Phoenix Open
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Established | 1932 |
| Course(s) | TPC of Scottsdale |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 7,216 yards (6,598 m) |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | $6,200,000 |
| Month played | February |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate |
256 Mark Calcavecchia (2001) 256 Phil Mickelson (2013) |
| To par |
−28 Mark Calcavecchia (2001) −28 Phil Mickelson (2013) |
| Current champion | |
 Kevin Stadler | |
The Waste Management Phoenix Open[1] is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held in early February at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) of Scottsdale, Arizona. The tournament was originally the Arizona Open, but was known for most of its history as the Phoenix Open until the investment bank Friedman Billings Ramsey became the title sponsor in October 2003, when it was known as the FBR Open. The Phoenix Open is called “The Greatest Show on Grass”. It is the largest professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour.[2]
History
The Phoenix Open began in 1932 but was discontinued after the 1935 tournament. The rebirth of the Phoenix Open came in 1939 when Bob Goldwater, Sr. convinced fellow Thunderbirds to help run the event. The Thunderbirds, a prominent civic organization in Phoenix, were not as enthusiastic about running the event as he was, leaving Goldwater, Sr. to do most of the work in getting a golf open started. The event was played at the Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix, both in its earlier incarnations and after Goldwater resuscitated it. Beginning in 1955, the Arizona Country Club (also in Phoenix) alternated as event host with Phoenix Country Club; this arrangement lasted until Phoenix Country Club took The Arizona Country Club's turn in 1975 and became the event's permanent home again.
In 1987, the tournament was moved to its current home, the Stadium Course at TPC of Scottsdale.
The 4-day attendance of the tournament is usually around 500,000. The most popular hole for spectators to watch is the 16th hole due to the "Amphitheatre" atmosphere of the hole, created by the stands erected every year before the tournament. The hole could be described as "one big party", with many students from the nearby Arizona State University. Poor shots at the 16th hole receive boos, because the hole is very easy by the PGA's standards. Good shots, however, are cheered for loudly. Famous moments at the 16th include Tiger Woods' hole-in-one in 1997, which caused the gallery to erupt, throwing cups and other objects in celebration, and Justin Leonard giving the finger to the gallery after a poor shot. In 2011 Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle aced the hole, causing the stands to erupt in excitement.
The most popular golfer at the open is unquestionably Phil Mickelson, an Arizona State alum. In addition to the golf, there is a concert/party held in the Scottsdale area called the Birds Nest, at which music artists like Huey Lewis and the News play.
It is the best-attended event in golf. In 2013, it set a PGA Tour single day attendance record with 179,022 fans in attendance on Saturday, February 2.[3] In 2014, the Phoenix Open set a tournament week attendance record of 563,008 fans.[4]
The Thunderbirds are still highly active in the organization of the tournament. Portions of the proceeds are used by the Thunderbirds to fund Special Olympics activities in Phoenix.
In recent years, the Phoenix Open has been played on Super Bowl Weekend. In 1996, the tournament was played Wednesday through Saturday, as Super Bowl XXX was held in nearby Sun Devil Stadium. In 2009, the tournament overlapped with the Super Bowl when Kenny Perry and Charley Hoffman went to a playoff, subsequently denying the spectators a chance to watch the beginning of the game, featuring the local Arizona Cardinals.
Records – scoring and victories
The lowest 4-day score (72 holes) for the tournament was by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001 with a total score of 256 (28 under par), which has since been matched by Phil Mickelson in 2013. In the second round he scored a 60, which equalled the lowest score at the Phoenix Open (by Grant Waite in 1996) and subsequently matched by Phil Mickelson in 2005 and 2013. Calcavecchia had 32 birdies in the tournament, which was also an all-time record.
There have been only two double eagles in the history of the Phoenix Open. Tom Pernice, Jr. made the first one on the 558-yard par-5 15th hole in 1990. Andrew Magee scored the second on the 332-yard par-4 17th hole in 2001. Magee's shot is believed to be the first-ever hole in one on a par-4 in PGA Tour history.
