Phoenix Open: 5 most memorable moments at TPC Scottsdale ranked

The WM Phoenix Open by no means ceases to amaze.

Yearly, this event 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 photographs. 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 through the years, so we at Enjoying By 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 certainly one of his strategy photographs landed inside a few ft of the opening. He gained a preposterous 19.807 photographs that week, ending the event 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 photographs over Brandt Snedeker.

His win in 2013 served as a harbinger of issues to come back as he went on to have a profitable summer time. He gained 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

Photograph by Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour by way of Getty Photographs

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 arduous, as skilled athletes throughout the nation paid tributes to Bryant and people who perished.

That sentiment utilized within the golf world, with quite a few gamers paying tribute to Bryant by carrying 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 crew at TPC Scottsdale created a flag that displayed Bryant’s numbers on the sixteenth gap.

These tributes have been particular, albeit heartbreaking.

Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs

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 through the first spherical, however humorous sufficient, no video of this accomplishment exists.

As a substitute, 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 persistence had worn skinny, and thus, he grew bored with the group forward of him. So, he determined to uncork a driver on the 332-yard par-4, which went manner 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 way in which of Magee’s ball!

Increase.

Ace.

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

2. Tiger Woods data 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 group.

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

In fact, only a few months later, Woods went on to win the 1997 Masters in file vogue. He decimated Augusta Nationwide, profitable by 12 photographs at 18-under par.

1. Gary Woodland and Amy Bockerstette unite

Photograph by Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour by way of Getty Photographs

Throughout the 2019 WM Phoenix Open, Amy Bockerstette and Gary Woodland met on the sixteenth gap through 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 mentioned, “I bought this.”

True to her phrase, Bockerstette rolled it into the middle of the cup, eliciting an enormous roar from the group readily available. The second additionally went viral on social media, as her “I bought his” mantra turned an web sensation.

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

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

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

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