Desert Heat and Desert Doubts: What Scottie’s Return to Phoenix Really Tells Us About the Modern PGA Tour
Look, I’ve been around this tour long enough to know that the Phoenix Open isn’t just another stop on the schedule. It’s where the desert gets honest with you—both literally and figuratively. And this year, with Scottie Scheffler returning as the three-time defending Player of the Year to a course where he launched his career four years ago, we’re about to see a lot more than just golf. We’re going to see where the sport actually stands in 2026.
Here’s what strikes me most about this week: “Scottie Scheffler captured his first career PGA Tour victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2022. Almost exactly four years to the day, the three-time defending PGA Tour Player of the Year leads the field back to the desert in Scottsdale, Arizona.” That’s not just nostalgia talking. That’s a man who has spent the better part of a half-decade turning a promising beginning into genuine dominance. I’ve caddied for winners, covered champions, and sat in clubhouses with the best to ever play this game. What Scottie’s done—sustaining excellence at that level, year after year—is genuinely difficult.
But here’s where it gets interesting, and frankly, a little complicated.
The Elephant in the Desert
The biggest story this week isn’t actually being played—it’s being ignored. Thomas Detry won this tournament last year in absolutely dominant fashion, shooting a final-day 6-under 65 to win by seven strokes. Seven strokes. That’s not winning a golf tournament; that’s putting on a clinic. And where is he? Gone. “Detry became the first Belgian player to win on the PGA Tour when he shot a final-day, 6-under 65 to take last season’s tournament by seven strokes. A total of $9.6 million will be on the line this week, including a share worth more than $1.7 million for the winner.”
Look, I’m not going to get preachy about LIV. That conversation’s been had to death, and reasonable people disagree. But I’ll tell you what I think: when your defending champion—a guy playing at his absolute peak on your most important stages—heads to another league, it’s worth examining what that means. In my 35 years covering this tour, I’ve never seen player movement quite like this. It’s not just the superstars anymore. It’s guys with momentum, young guys building their resumes, proven winners looking for something different.
The PGA Tour is adapting, competing, fighting for relevance. Whether they’re winning that fight long-term remains to be seen.
Scheffler and Koepka: An Intriguing Pairing
Now, here’s something genuinely compelling: “Scheffler will play alongside fellow two-time WM Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka for the first time this year.” Having watched enough golf to know when a pairing matters, this one does. Koepka’s won this event twice. Scheffler’s won everything else. They’ve never played together at this venue. It’s the kind of detail that normally flies past casual fans, but any serious observer knows it matters.
Koepka’s a fascinating study right now. He’s still got that lethal short game, still capable of absolute brilliance, but he’s also a guy searching for consistency. Playing with Scottie? That’s either the kind of heat that elevates you or the kind that exposes you. Brooks doesn’t do middle ground. Never has. In my experience, those high-intensity pairings often produce the best golf of the week.
A Field That Still Has Teeth
I want to be balanced here, because the narrative about the tour “dying” gets lazy. This field isn’t weak. You’ve got Xander Schauffele—a guy who’s proven himself on major stages. J.J. Spaun, who’s more consistent than people give him credit for. Ben Griffin, who’s been playing some excellent golf. These aren’t celebrities filling fields for TV ratings. These are players.
But let’s be honest: in a healthy ecosystem, your defending champion is here. He’s defending his title. He’s got something to prove. Instead, he’s somewhere else entirely, and we’re all adjusting to that reality.
The Broadcast Reality
One thing I’ll say positively: the coverage infrastructure is genuinely strong this year. ESPN’s got the full four rounds. Betcast is offering something new—an all-day, interactive betting and analysis experience. That’s modern golf broadcasting done right. It’s not stuffy, it’s not pretentious, and it meets fans where they actually are. For a guy like me who’s been watching golf coverage evolve since the ’90s, the quality and accessibility now is legitimately impressive.
Phoenix’s got that unique energy—the fans are loud, engaged, sometimes irreverent in ways that would never fly at Augusta. There’s an authenticity to it. That’s worth protecting.
What Actually Matters
Here’s my read: Scottie will probably win this week. The odds are good, the history is there, and he’s simply the best player in the world. But whether he does or doesn’t, what we’re really watching is the PGA Tour trying to maintain its identity in an era when the old rules don’t necessarily apply anymore.
The prize money’s substantial—$1.7 million to the winner is real money. The field is competitive. The venue is iconic. But there’s a vacancy at the top that nobody’s entirely comfortable acknowledging, and that matters more than any single tournament result.
Still, it’s a gorgeous course, a rabid fanbase, and some excellent golf coming your way. That’s been enough for 39 editions now. It’ll probably be enough for the 40th.
