Golf's greatest party is about to get started this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale has morphed into a full-on stadium live with colorful characters hopped up on their favorite alcoholic beverages. The players in the field this week know what they are getting themselves into.

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TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) is a beautiful, 7,266 yard par 71 that yields a lot of birdie opportunities. Last year, Hideki Matsuyama surged from behind to take down Rickie Fowler in a playoff. Fowler broke down in tears after falling short.

There are a host of big names in the field again this year, as one of the most entertaining tournaments on the PGA Tour — played annually on Super Bowl weekend — gets ready to thrill once again.

Here are this week's top players:

Hideki Matsuyama (world ranking: 5) — Matsuyama shot up the world rankings with a spectacular fall and winter that produced four wins and two runner-up finishes. He has since cooled off a bit, but he will be a threat this week in defending his title. His long game is always great, whether he contends or merely makes the cut depends on his putting.

Justin Thomas (8) — Definitely the hottest player on Tour right now, Thomas returns after a two-tournament break. After winning both events in Hawaii, including shooting a 59 at the Sony Open, Thomas has said he wants to win 5-6 times this year while also capturing his first major. We aren't betting against him.

Rickie Fowler (14) — Fowler's career has been not-so-subtly in a steady decline since last May, but he returns to a course on which he's comfortable and has found recent success. This could be the week that gets Fowler back in the discussion among other top young Americans. His putting could use a makeover.

Patrick Reed (9) — Exciting times in golf, just look at all the young talent dominating this field. Reed has two top-12 finishes already this year, and he has the length and swagger to take advantage of this course's risk-reward holes.

Others to watch:

J.B. Holmes, Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and Tony Finau