The 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open is here. With a $20 million prize purse, the event held at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona is said to be one of the biggest of the year. The event’s importance also skyrocketed as 37 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) joined the field.
Despite being a stacked field, World No. 1 Rory McIlroy remains the favorite to win the event. Apart from fans and betters, golfer-turned-influencer Paige Spiranac has also put her money on the Irish golfer to win.
The controversial golf personality has put out a social media story carrying her predictions for the event and McIlroy is on top.
According to Spiranac, McIlroy will emerge as the outright winner of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open. She picked the Irishman over World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler and No. 3 Jon Rahm, among others. She also picked Rickie Fowler as a value pick for the event.
Furthermore, Spiranac predicted Patrick Cantlay to finish in the top 10. She also opted for Wyndham Clark and Luke List as surprise picks to finish in the top 20 this week.
It's pertinent to note that Spiranac is famous for her predictions.
In 2022, the golf model picked Australian golfer Cameron Smith to win The Open. Cracking a joke on the same, she asked people to follow her videos to make money from betting.
To experts’ shock, Smith won the title and became the first Aussie to lift the Claret Jug since 1993. Spiranac is sure to have made a remarkable sum from the unlikely prediction.
It'll be interesting to see if the golfer-turned-model pulls off yet another worldly prediction with McIlroy. However, unlike last time, the Irish golfer will not be a surprise winner.
Rory McIlroy has top odds at the WM Phoenix Open
Rory McIlroy comes into the 2023 WM Phoenix Open on the back of his Dubai Desert Classic win. The World No.1 carries 8-1 odds at the event, as compared to second-placed No. 3 Rahm’s 17-2. He is also the PGA Tour's expert pick.
Having had a stellar year in 2022, the Irishman is expected to beat competition from the likes of Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Tony Finau and Collin Morikawa.
Here are the 2023 WM Phoenix Open odds (via SportsLine):
- Rory McIlroy +800
- Jon Rahm +850
- Xander Schauffele +1400
- Scottie Scheffler +1500
- Tony Finau +1800
- Collin Morikawa +1800
- Patrick Cantlay +2100
- Justin Thomas +2100
- Max Homa +2100
- Sungjae Im +2700
- Viktor Hovland +2700
- Hideki Matsuyama +2800
- Tom Kim +2800
- Cameron Young +2900
- Jordan Spieth +3100
- Matthew Fitzpatrick +3700
- Sam Burns +4200
- Sahith Theegala +4500
- Tyrrell Hatton +5000
- Shane Lowry +5000
- Tommy Fleetwood +5500
- Rickie Fowler +6000
- Billy Horschel +6000
- Taylor Montgomery +6000
- Keegan Bradley +6000