An excellent field will compete for the always thrilling Waste Management Phoenix Open title, which has already started. The defending champion is Webb Simpson, who defeated Tony Finau in a playoff last February, 2020. Last week’s winner at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open was Patrick Reed, in a performance that was more recognized for his questionable behavior in Saturday than his victory on Sunday as he picked up his ball claiming it had been embedded, then was dictating to the official on what he would do. It was a really bad look once again for Reed, who is becoming more well known for his golf integrity issues than his considerable talent. He has won 9 times on the PGA Tour at age 30, including the 2018 Masters, and he’s “Captain America” on the Ryder Cup team for his stellar play in that arena. But his digging up the sand last year at the Hero World Challenge to improve his lie, and then this, along with him being kicked off the Georgia Golf Team for various offenses and disowning his parents and sister, just locking them out, have overshadowed his victories on the golf course. At least Reed called over an official last Saturday. He didn’t handle it correctly, and the PGA should have penalized him, but Rory didn’t even call over an official when he moved his ball from what he said was an embedded lie on number 18 on Saturday. Rory’s little innocent act at the end of the round was a farce. He was just as bad as Reed if not worse. But the PGA allowed both players to get away with it, and that’s a problem as well. The PGA entitles its players. There is no accountability. The PGA is getting as bad or worse than the NCAA. PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan needs to get a backbone and enforce the rules no matter how much he will “offend” the players. They seem to be a lot more worried about the players’ feelings than holding them accountable for their indiscretions. Maybe they’re concerned that the players will break off and form their own tour which has been talked about and even tried. They’ve got to put those concerns aside and do the right thing and not let the players dictate the rules.

Weather for Phoenix, super. 70’s, mostly sunny, wind minimal at 5-7 MPH each day.

TV: Today-Friday, 2-6 PM CT, Golf Channel. Saturday-Sunday, 12-2 PM CT, GC, 2-5 PM CT, NBC.

Winner

There are some major talents in this field. Rory is playing. Brooks Keopka is playing. Koepka won in 2015.Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm, Webb Simpson, Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, the winner in 2016-17, Gary Woodland. American Express winner and 2017 Players champion Si Woo KIm. But I’m going to take the 42 year old from Bagdad, Florida. He hasn’t won at TPC Scottsdale, but he has two T-2’s, a T3, a T4, and a T5, among 8 top 20 finishes. He’s won 14 times on the PGA Tour, including the 2012 and 2014 Masters. I’ll take,

Gerry Lester “Bubba” Watson

Sleeper Pick

I like the 44 year old from Amarillo, Texas to contend and maybe win it. He’s won 4 times on tour and he’s finished tied for 2nd and tied for 4th twice in his last 4 starts this season.

Ryan Palmer

Winner at the Saudi International

I like the 43 year old from Gloucestershire, England to go back to back on the European Tour. He’s won 3 times on the PGA Tour and 15 times on the European Tour. He won last week at the Omega Desert Classic in Dubai, so I’ll take him in Saudi Arabia this week.

Paul Casey

Sleeper

I’ve got the 35 year old from North Bay, Ontario, Canada with a real shot to win in the Mid East. He won this season at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in California in October, so I like him to have a shot on Sunday. He’s very long off the tee. Maybe not in the DeChambeau stratosphere, but he’s pretty close. I like…

Jason Kokrak

Super Bowl LV

Sunday, 5:30 PM CT

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

Tampa Bay Bucs (14-5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (16-2)

CBS

Jim, Tony, Trace, Evan Washburn, Jay Feely. Gene Steratore, Rules Analyst. James Brown and Ian Eagle hosts. Coach Cowher, Nate, Boomer, Phil and Charles Davis, pregame and halftime.

Halftime Entertainment, The Weekend

Laundry, Carl Cheffers, lead Vogue

Chiefs by 3

As I’ve said for the past year, it’s hard to go against Patrick “Price” Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and this Chiefs machine-like offense. The aspect that is underrated about this SB though is the defenses for both teams. They are both excellent units. Devin White of the Bucs is maybe the best linebacker in football and Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorenson of the Chiefs are the 2 best safeties in the NFL. Mathieu is a game changer. The game is in Tampa and that gives the Bucs the slight edge though there will be only around 16,000 people there. But PP has burned me several times in the past, so I can’t go against his greatness. Mahomes and the Chiefs outlast Brady and the Bucs in a classic. Defenses are very good on both sides. It’s impossible to totally shut down Mahomes and Brady has been a force for a long time in the National Football League as his 10 Super Bowl appearances and 6 Lombardi Trophies can attest to. There are scattered t storms during the day in Miami, but they should be gone by kickoff, so shouldn’t be a factor.

I like the Chiefs to hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the second year in a row. The last team to do it was Tom Terrific and the Patriots in 2003 and 2004. I can’t go against Mahomes. Just can’t do it.

Chiefs 31, Bucs 27