The PGA Tour makes the brief journey from California to Arizona this week for its sixth occasion of the season – the much-anticipated WM Phoenix Open at iconic TPC Scottsdale.
The stadium course in Phoenix is residence to among the most memorable holes on tour and supplies an completely distinctive ambiance.
A $9.2 million purse is up for grabs however, no doubt, Scottie Scheffler is the person to beat having proven no indicators of his hand harm when tenth at Pebble Seaside final week.
A golf occasion that provides an analogous vibe to that of the LIV golf tour, listed below are 5 issues chances are you’ll not have recognized in regards to the PGA Tour’s greatest occasion…
Sustainable golf with ‘Waste Administration’
The Phoenix Open is sponsored by a waste administration firm and whereas the beer is certain to be flowing, the organisers might be striving for a waste-free occasion to guard the gorgeous TPC Scottsdale.
It’s recognised as one of many largest zero-waste reside sporting occasions on the earth with an emphasis on recycling and repurposing to construct the repute.
The rowdiest sixteenth gap in golf
Usually dubbed ‘The Coliseum’, the well-known par three is the loudest gap on the PGA Tour and is totally enclosed by grandstands to create an unimaginable and distinctive ambiance.
The grandstands create a vibe that makes the occasion really feel extra like a soccer match than a golf event with brutal boos for missed greens and colossal cheers for pictures hitting the dance ground.
Alcohol, streakers and hole-in-ones are a frequent a part of the one-of-a-kind sixteenth gap. And Tiger Woods as soon as despatched the decibel ranges off the charts when acing the opening in 1997.
A strategic design that ranges the enjoying area
TPC Scottsdale is a superb alternative for PGA stars to attain low and final 12 months’s winner, Nick Taylor, matched the course report of 60 in his unimaginable opening spherical.
The course options testing fairways, an array of bunkers and assorted elevation; it assessments all types and doesn’t hand an enormous benefit to the lengthy hitters within the sport.
Booming drives that land on the green will assist gamers go low, however the difficult tough, full of desert sand, will rapidly humble the sphere.
There’s room for inexperienced within the desert
The golf course in Arizona presents the proper mix of sand and greenery with the placing surfaces meticulously maintained to create a stark distinction to the state’s desert panorama.
The course was created by Main winner Tom Weiskopf and legendary designer Jay Morrish. It opened in 1986 with the emphasis on creating holes that provide TPC Scottsdale’s signature ‘Desert meets Luxurious’ ethos.
The complicated design helped ship a profitable merger of the pure panorama with a championship-level golf course.
It may come right down to the wire
Regularly thought of one of the crucial difficult last holes in golf, the powerful par 4 18th gap may make issues tasty on the enterprise finish of the Phoenix Open.
On TPC Scottsdale’s last gap, the sphere should play 453 yards to a inexperienced that’s protected by ready water on the left and a big bunker on the suitable; it’s a dangerous strategy able to ruining a card on the most inopportune time.
The opening has been the scene of a lot drama and 6 of the final 9 editions of this occasion have gone to a play-off, bringing 18 again into play for additional time.
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