The field will be stacked with stars at TPC Scottsdale this week when the PGA Tour hits for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. William Hill Sportsbook lists Jon Rahm as the favorite at 13-2 in its latest 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open odds. Before you lock in any 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open picks, you NEED to see who Sal Johnson is backing.

A media legend and consummate golf insider, Johnson has a strong feel for what it takes to win at TPC Scottsdale. Before last year's event, he had Simpson among his top contenders, pointing out his momentum coming into the tournament. Johnson also noted that Simpson had gone low on the course before, and he went out and shot 63 and 64 on back-to-back days on his way to a playoff victory over Tony Finau.

The previous year, the golf expert also was tuned in to Rickie Fowler's track record in the tournament and had him listed as a contender before he shot three rounds of 65 or better en route to a two-stroke victory. 

Johnson also was spot-on all last season. He was all over Dustin Johnson at the 2020 Masters, calling him a "man with a purpose" and proclaiming he would be nearly impossible to beat. The result? Johnson simply shot the lowest score in event history at 20 under to win by five strokes.

Earlier in the season, he pegged Sungjae Im as a top contender before his first Tour win at the Honda Classic in March and touted surging Tyrrell Hatton before his breakthrough at the Arnold Palmer the following week.

Now Johnson, the first producer of "Inside the PGA Tour," a longtime ABC Sports golf producer who worked with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman, and the founder of the world's top golf stats database, has released his highly confident 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open picks, and they will surprise you.

We can tell you Johnson is fading Justin Thomas, even though he is the second favorite at 8-1! Johnson has seen the effect that being caught uttering an offensive comment at the Sentry has had on the world's No. 3 player. Thomas also is coming off a long trip back from Dubai, where he missed the cut. The golf insider says Thomas could crack the top 10 this week, but don't bet on him to win in Scottsdale!    

Instead, Johnson is pushing a MAJOR long shot who comes in at 70-1! This international journeyman has been accurate both off the tee and into the greens, and he is coming off consecutive strong starts. This could be the week he finally breaks through! Anyone who backs this underdog could cash in BIG!

Who wins the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open? Where do Jon Rahm and Webb Simpson finish? And which MONSTER long shot is a MUST-BACK? ... Join SportsLine now to see Sal Johnson's full leaderboard and picks for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, all from the insider who knows his way around TPC Scottsdale!