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US PGA Tour golf tips: Shane Lowry looking to shine at Phoenix Open

This week's Phoenix Open represents the biggest US PGA tournament so far this season, and Tipstrr golf expert Brendan Skilling has picked out a couple of likely contenders from a star-studded field.

The eyes of the sporting world will be set firmly on Phoenix this week, as the Arizona city hosts both the NFL's showpiece occasion, the Superbowl, and the biggest US PGA Tour event of 2023 so far, the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Usually one of the most anticipated tournaments of the season, this year's event takes on extra significance as one of the PGA's 'elevated events'. 

With 23 of the world's top 25 teeing it up in the 136-man field, the popular event is one of the strongest outside of the Major Championships, and a key stop on the road to Augusta National in April.

The Tom Weiskopf-designed TPC Scottsdale venue once again hosts, as it has done since 1986, and offers a typical desert course characteristics.

High altitude allows the ball to travel further through the air, and we can expect an extra 10-15 yards on the PGA Tour average here, which means that those who are strong off the tee are well worth taking into account.

Driving accuracy is not a major concern, as the rough is short and quite forgiving by tour standards, although avoiding the desert terrain and numerous water hazards will obviously be key to prevent racking up any tournament-wrecking high numbers on any of the more challenging holes.

The event is renowned for its rowdy spectators who provide an atmosphere similar to the Ryder Cup, which really comes to the fore down the closing stretch, particularly the par-3 16th and the drivable par-4 17th, where anything from an eagle two to a double-bogey six can be on the cards.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm understandably head the betting here and it's easy to envision either winning this comfortably if they bring their 'A' game to Arizona, particularly Rahm, who went to college in the state.

However, at single-figure odds, the pair hold little value in such a high-class field, so instead, we should look further down the market, with Sunjae Im immediately catching the eye off the back of a top-10 finish and the best ball-striking week of his career at Torrey Pines two weeks ago. A repeat here will see him go very close.

Anyone looking for a nice three-figure price should not overlook American stalwart Matt Kuchar, who has racked up four top-10 finishes at Scottsdale throughout his career and could just as easily trouble the places once again.

Last but not least, Shane Lowry is another who could be primed for a big week, having warmed up with desert golf in the Middle East over the past few weeks.  

The Irishman was in contention for a long time at the HSBC Champsionship in Abu Dhabi, and his game looked in great shape until he caved down the final stretch.
If he can sustain his game through 72 holes, then his prowess from both the tee and the short grass around the greens should see him go well here.

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