scottsdale is not a great venue for the U.S. Open champion, while Brooks Koepka looks like he has been practicing. Eleventh in the field at Torrey T2G, Koepka heads to a venue where he has won twice. I’ll take the plus odds in this matchup and the trend in the desert.

Noonan: Corey Conners (+100) over Sahith Theegala (FanDuel) — Let’s give Corey Conners a look at a place that demands elite ball-striking to have success. Conners is going to keep the ball in play off the tee, and while he’s not a strong putter, he’s at his best on fast greens, which we have this week at TPC Scottsdale. Over the past 12 months, Conners ranks fifth in SG/putting on fast greens.

Hennessey, Golf Digest: Jake Knapp (+100) over Harris English (BetMGM) — Knapp has a significant off-the-tee advantage over English, which is big at TPC Scottsdale, leading to an edge on the par 5s, crucial for scoring around here. Knapp's coming off a T-5 and a T-11 to start the year, and I think he just needs a top 20 here to win this matchup.

Powers, Golf Digest: Pierceson Coody (-120) over Harry Hall (Bet365) — Coody is one of three players to finish top 20 in all three events this year, hits the ball a mile and has the better approach numbers than Hall. I’m high on the Englishman this year overall, but I’m going with the extremely hot hand here.

Lack: Harris English (-140) over Corey Conners (Southpoint) — Harris English is a bet for me and one of my favorite plays on the board. English has recorded five top-20 finishes at the Phoenix Open and is coming off a top-25 finish at the Farmers where he gained 2.2 strokes off the tee and 5.1 strokes on approach. Corey Conners, on the other hand, has continually struggled to find his footing at TPC Scottsdale.

Matchup Results from the Farmers: Stewart: 1 for 1 (English (-118) over Zalatoris); Lack: 1 for 1 (Matsuyama (-120) over Spaun); Mayo: 1 for 1 (Knapp (+105) over Clark); Powers: 1 for 1 (Thorbjornsen (-105) over Higgo); Noonan: 1 for 1 (Thorbjornsen (-105) over Higgo); Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Rodgers (-120) over Higgo)

Matchup Results from the 2026 season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Stewart: 3-0-0 (up 2.65 units); Lack: 3-0-0 (up 2.6 units); Mayo: 2-1-0 (up 1.14 units); Powers: 2-1-0 (up 0.95 units); Noonan: 1-2-0 (down 1.05 units); Hennessey: 1-2-0 (down 1.17 units)

Mayo: Pierceson Coody (+550, BetRivers) — With his T-2 at Torrey Pines, Coody has now reeled off three straight top 20s to kick off 2026. Finishing fourth in tee-to-green, Coody led all players in driving. A good sign considering he’s heading to a course where players hit driver 90 percent of the time.

Stewart: Si Woo Kim (+255, DraftKings) — The ball-striking for Si Woo Kim is in a really nice place. Eleventh at the Sony, sixth at The American Express (held the 54-hole lead), and runner-up at the Farmers. Kim is averaging +7 strokes on the field T2G per start, and he gained with the putter at Torrey Pines! The approach play is on fire, and now Si Woo heads to Scottsdale, where he has not finished outside the top 26 in four years. I’m taking the 10 places and a winning ticket to the window on Sunday.

Noonan: Pierceson Coody (+550, BetRivers) — Coody models very well across many key metrics this week, ranking among the top ten in SG/off-the-tee on driver-heavy courses, Going for the Green percentage, Birdie or Better percentage, and Bogey Avoidance. He's started the season with three straight T-18 or better finishes, and this course sets up incredibly well for his game. Hennessey, Golf Digest: Sahith Theegala (+450, Bet365) — I love how encouraged Theegala sounded after Torrey Pines last week, saying he felt 100 percent after his injury struggles last year. He’s coming off back-to-back top 10s at Torrey and AMEX, and now returns to one of his favorite courses, TPC Scottsdale. Powers, Golf Digest: Tony Finau (+1100, BetRivers) — Absolutely gutting finish last week, as a late bogey on 16 was the difference between T-11 and T-10 at Torrey for Tony. Despite the strong finish and the fact he was top 11 in the field both off-the-tee and on approach, we’re getting almost an identical large top 10 number at a course Finau has had success at. I’ll fall right back down that well. Lack: J.T. Poston (+550, BetRivers) — J.T. Poston has been solid at TPC Scottsdale, and he finished 16th at this event last year. Poston is coming off a 38th at the American Express where he gained 4.6 strokes on approach in two rounds at the Stadium Course. He is also one of the best over-seeded Poa putters in this field. Top-10 results from the Farmers: Noonan: 1 for 1 (Maverick McNealy +360); Everybody else: 0 for 1

