SCOTTSDALE – The Waste Management Open has always been golf’s most unique event of elite competition wrapped in a gigantic party. This year, one of the biggest names has joined the field to make it a must-see tournament, and that’s exactly why Scottie Scheffler’s arrival matters so much.
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Feb 7, 2021; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Scottie Scheffler with his tee shot on the third during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Scheffler isn’t just currently the world’s No. 1. golfer, he’s the sport’s current standard. Scheffler had a historical six wins in 2025, including the PGA Championship and The Open Championship. On top of that, Scheffler won a fourth consecutive Player of the Year trophy, placing him in rare historical air with Tiger Woods. That alone reframes Phoenix as more than a stop on the schedule; it becomes a referendum that the best of the best want to compete at TPC Scottsdale.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler looks over his putt on the 16th hole in the Annexus Pro-Am during the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 8, 2023. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Golf fans are excited to see Scottie Scheffler compete at the 2026 WMO:
The data backs it up. Scheffler led the PGA TOUR in strokes gained in tee-to-green, approach, and total, while earning the Byron Nelson Award for lowest scoring average. That matters at TPC Scottsdale, where momentum swings hole by hole and noise is a factor, not a footnote. Nowhere is that clearer than the iconic par-3 16th hole. The stadium hole doesn’t reward passivity; it demands conviction. For golf fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder, following Scheffler isn’t about hoping for perfection; it’s about watching composure collide with adrenaline. That moment, when the world’s best walks into the loudest amphitheater in golf, is why this event transcends itself.
Scottie Scheffler talks with members of the media after winning The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.
Strategically, Scheffler’s participation also signals something bigger. Golf’s biggest stars showing up to its most fan-driven events validates the model that the WMO has tried to follow for years. Locally, golf fans gets a front-row seat to one of golf’s greatest talents in a chaotic and irreplaceable atmosphere. Nationally, they’ll get clarity on if Scheffler will continue to set the tone for the game’s next decade.
3 major stars join field for upcoming 2026 Waste Management Open
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
