Winners, Losers & Payouts from the 2026 WM Phoenix Open

Desert Drama and Million-Dollar Moments at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open

Super Bowl Sunday in Scottsdale always feels a little different. That’s because the Thunderbirds have staged the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Phoenix Open on Super Bowl weekend for years. And when the tourney heads to a playoff, which seems to be every year, by the time the players walk off the course, one happier than the others, the big game has kicked off. Yesterday was no different.

Last week, as in most early February weeks at TPC Scottsdale, the desert air carried a buzz, the grandstands at the famous 16th hole hummed with anticipation/debauchery, and by late afternoon the leaderboard began to tighten like a pulled draw into the Arizona wind.

This year’s WM Phoenix Open delivered exactly the kind of finish that makes this tournament one of the most compelling stops on the PGA TOUR calendar.

When the dust settled after 72 holes at TPC Scottsdale, Chris Gotterup and Hideki Matsuyama stood tied at 16-under par. Both had navigated the week with patience and bursts of brilliance, and both arrived on the 18th green knowing the job wasn’t quite finished. Gotterup’s closing 64 on Sunday was the round that shifted everything. It was controlled but aggressive, the kind of performance that forces a tournament to bend toward you. Matsuyama, shakier than usual on Sunday, limped into the sudden-death playoff.

The extra hole provided one final test. Gotterup rose to the moment, converting a birdie that secured the victory and capped off an impressive Sunday in the sun. Gotterup earned the victory, but Hideki had to deal with chirping fans and incessant noise that forced him to back off from shots during regulation and on the 18th tee in the playoff. Bad luck and bad behavior impacted Hideki’s ability to focus and compete at the level he played at for most of the event. That’s a shame.  

For Gotterup, with the win came a check for $1,728,000 from the $9.6 million purse — a significant reward that also included 500 FedExCup points and the confidence that comes with winning in a pressure-packed atmosphere. For Matsuyama, second place was worth $1,046,400 — a seven-figure reminder that consistency at the top of the leaderboard pays handsomely, even when the playoff doesn’t go your way.

Just one stroke behind them, at 15-under, sat a tightly packed group that made Sunday afternoon even more compelling. Scottie Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim, Michael Thorbjornsen, and Nicolai Højgaard (our favorite identical twin) all finished tied for third. Scheffler’s bogey-free 64 was a classic display of his controlled ball-striking and unflappable demeanor, the kind of round that quietly builds momentum without demanding attention. Each of the five players earned $439,680 — a substantial payday and a reflection of just how fine the margins were at the top of the board.

Jake Knapp finished alone in eighth at 14-under par, collecting $300,000 for his week’s work. A single shot separated him from the tie for third, a reminder that in professional golf, inches and moments can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars. Just behind him, Matt Fitzpatrick’s tie for ninth earned $280,800, while Viktor Hovland, Pierceson Coody, and Ryo Hisatsune each took home $242,400 for their tie for tenth at 12-under.

The Phoenix Open has always balanced spectacle with serious competition. The energy around the stadium holes can feel electric, but once players step between the ropes on Sunday afternoon, the focus narrows to execution. Except for Hideki, who was fighting fans and nerves, and honestly, got screwed at just the wrong time. We feel sorry for him. Hopefully, his luck will turn around, and the fans will behave for all 72+ holes he plays that week.  

In the end, Gotterup’s name will be etched alongside the champions who have thrived in the desert spotlight. The million-dollar check is significant, of course, but so is the statement made by winning in this environment. For Matsuyama and the group just behind, the week reinforced how sharp their games are early in the season.

At TPC Scottsdale, the roars may echo loudest at the 16th, but on Sunday evening they followed the leaders all the way to the 18th green — and into a playoff that felt entirely fitting for a tournament that rarely disappoints.

Winners & Losers from Sunday at the Waste Management:

Winner: Gotterup closed with a 7-under, 64. He birdied 7 of the last 10 holes he played (including the playoff hole). Want to win on the big boy tour? Play like Gotterup. Simple math.

Winner: Scheffler. At one point on Friday he was sitting outside the cut line. He then proceeded to shoot a million under par, finishing up with a 64 on Sunday and T-3. Scottie is good. Really, really, really, good.

Loser: Mav McNealy. He’s crazy good, but his final round 1-over, 72 was flat-out choker bad.

Loser: Min Woo Lee. This burgeoning superstar needs to learn how to finish off tourneys. He closed with a 2-over, 73 and dropped 17 spots on the board to finish up T-28. He had a great chance to use his prodigious length and finish up Top 10.

Winner: Sahith Theegala. He didn’t blaze his way in on Sunday, but he posted another Top-20 finish and his game continues to trend in the right direction. We want to see him play as often as possible, but he needs to go on a serious heater to earn guaranteed spots in the Signature events.

2026 WM Phoenix Open prize money payouts

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