Scotty Scheffler aims for third Phoenix Open win – Winnipeg Free Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) – The PGA Tour is moving from the rugged but scenic coast of Northern California to a desert party this week.

Dubbed “The Greatest Show on Grass,” the Phoenix Open is unlike anything else in golf. Nearly 200,000 fans pack TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course with excitement, excitement and the occasional beer shower.

The eye of the storm is the stadium 16th hole, a multi-tiered par-3 group with “Quiet Please” signs, don't be disrespected.

Scotty Scheffler feels right at home in the chaos.

The world's No. 1 golfer has won the Phoenix Open the past two years and has a chance to do something that hasn't happened on the PGA Tour in 13 years in the tournament that begins Thursday.

“It's a little different than a lot of tournaments we play,” Scheffler said Wednesday. “It provides some interesting things, but also some challenges, as well as noise and stuff. It's definitely a lot of fun to play at this event.”

A year ago, the Phoenix Open had a higher status and a purse of $20 million – $3.6 million to the winner. The changes, now known as signature events, dethroned the Phoenix Open in favor of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and lowered the purse by $8.8 million.

The Phoenix Open was a signature event before the destination was set.

Ever since Tiger Woods' sensational, fist-pumping hole-in-one on No. 16 in 1997, the Phoenix Open has become a must-stop for players who can handle the heat (from the fans, not the desert).

The tournament draws record crowds — more than 700,000 in one week — and the booze-filled 16th hole sounds like an NBA playoff game, with more than 20,000 people cheering on good shots and even mediocre players.

“It's really good out there and they've done a great job trying to control the chaos as much as possible,” said Justin Thomas, who has four top-10 finishes at Phoenix in the last five years.

This year's tournament has another strong field, even with Victor Hovland and Xander Schauffele out on Monday. Fan-favorites Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler will be duking it out this week at Scottsdale, as well as last week's winner at Pebble Beach, Wyndham Clarke.

Clark shot a 60 in Saturday's third round to move up the leaderboard and was declared the 54-hole winner when gusty winds and rain washed out Sunday's final round.

“To break the course record and win at the end of what is one of the most historic golf courses in the world, I think that was just the icing on the cake,” said Clark, the reigning US Open champion.

Scheffler defeated Patrick Cantlay in a playoff in 2022 for his first career PGA Tour victory after several close calls a year earlier. He won three more times in 2022, including The Masters for his first major championship and a two-stroke victory over Nick Taylor in the round of 65 at the Phoenix Open last season.

If he wins the three-peat at TPC Scottsdale, Scheffler will become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic from 2009-2011 to win the tournament three years in a row.

“I think it's one of those tournaments where you always focus, just being No. 16 — that's what everybody thinks when they come into this tournament,” Scheffler said. “But the golf course is really nice.”

Scheffler knows this well.

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AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf