Focus on this unique event of the PGA Tour, which begins this Thursday and welcomes the most spectators in the world each year, far from the often hushed atmosphere of golf.
Par
Romain Schneider
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World number one Rory McIlroy and 22 of the 25 best players in the world are this Thursday at the start of the Phoenix Open Waste Management, not far from the capital of Arizona, in Scottsdale on the course of the Tournament Players Club. This event, whose endowment is increased to 20 million dollars, will bring back no less than 3.6 million green tickets to the future winner and some memorable memories. While the Super Bowl final, one of the most watched events in the United States, will also be played this weekend at the nearby State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the record of more than 700,000 spectators from the 2018 edition will be beat? One certainty, the atmosphere there is likely to be crazy, once again.
” READ ALSO – Waste Management Phoenix Open: the crazy PGA Tour tournament
Especially if one of the participants drills a hole in one on the mythical hole 16. A par 3 of 150 meters, unique in the world, where the public lets loose like nowhere else. Sam Ryder, who managed one last season, caused a deluge of beer from alcoholic fans. It had taken more than 15 minutes for volunteers to restore the hole… Sam Ryder, who had never yet managed a ACE chose his moment well. It’s been 7 years since fans last saw a hole in 1 on the 16th at TPC Scottsdale. The latest being that of Francesco Molinari in 2015.
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This 16 hole entered into golf legend 26 years ago, when Tiger Woods also achieved this feat. The man with 15 Majors, then 21 years old, had triggered a memorable hysteria. In 1997, the 16 was not yet entirely surrounded by stands, but the atmosphere was already surreal.
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In 2008, the organization decided to make 16 the first and only hole in the world entirely surrounded by bleachers. A 23,000-seat stadium, named the Colosseum in homage to the famous arena in Rome. It is indeed sometimes reminiscent of circus games. No mercy for the arena gladiators. Even for the former darling of the PGA Tour Phil Mickelson, who has since left for the controversial LIV Golf. After missing the green in the large widths, a few years ago, the local darling received a half-bronca and signed a double bogey.
The majority of the spectators, often soaked, are provided with signs on which are written often funny little messages. American Roberto Castro, greeted with “Fidel! Fidel!”, in exchange distributed cigars to the public one day. Funny but sometimes also nasty, the crowd of 16. Tiger Woods has not set foot in this tournament since 2011. That year a fan had, it is true, attacked the star by trying to swing him… oranges. A few years earlier, in 1999, another spectator was arrested not far from the “Tiger” with… a gun in his pocket.
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Jean van de Velde, one of the few Frenchmen to have played in this tournament in 2000 and 2001, did not pass the cut but has not forgotten the very special atmosphere that reigns around this hole, very close to that of a football stadium: “When you arrive on the 16, it’s impressive, confided to Le Figaro the former French number one. From training, the atmosphere is electric. I took full ears (laughs). I had received a very good reception because of my second place at the British 99. Luckily for me, I had made par each time when I reached the green. Because if you touch even a small piece of green, people give you a standing ovation, but if you miss it, you get booed. How far is overflow acceptable? It remains very good child despite the consumption of beer.
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And the crazy atmosphere is not limited to the simple hole 16. A huge marquee is set up to host concerts and turns into a disco throughout the night, some golfers mingling with the party. The late Payne Stewart often jammed there: “I had been stunned by the number of spectators, poursuivait van de Velde. On the other side of the course, the organizers are building a gigantic village. Those who do not have a ticket for the tournament meet there in the evening. There are concerts, a real show around the golf event. It’s always party time. » Nicolas Colsaerts, hero of the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah, who was playing on the American circuit at the time, boiled down to Canal + in an Interior Sport program dedicated to the famous par 3 of 16. “It’s like playing golf at a rock festival!” »
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