166 replies to this topic

[zakkozuchowski]

Waste Management Phoenix Open preview

By Seth Kerr (Cooper)

GolfWRX Staff Writer




The PGA Tour heads 377 miles East on I-10 this week to the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The tournament is almost as well known for its raucous atmosphere as the tournament itself. The 162-yard par three 16^th hole features fans surrounding the players on all sides, with the crowd routinely booing or cheering players' shots. Last year Jarrod Lyle made a hole in one on the 16^th during the second round of the tournament, which sent the crowd into a frenzy.  Players trying to capture the crowd's good graces are often seen throwing hats, frisbees, gloves, and anything else they can find in their bag into the stands as they walk from tee to green.

Mark Wilson returns to the 7,214-yard TPC of Scottsdale looking to repeat as champion after his playoff victory over Jason Duffner last year. The mild mannered Wilson overcame frost delays, which forced a Monday finish, and a strong field to beat Duffner on the second playoff hole to win his second tournament in three starts. Wilson will be looking to repeat the same feat again, having already won at the Humana Challenge this year.

Kyle Stanley, a relative unknown prior to last week, is back looking to bounce back from his finish at last week's Farmers Insurance Open. Stanley had a three shot lead in the fairway on No. 18, but then spun his wedge off the green into the water and three putted for triple bogey. That forced a playoff with Brandt Snedeker. After both players made birdie on No. 18, Snedeker got up and down on No. 16 and Stanley three putted to give Snedeker his second come from behind victory in as many years.

Stanley, no stranger to heartache after watching Steve Stricker birdie the final two holes to win the John Deere Classic last year, thanked his Twitter followers for all their support and said he is looking forward to playing in Phoenix.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open, which touts itself as the "greenest stop on the PGA Tour"  is also bringing back the "Green Out" event on Sat. February 4^th. For each spectator who wears green on Saturday, the Thunderbird Charities will donate some green to Keeping Arizona Clean and Beautiful. Last year's Green Out raised $35,000, so if you are planning to head to the tournament make sure you wear green on Saturday.

Nine of the top 10 players on the money list will be in the field this week, with only Steve Stricker not playing. Ian Poulter is making his first start of the year since the birth of his son Joshua last week. The tournament airs Thursday and Friday on Golf Channel from 4-7 p.m. EST. CBS has the coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. EST.

Want to write for GolfWRX? Click here for more information.

[PGArox]

Should be an entertaining event, as it almost always is.  Hopefully, Phil will find some inspiration this week.  I hope his little girl is well.

[Hifade]

Good field.....fun course and a great environment. Should be a cool week on tour.

[19tholer]

Question. Will the 16th hole circus remember Poulter's finger slip from a couple years ago?

[Jim Clark]

I wouldn't want the 16th hole environment to become prevalent in golf, but once a year it's fun to watch. Some players hate it, but most accept it and think it's fun.

[scottishgolf20]

I look forward to watching this event every year. I don't think 16 should be replicated anywhere else (like he aussie open tried with its "fun hole" a few years back), i like how unique it is! What a relief it must be to see the ball land on the green for these guys this week!

[teejaywhy]

Bubba departing the TPC Scottsdale after a practice round (from AzCentral.com)

[fore_life]

Bubba looks like someone  caught him zipping up his fly haha

[BigPete]

I quite like these editorial threads - nice one.

I also enjoy the 16th thing - once a year.

As for Poulter - it was "banter" - it was all in fun - it was "winding up" the crowd. It obviously didn't translate very well but it was meant (and taken by the crowd there) as a bit of a laugh.

[MileHighClub]

teejaywhy, on 01 February 2012 - 05:49 PM, said:

Bubba departing the TPC Scottsdale after a practice round (from AzCentral.com)

How cool is this?  What a personality.  The PGA Tour needs more characters like Bubba.

[19tholer]

BigPete, on 01 February 2012 - 08:08 PM, said:

I quite like these editorial threads - nice one.

I also enjoy the 16th thing - once a year.