Calcavecchia (1989, 1992 and 2001) shares the most wins record of three with Gene Littler (1955, 1959, and 1969), Arnold Palmer (1961, 1962, and 1963) and Phil Mickelson (1996, 2005, 2013)
Winners
| Year | Player | Country | Score | To par | 1st prize ($) | Purse ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Management Phoenix Open | ||||||
| 2014 | Kevin Stadler | United States | 268 | −16 | 1,116,000 | 6,200,000 |
| 2013 | Phil Mickelson (3) | United States | 256 | −28 | 1,116,000 | 6,200,000 |
| 2012 | Kyle Stanley | United States | 269 | −15 | 1,098,000 | 6,100,000 |
| 2011 | Mark Wilson | United States | 266 | −18 | 1,098,000 | 6,100,000 |
| 2010 | Hunter Mahan | United States | 268 | −16 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| FBR Open | ||||||
| 2009 | Kenny Perry | United States | 270 | −14 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2008 | J. B. Holmes (2) | United States | 270 | −14 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2007 | Aaron Baddeley |  Australia | 263 | −21 | 1,080,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 2006 | J. B. Holmes | United States | 263 | −21 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 |
| 2005 | Phil Mickelson (2) | United States | 267 | −17 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 |
| 2004 | Jonathan Kaye | United States | 266 | −18 | 936,000 | 5,200,000 |
| Phoenix Open | ||||||
| 2003 | Vijay Singh (2) |  Fiji | 261 | −23 | 720,000 | 4,000,000 |
| 2002 | Chris DiMarco | United States | 267 | −17 | 720,000 | 4,000,000 |
| 2001 | Mark Calcavecchia (3) | United States | 256 | −28 | 720,000 | 4,000,000 |
| 2000 | Tom Lehman | United States | 270 | −14 | 576,000 | 3,200,000 |
| 1999 | Rocco Mediate | United States | 273 | −11 | 540,000 | 3,000,000 |
| 1998 | Jesper Parnevik |  Sweden | 269 | −15 | 450,000 | 2,500,000 |
| 1997 | Steve Jones | United States | 258 | −26 | 270,000 | 1,500,000 |
| 1996 % | Phil Mickelson | United States | 269 | −15 | 234,000 | 1,300,000 |
| 1995 | Vijay Singh | Fiji | 269 | −15 | 234,000 | 1,300,000 |
| 1994 | Bill Glasson | United States | 268 | −16 | 216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 1993 | Lee Janzen | United States | 273 | −11 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1992 | Mark Calcavecchia (2) | United States | 264 | −20 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1991 | Nolan Henke | United States | 268 | −16 | 180,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1990 | Tommy Armour III | United States | 267 | −17 | 162,000 | 900,000 |
| 1989 | Mark Calcavecchia | United States | 263 | −21 | 126,000 | 700,000 |
| 1988 | Sandy Lyle |  Scotland | 269 | −15 | 117,000 | 650,000 |
| 1987 | Paul Azinger | United States | 268 | −16 | 108,000 | 600,000 |
| 1986 | Hal Sutton | United States | 267 | −21 | 90,000 | 500,000 |
| 1985 | Calvin Peete | United States | 270 | −14 | 81,000 | 450,000 |
| 1984 | Tom Purtzer | United States | 268 | −16 | 72,000 | 400,000 |
| 1983 | Bob Gilder (2) | United States | 271 | −13 | 63,000 | 350,000 |
| 1982 | Lanny Wadkins | United States | 263 | −21 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1981 | David Graham | Australia | 268 | −16 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1980 | Jeff Mitchell | United States | 272 | −12 | 54,000 | 300,000 |
| 1979 | Ben Crenshaw | United States | 199* | −14 | 33,750 | 250,000 |
| 1978 | Miller Barber | United States | 272 | −12 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1977 | Jerry Pate | United States | 277 | −7 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1976 | Bob Gilder | United States | 268 | −16 | 40,000 | 200,000 |
| 1975 | Johnny Miller (2) | United States | 260 | −24 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1974 | Johnny Miller | United States | 271 | −13 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1973 | Bruce Crampton | Australia | 268 | −12 | 30,000 | 150,000 |
| 1972 | Homero Blancas | United States | 273 | −11 | 25,000 | 125,000 |
| Phoenix Open Invitational | ||||||
