Phoenix Open: 5 most memorable moments at TPC Scottsdale, ranked

The WM Phoenix Open by no means ceases to amaze.

Yearly, this match at TPC Scottsdale captivates {the golfing} world because of its well-known par-3 sixteenth, the place a 20,000-seat stadium greets each participant.

They’re both cheered or jeered, relying on the end result of their tee pictures. Typically, every time a hole-in-one happens, followers will serenade the fortunate participant with alcoholic drinks.

However loads of different notable occurrences have occurred at TPC Scottsdale over time, so we at Enjoying By way of have determined to rank the highest 5 most memorable moments from the WM Phoenix Open:

5. Phil Mickelson wins for third time; ties scoring file

Phil Mickelson, who attended close by Arizona State College, opened the 2013 WM Phoenix Open with an 11-under 60 and didn’t look again.

The previous Solar Satan blitzed TPC Scottsdale, as seemingly each one among his method pictures landed inside a few ft of the opening. He gained a preposterous 19.807 pictures that week, ending the match at 28-under. That spectacular mark tied the scoring file set by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001.

TPC Scottsdale is a ball-striking course requiring gamers to hit greens in regulation to succeed. Mickelson did simply that, hitting 63-of-72 greens that week to win by 4 pictures over Brandt Snedeker.

His win in 2013 served as a harbinger of issues to return as he went on to have a profitable summer time. He received The Open Championship at Muirfield one month after ending second within the U.S. Open to Justin Rose at Merion.

4. Dozens of gamers honor Kobe Bryant in 2020

4 days earlier than the opening spherical of the 2020 WM Phoenix Open, five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and 7 others misplaced their lives in a devastating helicopter crash in Southern California.

The tragedy hit the sports activities world exhausting, as skilled athletes throughout the nation paid tributes to Bryant and those that perished.

That sentiment utilized within the golf world, with quite a few gamers paying tribute to Bryant by sporting his signature Los Angeles Lakers jersey on the sixteenth gap.

Tony Finau and Aaron Sensible wore his #8 jersey, whereas Justin Thomas wore Bryant’s highschool jersey from Decrease Merion in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Max Homa and others donned Bryant’s #24 Laker jersey as effectively.

Then, on Sunday, the agronomy group at TPC Scottsdale created a flag that displayed Bryant’s numbers on the sixteenth gap.

These tributes have been particular, albeit heartbreaking.

3. Andrew Magee did the unthinkable in 2001

4-time PGA Tour winner Andrew Magee recorded a hole-in-one on the par-4 seventeenth, the one ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour historical past!

It occurred throughout the first spherical, however humorous sufficient, no video of this accomplishment exists.

As an alternative, a number of eyewitnesses can confirm what occurred in what’s undoubtedly the strangest ace in skilled golf historical past.

Coming off a double bogey on the fifteenth, Magee was steaming. His endurance had worn skinny, and thus, he grew uninterested in the group forward of him. So, he determined to uncork a driver on the 332-yard par-4, which went means farther than anticipated.

His ball rolled onto the inexperienced, ricocheted off Tom Byrum’s putter, and went proper into the opening. Steve Pate—part of Byrum’s group on the inexperienced—needed to soar out of the best way of Magee’s ball!

Growth.

Ace.

However that miracle didn’t assist Magee that a lot. He tied for forty fourth that week as Mark Calcavecchia received at 28-under, eight pictures forward of Rocco Mediate.

2. Tiger Woods information an ace

Within the third spherical of the 1997 WM Phoenix Open, 21-year-old Tiger Woods arrived on the par-3 sixteenth at TPC Scottsdale.

He pulled out his 9-iron and hit a picture-perfect shot. His ball bounced twice, then dropped into the opening for a spectacular ace, thus eliciting a deafening noise from the gang.

At that time, the stadium surrounding the well-known sixteenth gap didn’t exist. However 1000’s upon 1000’s of individuals witnessed this wonderful shot, which is among the finest Woods ever hit.

In fact, just some months later, Woods went on to win the 1997 Masters in file style. He decimated Augusta Nationwide, profitable by 12 pictures at 18-under par.

1. Gary Woodland and Amy Bockerstette unite

Through the 2019 WM Phoenix Open, Amy Bockerstette and Gary Woodland met on the sixteenth gap throughout the Tuesday pro-am.

Bockerstette, a 20-year-old golfer with Down Syndrome, performed the opening alongside Woodland and Matt Kuchar.

After hitting her tee shot into the greenside bunker, Bockerstette hit up onto the inexperienced and confronted a 10-foot putt for par.

However earlier than approaching her putt, she turned to Woodland and stated, “I obtained this.”

True to her phrase, Bockerstette rolled it into the middle of the cup, eliciting a large roar from the gang available. The second additionally went viral on social media, as her “I obtained his” mantra grew to become an web sensation.

A couple of months later, Woodland received the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Seashore by three pictures over Brooks Koepka. After holing the ultimate putt, Woodland FaceTimed Bockerstette, telling her he relied on her “optimistic power.”

Two days later, Woodland, Bockerstette, and the U.S. Open trophy appeared side-by-side on The At the moment Present, with Woodland confidently saying that the 2 of them “received this collectively.”

At the moment, Bockerstette and her non-profit, aptly named the I GOT THIS Basis, assist present golf instruction and taking part in alternatives whereas creating lasting reminiscences for people with mental disabilities.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.