2025 WM Phoenix Open odds, predictions: Top picks, bets, longshots to back at this week's PGA Tour event

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will play in his second tournament of the season when he headlines the 2025 WM Phoenix Open field. Scheffler did not show many lingering effects of a hand injury when he posted a T9 finish in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week. He is the +300 favorite (risk $100 to win $300) in the 2025 WM Phoenix Open odds, followed by Justin Thomas (11-1) and Hideki Matsuyama (16-1). TPC Scottsdale will once again serve as the host course for one of the most entertaining tournaments on the PGA Tour. 

Matsuyama is a two-time winner at this tournament, and he won the season-opening Tournament of Champions. Thomas tied for third in both 2019 and 2020 before carding a solo fourth-place finish in 2023. Thomas is +130 (risk $100 to win $130) to finish inside the top 10 and +2800 (risk $100 to win $2,800) to be the leader after Round 1. Defending champion Nick Taylor is a 70-1 longshot to win the tournament again this season, which begins on Thursday. 

Before locking in any 2025 WM Phoenix Open picks, make sure you see the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from golf insider Patrick McDonald.

McDonald joined CBS Sports as a golf writer in 2022 after stops at NBC Sports and RyderCup.com. Covering the sport from a broader perspective, McDonald still likes to dip his toes into the betting pools on a weekly basis between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and more. Featured weekly on the Early Wedge, he gave out numerous winners in 2024, including Jake Knapp (50-1) at the Mexico Open and Xander Schauffele (20-1) at the PGA Championship. He already nailed Sepp Straka as a 66-1 longshot in The American Express three weeks ago. Anyone who followed his lead could have been WAY UP!

Now, McDonald has been digging into the 2025 WM Phoenix Open field to find the best betting value and just locked in his best bets and longshots to back. 

This week, McDonald loves the value of Kurt Kitayama (55-1). "Kitayama may be one of the most underrated players on the PGA Tour by metrics alone. With a phenomenal tee to green, the one-time winner hasn't flashed on leaderboards recently due to a poor short game. He has made an improvement to start the season and that should pay dividends this week. Kitayama finished inside the top 10 in three of his final five starts of 2024 and has enjoyed a solid run in Scottsdale, where he finished T23 in 2023 and T8 last season."

Moreover, McDonald is jumping on several underdogs, including one massive longshot who's priced at more than 300-1. This golfer's "putting has looked awesome through three starts." Anyone who backs this golfer could cash in HUGE. You need to see who it is before locking in any 2025 WM Phoenix Open picks of your own.

So which 2025 WM Phoenix Open players should you target, and which surprising longshot could bring a MASSIVE payday? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Patrick McDonald's best value picks!