Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, is the most notable player in the field at this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.
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WhenScottieSchefflerarrivedatthe2022PhoenixOpen,hewas,atmost,acuriosity.
Golffansknewofhisburgeoningprofile,withtop-10finishesinthethreepreviousmajors.Somehadhimhighlightedasagamblingvalue,withsportsbettingnewlylegalizedinArizona.ButasSchefflermadehiswayaroundTPCScottsdale,hewasnotserenadedwithchantsandcheerslikethestarsoftournamentspast.ItwasstillBrooksKoepkaandJonRahmandJordanSpieththecrowdswantedtosee.
“Itfeelslikealifetimeago,”Schefflersaysnow,thinkingbackonthosedays.
That’sbecause,inaway,itis.Thattournamentmarkedthebeginning.SchefflerwonaplayoffthatSundayagainstPatrickCantlayforhisfirsteverPGATourtitle.Everythingsincehasbeenawhirlwind.Winning,winningandmorewinning.ThirteenonthePGATouralone,plusanOlympictitle.Twogreenjacketsinthreeyears.Unquestionablythebestgolferintheworld.
Throwinthearrestheardaroundtheworldatleastyear’sPGAChampionshipandSchefflerhasascendedto