Is Jon Rahm ready to return to the top?

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Northern Eires Rory McIlroy entered the 12 months ranked No. 1 within the Official World Golf Rating.

You possibly can actually argue that over the previous few weeks, Spains Jon Rahm was performing like one of the best participant on this planet.

On Sunday, Scottie Scheffler reminded everybody within the sport who was ranked No. 1 for a lot of final season, when he received 4 instances, together with his first main championship (on the Masters).

Scheffler, who entered the week ranked No. 2 on this planet, will regain the highest spot after turning into the seventh participant to repeat as champion of the WM Phoenix Open, an occasion he claimed final 12 months for his first PGA Tour victory.

Since Schefflers first victory at TPC Scottsdale a 12 months in the past, he has collected $17.6 million in official earnings, not together with what he received on the Tour Championship on the finish of final season.

I believe when guys are taking part in in addition to Nick [Taylor] was at the moment, it actually did put plenty of strain on me and I responded very effectively, Scheffler stated. It virtually form of took my focus to the following degree the place I simply did a extremely good job of managing my means across the golf course and making some actually key photographs down the stretch. Pleased with how I fought across the golf course.

Listed below are the most recent PGA Tour Energy Rankings heading into this weeks Genesis Invitational at Riviera Nation Membership, the place you-know-who (Tiger Woods!) is making his 2023 debut:

1. Jon Rahm

Scheffler picked up his fifth victory over the previous three hundred and sixty five days, however he hasnt been as constant as Rahm through the previous few months. The Spaniard completed in third place in Phoenix, 5 photographs again, however was in competition as soon as once more. It was his ninth consecutive top-10 end worldwide; he was within the high 5 in seven of his previous 9 occasions. Rahm nonetheless has the lead within the FedEx Cup factors race.

2. Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler is atop the OWGR for the second time in his profession, after spending 30 weeks at No. 1 final season, following his victory on the WGC Dell Applied sciences Match Play. He led the sphere in photographs gained: strategy this previous weekend, the primary time he has achieved that for the reason that 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline. He additionally led the Phoenix area in strokes gained: tee to inexperienced and scrambling.

3. Rory McIlroy

A gap-round 73 left him out of the combination in Phoenix, however he is nonetheless taking part in in addition to anybody on this planet. He had three victories in his earlier eight worldwide begins. He has three top-10s in his previous 4 begins at Riviera, the place he has by no means received.

4. Max Homa

The California native has already received twice in his dwelling state this season, selecting up victories on the Fortinet Championship in Napa and Farmers Insurance coverage Open at Torrey Pines. He completed tenth within the Genesis Invitational final season, after claiming his second PGA Tour win within the occasion in 2021.

5. Tony Finau

Finau has (barely) cooled off from his scorching stretch final season, during which he received in back-to-back begins and was ninth on the Tour Championship. He claimed the Houston Open in November and has 4 straight finishes of sixteenth or higher since then, after ending in a tie for 14th at Phoenix. He misplaced in a playoff to Homa and completed second within the 2021 Genesis Invitational.

6. Collin Morikawa

Morikawa confirmed plenty of spine by ending third on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, his first begin after blowing a 6-shot lead within the ultimate spherical of the Event of Champions. Morikawa missed the lower on the WM Phoenix Open, his first missed weekend for the reason that a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. Hell have an opportunity to get issues proper at Riviera, the place he tied for second, 2 strokes behind Joaquin Niemann, final season.

7. Xander Schauffele

Schauffeles ailing again hasnt been a lot of an issue since he withdrew from the Event of Champions in his first begin of 2023. He tied for third on the American Specific and thirteenth on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, adopted by a tie for tenth on the Phoenix Open.

8. Keegan Bradley

Bradleys renewed dedication to health and conditioning has paid off in an enormous means. After successful for the primary time in 4 years on the Zozo Championship in October, he has piled up three different top-25s on the CJ Cup at South Carolina, Farmers Insurance coverage Open (runner-up) and Phoenix Open. Bradley, 36, is third in FedEx Cup factors.