Top-10 results from the 2026 season: Lack: 1 for 3 (up 4 units); Stewart: 1 for 3 (up 2.1 units); Powers: 1 for 3 (up 2.1 units); Noonan: 1 for 3 (up 1.6 units); Mayo: 1 for 3 (up 1.2 units); Hennessey: 0 for 3 (down 3 units) About our experts  Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.

Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith's winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.

Ryan Noonan is the Betting Content Manager for 4for4 and Betsperts Golf, writing articles and hosting multiple shows under the Betsperts Group umbrella, including Move The Line and our Betsperts Golf Betting Show. Find him on Twitter: @RyNoonan.

Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.

Sunday, the Patriots and Seahawks will play Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. New England earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture, then defeated the Chargers, Texans and Broncos en route to a conference title. Seattle earned a bye after finishing the regular season 14-3, then took care of business against the 49ers and Rams at home to punch their ticket to the big game. This will be the first time in 12 years that the Seahawks will be in the Super Bowl – the last time, of course, being the infamous Malcolm Butler game.

Kickoff this weekend is set for 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC and Peacock.

If looking for a fun way to sweat Sunday’s NFL season finale, I have put together a three-leg same game parlay (+460) for Super Bowl 60. As always, it is worth noting that straight wagers are a far more profitable long-term betting strategy than parlays. Still, parlays can be a fun way to get some extra action on a game to make things interesting!

Check this one out, or visit our Same-Game Parlay Tool to build one for yourself.

New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Same Game Parlay

Leg 1: Sam Darnold Under 0.5 Interceptions

(+103)

Sam Darnold has quietly put together a very strong month of football. In his last 3 games, he has committed only 1 turnover-worthy throw on 79 pass attempts (1.2%). A large part of his success has been how open his receivers have been, with offensive coordinator Klint Hubiak doing a masterful job scheming open the team’s pass-catchers.

New England’s defense has recorded 5 interceptions and 8 total takeaways in three playoff games – numbers that are likely due for some negative regression, as turnovers are often more noisy than they appear on the surface. At plus-money, this is a worthwhile inclusion in a Super Bowl SGP.

Leg 2: Kenneth Walker III Over 73.5 Rushing Yards

(-110)

Kenneth Walker III struggled with his efficiency in the NFC Championship Game against the Rams, collecting only 62 rushing yards on 19 attempts. More importantly, however, he was clearly the team’s preferred option on the ground.

Walker received 19 of the team’s 22 carries that went to the running back position, including all 3 red zone opportunities and the team’s only goal line rush attempt. Even with his struggles against the Rams, he was still far and away more efficient than backup RB George Holani.

Expect Walker to get fed in the Super Bowl. If he sees close to 20 rush attempts again, it’s going to be difficult for the Patriots to keep him under this number.

Leg 3: Drake Maye Under 37.5 Rushing Yards

(-115)

Seattle’s zone defense doesn’t exactly discourage opposing quarterbacks from running, but the unit tends to do a pretty good job wrapping up quarterbacks before they can scramble for big gains. Their zone-heavy approach means that they tend to always have at least a couple sets of eyes on the quarterback. This typically leads to fewer wide open running lanes for quarterbacks compared to teams that have their defenders’ backs turned in man coverage.

The Seahawks should be able to contain Maye’s scramble attempts relatively well in this matchup. Our FTN model loves this play, too, showing an 8.95% edge to the under.