WM Phoenix Open 2026 Surges Into “People’s Open” Mode as Spieth Chases Ground and McNealy Lurks Near the Top

The WM Phoenix Open is back in full roar in Scottsdale, and the 2026 edition is already delivering the mix the tournament is famous for: low scores, high noise, and a leaderboard that can flip quickly once the desert wind and the closing stretch start asking harder questions.

Tournament week is running February 2–8, 2026, with championship rounds scheduled February 5–8 at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course. As of Friday, February 6, 2026, early scoring has set up a classic Phoenix storyline: one player sprinting out front, a cluster of chasers positioned to pounce, and several star names — including Jordan Spieth — needing a sharp round to stay in contention.

WM Phoenix Open 2026 leaderboard: early pace-setter, tight chase pack, and why it can turn fast

After the opening round, Chris Gotterup set the early tone with an 8-under 63 to take the lead. Sam Stevens sits one back at 7-under, with Matt Fitzpatrick in the next tier at 6-under. Behind them, the field is bunched enough that one hot nine holes can create a Sunday pairing — and one leaky stretch can send a player into scramble mode just to make the weekend.

Maverick McNealy opened with a 4-under 67, placing him inside the top 10 early. That’s a meaningful position at this event because the scoring opportunities are real, but they come with a catch: the back nine has stretches where “aggressive” can turn into “double” quickly, especially as crowds press in and decision-making speeds up.

Jordan Spieth at the Phoenix Open: where he stands and what he needs now

Spieth’s opening round was a 1-under 70, leaving him with work to do. At Phoenix, that’s not automatically a problem — it’s a warning light. The cut line here often becomes a moving target because the course offers reachable par 5s and a handful of wedge-heavy looks that can produce a burst of birdies.

For Spieth, the path is clear:

• Convert early looks to build momentum before the loudest holes arrive

• Keep damage small on the handful of tee shots that can run away from you

• Avoid the emotional roller coaster the tournament can invite, especially around the stadium-style 16th

If he posts a low number on Friday, he’s right back in it. If he’s merely steady, the leaders can drift out of range by the weekend.

Why McNealy fits this course in 2026

McNealy’s best Phoenix case is built on the exact traits that tend to survive here: controlled iron play, confident putting on quick greens, and the ability to stay patient when the environment is anything but calm. The “People’s Open” atmosphere is a feature, not a bug — and players who embrace it, rather than fight it, often get rewarded.

What matters next for McNealy is not just scoring, but timing:

• A bounce-back response after a missed chance

• Capitalizing when wind lies down

• Avoiding the one big number that erases two birdies

He’s close enough that a 64 or 65 can put him in a featured final-group conversation by Saturday.

Behind the headline: why Phoenix is always bigger than a normal tour stop

This event is not just another week on the schedule. It’s a brand ecosystem: a massive on-site crowd, corporate hospitality, a signature stadium hole, and a social calendar that stretches beyond the ropes. That creates unique incentives.

For players, the incentives are split:

• Win here and you don’t just get a trophy — you get a reputation as someone who can perform inside chaos.

• Struggle here and it can look worse than it is, because the cameras capture every reaction.

For the tour, this week functions like a culture test. The product needs to feel energetic and modern without tipping into disorder. For sponsors and partners, it’s a tentpole showcase. For fans, it’s the rare tournament where the crowd is part of the storyline, not just scenery.

Second-order effects are real: strong play here can shape invitations, endorsements, and momentum heading into the next stretch of the season. For stars, it’s a stage. For rising players, it’s an audition.

What we still don’t know

A few unanswered questions will decide how the weekend unfolds:

• Whether the early leader keeps converting birdie chances as pressure rises

• How the course plays as conditions change and pin placements tighten

• Whether Spieth finds a surge round soon enough to matter

• Which chaser makes the first real move that forces the leaders to respond

What happens next: 5 realistic scenarios with clear triggers

1. Gotterup holds serve if he keeps the same discipline with wedges and avoids short-side mistakes on tough pins.

2. McNealy jumps into the final groups if he produces one low round while the leaders stall in afternoon conditions.

3. Spieth re-enters the conversation if he posts a score that gains multiple shots on the field Friday and Saturday morning.

4. The leaderboard compresses if wind picks up and turns the closing stretch into survival golf.

5. A surprise contender wins if the favorites trade aggression for caution and leave birdies on the course.

PGA Tour schedule: what’s next after Phoenix

The Phoenix stop is a major early-February marker, and it sets up the next wave of momentum events. The following week’s tour schedule moves on to another high-profile stop, meaning players who exit Phoenix with confidence can quickly stack results — and players who leave frustrated won’t get much time to reset.

Phoenix always asks the same question: can you score while the whole tournament is trying to speed you up? By Sunday afternoon in Eastern Time, we’ll know whose game — and whose nerve — matched the noise.