The greenest show on grass commenced on Thursday at the firm and fast TPC Scottsdale. This year, the 2025 WM Phoenix Open welcomed back sunny weather, a stark contrast to last year’s rainy conditions, and presented challenges even to the best of the PGA Tour. Local resident Wyndham Clark took the lead after scoring a bogey-free 7-under 64, edging out Taylor Moore and Lee Hodges who are just one stroke behind.
Justin Thomas, another notable player, also started strong with an opening 66. After facing a brief struggle, he regained momentum with impressive birdies, including long-distance connections from 59 feet and 16 feet.
“I just stayed patient,” Thomas said. “I feel like staying patient is important out here because you can make a lot of birdies, but if you maybe get a little aggressive or take on some unnecessary risks, you can make bogeys pretty fast.”
The leaderboard is tight, and with players like Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth looking to make their moves, the competition remains fierce as anticipation heightens for Friday’s play.
Leader
- Wyndham Clark (-7)
Other contenders
- T2: Taylor Moore, Lee Hodges (-6)
- T4: Justin Thomas, Nicolai Hojgaard, Akshay Bhatia, Camilo Villegas, Adam Schenk (-5)
- T10: Daniel Berger, Jake Knapp, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Tom Kim, Corey Conners, Matthieu Pavon, Thomas Detry, Alex Smalley (-4)
Jordan Spieth commented on his performance stating the importance of consistency and patience in competition, giving him hope for his upcoming rounds.