As for Poulter - it was "banter" - it was all in fun - it was "winding up" the crowd. It obviously didn't translate very well but it was meant (and taken by the crowd there) as a bit of a laugh.

I think all he has to do is throw a bunch of candy at the drunks and they'll love him. He's a good guy, but trying to battle with that crowd is never a good option. Hopefully, he understands that now.

[deasy55]

Stewart Cink 10 over through 11 holes....dear oh dear

[hogans71]

PM three under through 16...

Flip face putters rule!!

[SwooshLT]

The 16th Hole has gone Roadhouse to WIMBLEDON!!!      

Edited by SwooshLT, 02 February 2012 - 05:33 PM.

[kafka01]

Gary Woodland driving  

[MileHighClub]

Poor Ian Poulter.  He is going to get some kind of complex being paired with bombers Bubba and Woodland.  Fun group to watch today.

[kafka01]

I´m sure he went to the gym to look more buff before he went out with them!

[TheCityGame]

OK, I tuned into about 2 minutes of the broadcast yesterday. . .

Am I crazy, or did they used to have the rowdies behind the 16th tee, and now it's all corporate boxes?

I heard one of the announcers say, "oh, there's a guy on his laptop picking his nose."

Very disappointing. Those were some of the best images of the year. . .guys going crazy behind a great shot. Very short-sighted.

[kafka01]

Nah, i think the "rowdies" always sat to the left right next to the entrance and in the back of the tee box they had the corportate boxes, at least in the last couple years.

[Hifade]

TheCityGame, on 03 February 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

OK, I tuned into about 2 minutes of the broadcast yesterday. . .

Am I crazy, or did they used to have the rowdies behind the 16th tee, and now it's all corporate boxes?

I heard one of the announcers say, "oh, there's a guy on his laptop picking his nose."

Very disappointing. Those were some of the best images of the year. . .guys going crazy behind a great shot. Very short-sighted.

Thursday is always subdued. Wait until later today and the weekend. They are on track for record crowds and it will be nuts. The corporate "guys" can get crazy too. Lot's of expensive FREE drinks served in the boxes.

[TheCityGame]

OK. I went and looked at some old youtube videos, and at least for the last couple years, it was all corporate back there. Just mis-remembering I guess, and I heard that comment from the announcer yesterday.

[deasy55]

TheCityGame, on 03 February 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

I heard one of the announcers say, "oh, there's a guy on his laptop picking his nose."

I'm going to assume that was Jason Sobel of the golf channel since he said this on twitter yesterday:

JasonSobelGC  Gary McCord just gave me up on the telecast, said I was picking my nose. Well, that's the last time I ever pick a winner for him.

[highdraw69]

anybody know why Overton WD'd after a nice 67?

[deasy55]

Great to see J.B. Holmes making the cut

[southpaw72]

highdraw69, on 03 February 2012 - 03:06 PM, said:

anybody know why Overton WD'd after a nice 67?

Im not sure but he didn't finish his second round apparently .Scorecard

[Vindog]

That was a helluva shot by DJ.

And a nice camera angle, face on for his swing, I thought.  Looked nice and smooth, with his typical shoulder-down-the-line move...

[masyankees]

highdraw69, on 03 February 2012 - 03:06 PM, said:

anybody know why Overton WD'd after a nice 67?

Apparently a lingering wrist injury. He was +5 on the day going into the last hole of the 2nd round and drove his tee shot into the water before he withdrew

[deasy55]

The hair on the top of Lefty's head is starting to look a bit....light

[highdraw69]

masyankees, on 03 February 2012 - 04:14 PM, said:

highdraw69, on 03 February 2012 - 03:06 PM, said:

anybody know why Overton WD'd after a nice 67?

Apparently a lingering wrist injury. He was +5 on the day going into the last hole of the 2nd round and drove his tee shot into the water before he withdrew

ahhh...thanks!

[kafka01]

Gosh, what is Mickelson hitting there? Sounds like crap - i´m not getting one of whatever it is.....