Behind-the-scenes look at thrill of playing 16th hole at Phoenix Open
Go along for a ride with a PGA Tour player as he talks about playing the iconic par-3 16th hole at the Greenest Show on Grass.
The WM Phoenix Open might not tee off until Thursday, but the festivities at TPC Scottsdale are underway, with Wednesday’s Annexus Pro-Am.
This year’s edition features notable athletes including Aaron Rodgers, Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Phelps, alongside Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and country star Jelly Roll are also among the well-known names at the event.
In each group, four amateurs are paired with PGA Tour professionals, who play nine holes while the amateurs play 18.
Here’s a look at the biggest happenings during Wednesday’s event:
The Diamondbacks were well represented at TPC Scottsdale on Wednesday, with each of the team’s top three starting pitchers and manager Torey Lovullo participating in the WM Phoenix Open’s Annexus Pro-Am.
New ace Corbin Burnes opened eyes with his impressive long game, knocking drives down the fairway at distances that rivaled those of professional golfers.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Diamondbacks radio voice Chris Garagiola, who spent the day with Burnes’ group, serving as caddie for fellow radio broadcaster Tom Candiotti.
“I don’t think I’ve seen an amateur drive it as far and accurately as (Burnes) does. He doesn’t hold anything back with his swing; you would think that for someone who doesn’t play professionally, he could kill someone. And then he’s just in the fairway 340, 350, 360 (yards). He had some of the pros ooh-ing and ahh-ing at his shots.”
Lovullo and right-hander Zac Gallen were in a group together while right-hander Merrill Kelly was in a group with swimmer Michael Phelps.
Lovullo said he had an unwanted run-in with a snake after a tee shot went awry. He credited his wife, Kristen, for alerting him.
“I got my ball and ran off,” Lovullo said. “Luckily, the snake was traveling the opposite way. It was thick. It was probably 4-, 5-feet long. I’m out on snakes. I don’t like snakes at all.”
—Nick Piecoro
Remember those oversized caps that were all the rage at sporting events a couple of years ago? They’re back, or more likely never left, and were spotted on several heads Wednesday at the WM Phoenix Open.
The company that makes them is called NOGGIN Boss, founded in 2019. Some WM Phoenix Open staff handed out, or rather tossed hats into the crowd at the 16th hole on Wednesday.
WM Phoenix Open NOGGIN Boss hats are available for purchase for $99.99 at the company website.
-José Romero
Scottie Scheffler ‘genuinely sad’ about Luka Doncic trade
Scottie Scheffler might be best known for his status as the world’s best golfer, but he’s also a noted Dallas sports fan. This week, that means processing the stunning trade that sent Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers in a three-team deal that netted Dallas a first-round pick and Anthony Davis.
Speaking after his round at the Pro-Am, Scheffler offered a similar tune to Mavericks fans around the country.
“Losing Luka, I think this is one of the first times I’ve ever been genuinely sad with a move that has been made in Dallas,” Scheffler said. “We were spoiled with Dirk (Nowitzki) for so long, and Dirk in my opinion is like the greatest sportsman ever.
“He’s a great guy and great for the city of Dallas. I think most people in Dallas imagined Luka was going to be that for us.”
While Doncic has not yet repeated Nowitzki’s career highlight — the Mavericks’ 2011 NBA title — he did lead Dallas to the NBA Finals last season, where they lost to the Celtics in five games. At the time, it seemed like the start of an era. It turned out to be near the end.
“It’s very sad to see him leave,” Scheffler said. “I think as fans we’re all a bit confused at the moment. But hopefully they’ve got some sort of plan we don’t know about because I think a lot of the fan base is just a bit confused right now and a bit sad.”
—Theo Mackie
Jelly Roll late to tee time
When the 9:50 grouping teed off on the 10th hole, Jelly Roll was nowhere to be seen. As the group went off, the starter said “Jelly Roll must be on rockstar time.”
That turned out to be the case. Roughly half an hour later, Jelly Roll showed up to the course, where he was hounded for autographs and selfies before eventually joining up with the rest of his group, which features PGA Tour players J.T. Poston and Taylor Moore.
Later on Wednesday, Jelly Roll is headlining the opening night of the Coors Light Birds Nest concert series, with Treaty Oak Revival opening.
—Theo Mackie and Jose Romero
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon tees off
Gannon played in last year’s Pro-Am but this is different. Last year, the event was cut short by rain, before most players could reach the famed 16th hole. Crowds thinned out early and did not greet the Pro-Am’s biggest names with a typical Phoenix Open welcome.
This year will offer a more typical experience.
“There’s so much energy around it,” Gannon said. “I went to school at the University of Louisville, it reminds me of the week of the (Kentucky) Derby.”
But while Gannon might be among the names to garner the most attention from fans, he warned that he’s not the best local sports coach in the Pro-Am field. Earlier this week, he played a round with Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and was outmatched.
“He whooped me,” Gannon said.
—Theo Mackie
