To those who have played the 16^th at TPC Scottsdale in the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open, it is like playing at the Red Sox post 2004 World Series riot inside of Fenway during the game.  No cars will be turned over and torched but you could light the breath of 80% of those in attendance.  There is nothing like it anywhere else on the PGA Tour.

Bo Van Pelt said that stepping out of the tunnel to the teeing area is the modern sports equivalent of stepping into the Roman Gladiator ring.  About 30,000 crazies with Caesar McCord giving the thumbs up or thumbs down.  All this hoopla for professionals hitting a knock-down 9-iron into a 162 yard par 3 that doesn’t even have a water hazard.

Over the years this hole has seen it’s share of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly-Tiger’s Ace in 1997,  some really impaired synchronization of the wave, and Ian Poulter giving the crowd the one-finger salute after missing a short birdie putt.

Bedlam always prevails.  The guy with the “Quiet Please” paddle is about as relevant as Tiger’s body guard at a Sorority Mixer.

The Golf Channel

January, 2011