| 1971 | Miller Barber | United States | 261 | −23 | 25,000 | 125,000 |
| 1970 | Dale Douglass | United States | 271 | −13 | 20,000 | 100,000 |
| 1969 | Gene Littler (3) | United States | 263 | −21 | 20,000 | 100,000 |
| 1968 | George Knudson |  Canada | 272 | −12 | 20,000 | 100,000 |
| 1967 | Julius Boros | United States | 272 | −12 | 14,000 | 70,000 |
| 1966 | Dudley Wysong | United States | 278 | −6 | 9,000 | 60,000 |
| 1965 | Rod Funseth | United States | 274 | −14 | 10,500 | 65,000 |
| 1964 | Jack Nicklaus | United States | 271 | −13 | 7,500 | 50,000 |
| 1963 | Arnold Palmer (3) | United States | 273 | −15 | 5,300 | 35,000 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer (2) | United States | 269 | −15 | 5,300 | 35,000 |
| 1961 | Arnold Palmer | United States | 270 | −10 | 4,300 | 30,000 |
| 1960 | Jack Fleck | United States | 273 | −11 | 3,150 | 22,500 |
| 1959 | Gene Littler (2) |  United States | 268 | −12 | 2,400 | 20,000 |
| 1958 | Ken Venturi |  United States | 274 | −10 | 2,000 | 15,000 |
| 1957 | Billy Casper | United States | 271 | −9 | 2,000 | 15,000 |
| Phoenix Open | ||||||
| 1956 | Cary Middlecoff | United States | 276 | −8 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| 1955 | Gene Littler | United States | 275 | −5 | 2,400 | 15,000 |
| 1954 | Ed Furgol | United States | 272 | −12 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1953 | Lloyd Mangrum (2) | United States | 272 | −12 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1952 | Lloyd Mangrum | United States | 274 | −10 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1951 | Lew Worsham | United States | 272 | −12 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| Ben Hogan Open | ||||||
| 1950 | Jimmy Demaret (2) | United States | 269 | −15 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| Phoenix Open | ||||||
| 1949 | Jimmy Demaret | United States | 278 | −6 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1948 | Bobby Locke |  South Africa | 268 | −16 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1947 | Ben Hogan (2) | United States | 270 | −14 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| 1946 | Ben Hogan | United States | 273 | −11 | 1,500 | 7,500 |
| 1945 | Byron Nelson (2) | United States | 274 | −10 | 1,000 | 5,000 |
| 1944 | Harold "Jug" McSpaden | United States | 273 | −11 | 1,000 | 5,000 |
| 1943 | No tournament | |||||
| 1942 | No tournament - hosted Western Open | |||||
| 1941 | ||||||
| 1940 | Ed Oliver | United States | 205^ | −8 | 700 | 3,000 |
| 1939 | Byron Nelson | United States | 198^ | −15 | 700 | 3,000 |
| 1938 | No tournament | |||||
| 1937 | ||||||
| 1936 | ||||||
| 1935 | Ky Laffoon | United States | 281 | −3 | 500 | 2,500 |
| 1934 | No tournament | |||||
| Arizona Open | ||||||
| 1933 | Harry Cooper | United States | 281 | −3 | 400 | 1,500 |
| 1932 | Ralph Guldahl | United States | 285 | −1 | 600 | 2,500 |
- * rain-shortened to 54 holes
- ^ scheduled 54 holes
- % Moved to Wednesday–Saturday as Super Bowl XXX was held in nearby Tempe.
Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources[5][6][7]
Multiple winners
Thirteen men have won this tournament more than once.
- 3 wins
- Phil Mickelson: 1996, 2005, 2013
- Mark Calcavecchia: 1989, 1992, 2001
- Gene Littler: 1955, 1959, 1969
- Arnold Palmer: 1961, 1962, 1963
- 2 wins
- J. B. Holmes: 2006, 2008
- Vijay Singh: 1995, 2003
- Bob Gilder: 1976, 1983
- Miller Barber: 1971, 1978
- Johnny Miller: 1974, 1975
- Lloyd Mangrum: 1952, 1953
- Jimmy Demaret: 1949, 1950
- Ben Hogan: 1946, 1947
- Byron Nelson: 1939, 1945
References
- ↑ "Waste Management to sponsor Phoenix Open". PGA Tour. December 9, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ↑ http://staceyswanger.com/five-cant-miss-events-in-scottsdale-phoenix/
- ↑ Statistics and Records Book (Phoenix Open Attendance History)
- ↑ "WMPO sets attendance record". PGA Tour. February 3, 2014.
- ↑ FBR Open - Year-by-year Top Finishers - at www.fbropen.com
- ↑ FBR Open - Winners - at www.pgatour.com
- ↑ FBR Open - Winners - at golfobserver.com