9. Justin Thomas

Thomas, the reigning PGA Championship winner, nonetheless gave the impression to be dialing issues in heading into Phoenix. After tying for twenty fifth in back-to-back begins on the Event of Champions and Farmers Insurance coverage Open, he was significantly better in Phoenix, ending solo fourth at 13 below. He had been too inconsistent off the tee and his placing hadnt been nice, both. It began to come back collectively at TPC Scottsdale.

10. Patrick Cantlay

Cantlay, whos ranked No. 5 within the Official World Golf Rating, hasnt but his stride this season. Since tying for second on the Shriners Youngsterss Open in early October, he tied for sixteenth on the Event of Champions, tied for twenty sixth on the American Specific and missed the lower in Phoenix, the place he misplaced in a playoff to Scheffler final season. Cantlay ranks 127th on tour in photographs gained: strategy (-.117).

11. Viktor Hovland

Hovland received the Hero World Problem, an unofficial occasion that Woods hosted within the Bahamas in December, however he hasnt executed something spectacular in official tournaments to date in 2023. His greatest end in three begins this 12 months was a tie for thirteenth on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am. Hovland was probably the greatest iron gamers on tour final season; he was first in strategy photographs from 200 to 225 yards, second from 125 to 150, and third from 175 to 200. He was a hundred and twentieth in photographs gained: strategy going into the WM Phoenix Open.

12. Tom Kim

A 12 months in the past, Kim was getting ready for the Royals Cup in Thailand on the Asian Tour. Now, he has already received twice on the PGA Tour and is among the extra well-liked gamers. Since successful the Shriners Youngsterss Open in October, he tied for fifth on the Event of Champions and for sixth on the American Specific. He ranks within the high 15 on tour in strokes gained: complete, tee to inexperienced and strategy.

13. Matt Fitzpatrick

A lot of Fitzpatricks greatest work over the previous few months has are available in Europe, the place he was second within the Italian Open and tied for fifth on the DP World Tour championship. The reigning U.S. Open winner has solely 4 PGA Tour begins this season; his greatest end was a tie for seventh on the Event of Champions.

14. Jordan Spieth

Spieth bounced again from disappointing back-to-back starts-he missed the lower on the Sony Open and tied for 63rd at Pebble Seaside-to end tied for sixth at TPC Scottsdale. He carded an 8-under 63 within the second spherical, the bottom spherical of the match, and hit all 18 greens in regulation, which he had executed just one different time in 843 official rounds on tour.

15. Sam Burns

It is most likely solely a matter of time earlier than Burns begins heating up once more, after a comparatively quiet begin to 2023. He carded a 7-under 64 within the third spherical of the WM Phoenix Open, his fifteenth such spherical of 64 or higher since 2021. In line with Justin Ray of Twenty First Group, that is one of the best of any tour participant throughout that span.

16. Cameron Younger

Younger, the 2022 PGA Tour Rookie of the Yr, had fairly the week. He completed second within the Saudi Worldwide, 2 photographs behind LIV Golfs Abraham Ancer, and picked up $525,000. He flew again to the U.S. to compete within the WM Phoenix Open, and the lengthy journey appeared to meet up with him. He completed 5 over, which was third-worst amongst gamers who made the lower.

17. Si Woo Kim

Kim grabbed his fourth PGA Tour victory when he rallied from 3 photographs again to catch Hayden Buckley and win the Sony Open in Hawaii. His profession victory complete is second amongst South Korean golfers; Okay.J. Choi had eight PGA Tour wins. Kim backed that win up with consecutive top-25 finishes on the American Specific, Farmers Insurance coverage Open and WM Phoenix Open.

18. Sungjae Im

Kim, from South Korea, is hard to beat when his putter will get scorching. After opening with a 70 in Phoenix, he caught fireplace over the ultimate 54 holes to tie for sixth. Throughout a 12-hole stretch within the second spherical, Im wanted solely 14 putts. He had six birdies in his first eight holes within the second spherical earlier than selecting up three bogeys on the second 9.

