WM Phoenix Open 2026 Thursday first round: early leaderboard, key pairings, and how to watch coverage
Round 1 begins at TPC Scottsdale as early scores set the pace
The WM Phoenix Open opened Thursday, February 5, 2026, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course, launching four days of play in Scottsdale, Arizona. The tournament runs through Sunday, February 8, with a total purse of $9.6 million and 500 FedExCup points awarded to the winner.
Early in the first round, the leaderboard began to take shape with Matt Fitzpatrick at 7-under through 11 holes and Chris Gotterup at 6-under through 10 holes as play continued. With the field still on the course and scoring conditions subject to wind shifts typical of the Stadium Course, early advantages remained provisional.
What the early leaderboard suggests—and what it doesn’t
Thursday’s opening round traditionally produces volatile movement, particularly at a venue that mixes reachable scoring holes with penalty-laden desert hazards. Fast starts can establish momentum, but the tournament’s cut line and weekend setups often reset the competitive picture. The Stadium Course’s par-71 layout (7,261 yards) has historically allowed low scoring, including a tournament 18-hole record of 60 (most recently shot by Nick Taylor in the 2024 first round).
In-progress first-round standings are an incomplete measure: tee-time waves, shifting winds, and the course’s risk-reward finishing stretch can rapidly alter the leaderboard.
Thursday tee times and featured groups draw attention beyond the scores
Several high-profile pairings anchored the Thursday schedule, including a late-afternoon group featuring Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young and Brooks Koepka. Another marquee trio included Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama and Collin Morikawa. Scottie Scheffler was grouped with Chris Gotterup and Jordan Spieth, creating an early-round barometer for how the week’s leading contenders might separate.
Off the course, the event’s pro-am week also generated attention after NFL tight end Travis Kelce played the tournament’s Wednesday program and drew a large gallery at the par-3 16th, the venue’s best-known amphitheater hole.
How to follow the first round and the rest of the tournament
Thursday’s first-round coverage includes streaming windows that begin in the morning, while television coverage on Golf Channel is scheduled for the afternoon and early evening (Eastern Time). The broader weekend broadcast schedule transitions to CBS for the later rounds, with additional streaming options available through major sports platforms.
Round 1 (Thu., Feb. 5): TV window scheduled for late afternoon on Golf Channel (ET)
Round 2 (Fri., Feb. 6): Golf Channel (ET)
Rounds 3–4 (Sat.–Sun., Feb. 7–8): Golf Channel early, CBS later (ET)
Context: recent champions and what’s at stake this week
Belgian golfer Thomas Detry is listed as the tournament’s most recent champion, having won the previous edition at 24-under. This week’s winner will add a significant FedExCup points haul and a high-profile title on the West Coast Swing calendar, with the Phoenix stop routinely producing one of the season’s largest and most engaged on-site crowds.