Waste Management Phoenix Open: 16th Hole Top 5 Moments
Feb 4, 2016; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; A general view of the 16th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Waste Management Phoenix Open fans love the TPC Scottsdale par 3 16th. These top 5 moment drove the fans crazy!
The Waste Management Phoenix Open may be the loudest tournament on the annual PGA schedule. The exhilarating par 3, 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale has become an iconic episode on the tour each season.
For the only time in golf, the players step into the kingdom ruled by the gallery. Spectators determine who will escape unscathed. If you miss the green fans rain down boo’s on you, if you birdie they cherish you. You don’t own them. They own you. They’re not in your world, you’re in theirs.
The 16th hole faithful have built something of their own over the years, a three-tier coliseum enclosing the hole in entirety. The voltaic atmosphere creates a feeling like no other in the game of golf. It’s make or break when you step into the “greatest show on grass.”
Without a doubt there have been many moments of hostility after numerous times players have missed greens and plugged bunkers, but let’s look at the moments that will forever echo in infamy.
5. Bubba Watson in 2014, makes birdie as he electrifies the gallery
Bubba Watson is a fan favorite in the desert and he sure didn’t let them down in his opening-round at the 16th at the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Watson feeds off the energy the 16th hole radiates and he showed his gratefulness by dishing out some Oakley’s to some lucky recipients.
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Watson hit a beautiful wedge pin high, spinning it just left, giving him a legit chance at birdie, which the gallery loved, if you couldn’t tell. After Bubba shaped that beautiful shot into the green, he threw his arms into the air as the crowd paid their respect. Bubba had given them what they craved.
He simply tapped in his 7-foot putt to hear a collective cheer to follow his birdie. Bubba didn’t fold under pressure, like many others, but instead fed off the rumbling noise.
4. James Hahn, celebrates with Gangnam Style in 2013
James Hahn loves a noisy 16th hole, but he loves breaking out a dance for them even more. Hahn celebrated his 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open 19-foot putt for birdie by breaking out the Gangnam Style.
Nice moves Hahn, James Hahn.
3. Francesco Molinari, 2015 hole-in-one
There is nothing greater than a hole-in-one to get the Waste Management Phoenix Open16th hole gallery amped up, as you can see by the sudden weather forecast of “Pabst Blue Ribbon.” Molinari woke up the gallery when his ball dropped into the cup.
The golf coliseum went even more berserk when Molinari signaled them to notch it up a bit by waving his arms into the air.
Molinari’s ace came in the third-round in the 2015 tournament. He hit a solid iron right at the pin and zipped it to the left, eventually rolling it into the cup. Pure beauty.
Everybody enjoyed Molinari’s magnificent ace, except the marshal who got left hanging when trying to give Francesco a high-five.
2. Jarrod Lyle, 2011 hole-in-one
Jarrod Lyles hole-in-one came at the 2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open when he aced the 150-yard par 3. Lyle had his eyes in the pin the whole way after he struck the ball. He knew it had a chance.
I think Lyles’ heart jumped out of his chest when he saw the ball disappear. The ball never left the flagstick.
1. Tiger Woods, 1997 hole-in-one
Throwing it back to the 1997 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Tiger Woods stunned the 16th when he one hopped his ball into the cup giving him a massive burst of energy as he fist-pumped uncontrollably.
We can only hope we’ll see Tiger’s fist pump again. It’s been a long time.
Do you have a favorite Waste Management Phoenix Open 16th hole moment. Tell us about it in the comments section.