WM Phoenix Open 2026 second round Friday: Gotterup leads as play resumes after Thursday darkness delay
Second round begins under revised Friday schedule after first-round stoppage
The WM Phoenix Open continues Friday, February 6, 2026 at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course after the opening round was halted by darkness on Thursday, February 5. The suspended first round required early-morning completion before the second round proceeded on its planned Friday timetable, keeping the event on track for weekend rounds.
The tournament is contested on the par-71 Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, a venue defined by risk-reward scoring opportunities and the enclosed par-3 16th hole, which is surrounded by stadium seating and is among the most recognizable settings on the PGA Tour.
Leaderboard snapshot: early edge for Gotterup, chasing pack close behind
As the second round unfolded Friday, Chris Gotterup held the lead at 8-under par after an opening-round 63. Matt Fitzpatrick sat two shots back at 6-under. A group at 5-under included Sam Stevens, Nicolai Højgaard, Michael Thorbjornsen and Pierceson Coody, underscoring how quickly TPC Scottsdale can compress the leaderboard with low scoring.
Further back, several established names remained within reach after round-one scores around par or slightly under, a typical pattern at Scottsdale where birdie chances can offset occasional mistakes, especially with reachable par-5s and drivable-position par-4s influencing momentum.
Event context: purse, recent champions and what’s at stake this week
The 2026 WM Phoenix Open is one of the Tour’s signature stops for crowds and commercial draw, offering a $9.6 million purse and 500 FedExCup points to the winner. The event’s recent champions include Thomas Detry (2025), Nick Taylor (2024) and Scottie Scheffler (2022 and 2023).
Friday’s play is pivotal because it determines the cut line and who reaches the weekend in front of the tournament’s largest galleries. With the schedule already impacted by Thursday’s late finish, players face a pace-and-rhythm test as they attempt to complete two rounds within a compressed window.
How fans are following Friday’s action
Broadcast coverage for Round 2 is scheduled for Friday afternoon on Golf Channel, with streaming windows extending throughout the day via PGA Tour Live platforms. With multiple featured feeds and dedicated hole coverage, the viewing setup mirrors the tournament’s on-site reality: scoring swings can happen quickly, and the most dramatic moments are often concentrated on a handful of pivotal holes.
Dates: Feb. 5–8, 2026
Course: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course), par 71
Status: Round 2 in progress Friday after Thursday darkness suspension
Round 2 is the tournament’s hinge point: it completes the cut and sets the weekend stage, especially when Thursday’s finish runs late.
Play continues through Sunday, February 8, with Saturday’s third round and Sunday’s final round expected to draw peak attention on and off the course.