By Eric Cohen
As some of you loyal readers know, I live in Arizona, right down
the street from TPC Scottsdale, where this week’s PGA
Tournament, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is played.
I’ve been to the WMPO all 7 days each of the last two years,
coincidentally I’ve also had money on both tournament champions
those years, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson (who I got at 100-
1 after the 1 st round in 2020).
Unfortunately with limited attendance measures intact, my streak
of attending the Open might be out the window come this
weekend…but I still have a strong feeling as to who will win.
In previous years, more often than not, the tournament champion
is a bigger name in the world of golf. This isn’t The American
Express where your best bet is to pick a longshot. The chalk or
thereabouts isn’t a bad play…and while I’m not picking Jon Rahm,
the second choice, Justin Thomas, seems due after finishing in 3 rd
in 2019 AND 2020. Don’t sleep on Xander Schauffele, another big
hitter who can take advantage of the wide fairways at TPC
Scottsdale and the favorable scoring holes on the back nine.
Congratulations to The Parlay Kid for hitting our first collective
winner of the 2021 season with Patrick Reed at the Farmers
Insurance Open. He and the rest of our panelists seem to be
relying on past champions at this event but in this case, it’s time
to deviate.
Once again the rules: each picker will get a simulated $200 to bet;
$100 of which will be on win bets and another $100 on top-5, top-
10, and top-20 bets only. The kicker this time is that the money
can only be spent on a maximum of three golfers in each
category. Picking winners has never been so difficult.
Here are this week’s plays for the Waste Management Phoenix
Open:
(Odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook)
The Parlay Kid
Last Week’s Results: +$840 (Patrick Reed win)
Total ROI: +$792.50
Winners Picked in 2021: 1
$40 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1500)
$40 to WIN: Hideki Matsuyama (+2300)
$20 to WIN: Gary Woodland (+7500)
$100 on Top-10: Hideki Matsuyama (+250)
Harry
Last Week’s Results: -$12.50
Total ROI: -$87.50
Winners Picked in 2021: 0
$40 to WIN: Gary Woodland (+7500)
$35 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1500)
$25 to WIN: Louis Oosthuizen (+4500)
$50 on Top-20: Gary Woodland (+225)
$25 on Top-20: Kevin Streelman (+350)
$25 on Top-10: Brendan Steele (+800)
Producer Michael
Last Week’s Results: -$25
Total ROI: -$250
Winners Picked in 2021: 0
$50 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1500)
$25 to WIN: Hideki Matsuyama (+2300)
$25 to WIN: Sungjae Im (+3500)
$50 on Top-10: Hideki Matsuyama (+250)
$50 on Top-10: Sungjae Im (+350)
Eric:
Last Week’s Results: $100
Total ROI: -$300
Winners Picked in 2021: 0
$50 to WIN: Justin Thomas (+775)
$30 to WIN: Xander Schauffele (+850)
$20 to WIN: Daniel Berger (+1700)
$100 on Top-10: Daniel Berger (+200)
Brother Bri
Last Week’s Results: +$18.75
Total ROI: -$325
Winners Picked in 2021: 0
$50 to WIN: Justin Thomas (+775)
$25 to WIN: Webb Simpson (+1500)
$25 to WIN: Hideki Matsuyama (+2300)
$50 on Top-5: Justin Thomas (+200)
$25 on Top-10: Russell Henley (+550)
$25 on Top-10: Max Homa (+600)
Find more of Eric’s sports opinions and predictions on Twitter at
@CohensCornerAZ.