Entering the 2026 Waste Management Phoenix Open, English standout Matt Fitzpatrick brought with him not just strong form from late-season victories overseas, but an early burst of energy that set the tone for his week at TPC Scottsdale.
With one of golf’s most electric crowds ready to roar, Fitzpatrick showed both precision and poise early in the tournament, thrilling fans and putting himself in position to contend on one of the PGA Tour’s most unpredictable stages.
Birdie Start at TPC Scottsdale
Fitzpatrick’s round got off to an encouraging start thanks to a well-struck iron that left him in excellent position for a birdie. In an early highlight from the par-5 3rd hole, he hit a crisp 215-yard approach to within striking distance, setting up a birdie opportunity and converting it with confidence. Fitzpatrick would go on to record seven birdies on his first nine holes, including five in a row.
That kind of approach play is especially valuable at TPC Scottsdale, where large greens and tiered surfaces demand exact iron play if golfers want to create scoring opportunities and avoid costly mistakes. Fitzpatrick finished round one going 6-under par, placing him second on the leaderboard behind Chris Gotterup (-8).
For Fitzpatrick, who returns to the Phoenix Open for his fifth career start at TPC Scottsdale, there’s a blend of familiarity and opportunity in this week’s event. His best previous finish at this tournament was a top-10 showing in 2022.
Paired With Griffin and Clark
Fitzpatrick was in a notable group that featured Ben Griffin and Wyndham Clark, teeing off at the 10th tee at 10:04 a.m. ET to kick off their campaigns at the Phoenix Open.
This trio combined a blend of recent form and big-stage experience: Griffin came in off a breakout 2025 season highlighted by multiple wins, Clark looked to build momentum after mixed early-season results, and Fitzpatrick sought to carry his precision iron play into another week of desert golf.
Ben Griffin: A Steady Start
Griffin has been one of the most talked about players entering Scottsdale. In Round 1, Griffin demonstrated his comfort with the course’s scoring-friendly fairways and firm greens, finishing with an even-par 71.
As far as odds, Griffin sits at +3000, slotting him just behind players like Si Woo Kim (+2500) and just ahead of Brooks Koepka (+4500) on the outright board.
Wyndham Clark: Finding His Footing
Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion and recent top-15 finisher at The American Express, arrived hoping to sharpen his scoring. In the early part of his opening round, Clark showed flashes of length off the tee and solid iron play. He rolled in a 37-foot birdie putt on the par-3 12th, giving his round a jolt of momentum as he moved through his opening nine.
Clark is listed at +7000 to win (per CBS Sports), positioning the 32-year-old as a longer-shot contender despite flashes of excellence like that long birdie make. Still, with plenty of golf left to play, it remains anyone’s game heading into round two on Friday.
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