SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — There was a time, not so long ago, when the question surrounding Scottie Scheffler was whether he could sustain his remarkable rise to the top of professional golf. That question has been answered emphatically, repeatedly, and with a consistency that has left the rest of the sport searching for answers.

Scheffler, the undisputed World No. 1, arrives at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open this week as the overwhelming favorite, installed at +220 odds to claim his third career victory at TPC Scottsdale. The tournament, running February 5-8, features 32 of the top 50 players in the world rankings, yet none of them carry the aura of invincibility that Scheffler has built over the past several seasons.

Just two weeks ago, Scheffler delivered another masterclass at The American Express, cruising to a four-stroke victory at a staggering 27-under par. That win was his 20th on the PGA Tour, a number that carries profound historical weight. Before the age of 30, only two players in the history of professional golf had accumulated 20 or more PGA Tour victories while also claiming four or more major championships: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Scheffler is now the third.

Let that sink in for a moment. The company he keeps is not merely elite — it is legendary. Nicklaus and Woods are widely regarded as the two greatest players to ever grip a club, and Scheffler is walking a path that increasingly mirrors their early-career dominance.

His major championship resume tells the story of a player who has elevated his game on the biggest stages. Two Masters titles established him as a force at Augusta National, while victories at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship in 2025 expanded his reach across golf's most prestigious events. The only piece missing from the career Grand Slam puzzle is the U.S. Open, a challenge that will await him later this year.

But first, there is business to attend to in the Arizona desert. TPC Scottsdale has been a happy hunting ground for Scheffler, who has won here twice before. The course, famous for its raucous 16th hole stadium atmosphere, presents a unique test that blends precision with the ability to handle one of the most electric environments in all of golf. Scheffler has proven he thrives in that cauldron.

The field this week is far from weak. With 32 of the top 50 players teeing it up, Scheffler will face legitimate challengers at every turn. Yet the betting market tells you everything you need to know about the gap between Scheffler and the rest of the tour. At +220, he is not just the favorite — he is the heavy favorite, a distinction that reflects the reality of modern professional golf: there is Scottie Scheffler, and then there is everyone else.

What makes Scheffler particularly dangerous this week is momentum. A player coming off a dominant four-stroke victory tends to carry confidence into the next event, and confidence in Scheffler's hands is a weapon few can withstand. His ball-striking remains the gold standard on tour, his putting has reached new levels of reliability, and his mental composure under pressure has become the stuff of textbook instruction.

As the WM Phoenix Open gets underway, the question is no longer whether Scheffler belongs among the all-time greats. The question is just how far he can push the boundaries of what is possible in this era of golf. A third title at TPC Scottsdale would be another emphatic answer.