19. Jason Day

The Australian continues to be trying to find his first PGA Tour victory for the reason that 2018 Wells Fargo Championship, however there are lots indicators of hope. After ending solo fifth at Phoenix, he now has three top-10s and 7 top-25s in 9 begins this season. Day had simply two top-10s and 5 top-25s in 19 begins final season. Day climbed from No. 91 to No. 57 within the OWGR, shifting him nearer to the highest 50 for an invite to the Masters in April.

20. Justin Rose

Did the previous world No. 1 participant catch lightning in a bottle at Pebble Seaside, the place he picked up his first PGA Tour victory in 4 years, or was it the beginning of an actual resurgence? Rose likes his new tools, caddie and coach and is comfy with the staff round him once more. He is thirteenth strokes gained: complete and has putted effectively this season.

Better of the week

Greatest tee shot

Like Deion Sanders, Rickie Fowler is coming. He is coming.

🚨 HOLE-IN-ONE for @RickieFowler from 216 yards! 🚨

It is the third ace of his profession. pic.twitter.com/djDjZuFQFy

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2023

Greatest drive

Max appeared a bit indignant after 16.

321 yards ➑️ 13 toes@MaxHoma23 with probably the greatest drives of the week on 17 @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/U4xDqJhNHs

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2023

Greatest putt

Schauffele made greater than 89 toes of putts β€” on the primary 5 holes Sunday.

One other bounce again for @XSchauffele❗️ pic.twitter.com/pIvn48nDKs

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2023

Greatest save

What fence (or tree, bush and people)?

It is official. Rory McIlroy isnt human. Utterly disregarded the legal guidelines on physics on this one. pic.twitter.com/xwhDvl8Wrn

β€” Amanda Rose (@AmandaGolf59) February 9, 2023

Greatest sand shot

Yeah, that is good.

The most effective bunker shot Jordan has ever hit.

Excessive reward from Michael Greller on @JordanSpieths ridiculous shot on 17 @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/S4Ax1qYYeQ

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2023

Greatest break

Livin proper. Did he even name financial institution ?

Winds coming HARD left-to-right at 16. Greenside seats, youve got been warned. pic.twitter.com/gpqP1Q1WlN

β€” Skratch (@Skratch) February 9, 2023

Greatest second

Brett White, who needed to relearn how you can stroll and speak after battling a mind an infection six years in the past, made his PGA Tour debut.

These are the times that we had been dreaming about. ❀️

Brett Whites spouse, Natalie, was emotional watching her husband make his TOUR debut @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/0TL3TH7DyA

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 10, 2023

Greatest response

Scottie Scheffler could not consider it.

Neither might this fan πŸ˜… pic.twitter.com/YpzqEDCBkx

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 9, 2023

Greatest social media of the weekend

Play it the place it lies, Jordan.

What occurs when a fan catches your golf ball?@JordanSpieth came upon on this distinctive ruling on No. 4 @WMPhoenixOpen. pic.twitter.com/RQMtrMLJ8D

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 9, 2023

Stewart Cink knew how you can win over the Phoenix followers.

35 on No. 16.@StewartCink is already rocking a @KDTrey5 jersey πŸ€β˜€οΈ pic.twitter.com/FQLxm4tuo8

β€” PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 9, 2023

Yeah, you may need to transfer these subsequent 12 months.

Beau Hossler getting the royal therapy on the 2022 @WMPhoenixOpen πŸ˜‚πŸš½ pic.twitter.com/WCcbmi60xU

β€” Caddie Community (@CaddieNetwork) February 10, 2023

And also you thought Pamplona was wild.

Earlier than the solar was even up, followers made a mad sprint to get a great spot on the sixteenth Gap on the Waste Administration Phoenix Open on Saturday. πŸ˜²πŸŒβ›³ pic.twitter.com/Eud55ZASZc

β€” 12 Information (@12News) February 1, 2020

For the individuals …

πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ pic.twitter.com/mqhIfEv5Ww

β€” max homa (@maxhoma23) February 12, 2023

Would you count on the rest?

the mug shot of the mulletted streaker from Friday on the WM Phoenix Open is moderately excellent pic.twitter.com/ISyMDuc3me

β€” Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) February 11, 2023


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