The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale has become a “punt, pass, and kick” tournament within a tournament over the past few years. That allegedly comes to an end this year.
The PGA Tour becoming like the no fun league. Trying to take the fun out of Phoenix Open. pic.twitter.com/tuWl7dAwsp
— Alex Miceli (@alexmiceli) January 13, 2015
The now storied par-three hole features a grandstand surrounding the green holding tens of thousands of fans greeting golf shots with such a raucous response that it earns the distinction of being golf’s loudest hole. The loudest moment might have been in 1997 when Tiger Woods knocked down a hole-in-one.
Moreover, want-to-be quarterbacks such as Phil Mickelson use fans as receivers to throw spirals to. Hyped fans anticipating Super Bowl week, which the tournament often plays close to in time and this year in proximity, love the mayhem.
Padraig Harrington demonstrated his field-goal kicking prowess in 2013 by launching official Super Bowl footballs into the stands, which was his first time ever kicking an American football. From his strong foot one could see that he must have kicked a few European ones in his day. Harrington also punted one into the stands as well.
Golf.Com noted that Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler have each tossed free headgear into the stands on occasion.
Tiger Woods will make his 2015 debut at the Scottsdale venue in the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Jan. 26.
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