Power rankings: Waste Management Phoenix Open

The PGA Tour heads from California into the Arizona desert for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. TPC Scottsdale, near Phoenix, is the rowdiest scene in all of pro golf, with the par-3 16th hole proving a truly unique venue.

The field is solid this week, with Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama and Justni Thomas headlining the field, while last week’s winner Jon Rahm and past winner Phil Mickelson serving as local rooting interests.

Here are our top five players for this week:

1. Justin Thomas — Best player on the PGA Tour this year is an auto-pick at the top of the rankings for the foreseeable future.

2. Hideki Matsuyama — Matsuyama is a past winner here, taking down Rickie Folwer in what was a cringe-inducing playoff. Matsuyama has settled a little, but he loves TPC Scottsdale.

3. Jon Rahm — An Arizona State guy, Rahm was top five here last year as an amateur. He’s learned a lot about winning and contending since then, including actually doing it last weekend.

4. Jordan Spieth — Spieth was T-7 here two years ago, so he has some semblance of record at the event. Back-to-back medal-stand finishes in Hawaii.

5. Phil Mickelson — Mickelson should’ve had a 59 on this course. He knows how to win here, and he’s exhibiting the kind of almost-good-enough-to-win game he flexed last year.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.