This weekend's FBR Open revolved around one of ASU's very own, Phil Mickelson, winning his second title at the event before record crowds. However, the golf tournament also featured another type of resurgence -- the return of the 16th hole.
Famous -- or more accurately infamous -- for its boisterous crowd and ... boisterous crowd -- the 16th hole is slowly reverting to its roots of afternoon frat party.
Estimates of up to 40,000 patrons, or roughly an average Arizona Cardinals game, converge on the 162-yard hole. On paper, the hole is straightforward, but the sound of a football stadium full of medicated fans is kind of hard to reproduce.
The 16th, or the "Asylum of the Insane" as CBS golf analyst Gary McCord refers to it, reached its pinnacle in 1997 when Tiger Woods two-hopped the pin for a hole in one and was quickly serenaded with cheers and half-empty cups of beers.
After that, skyboxes began to pop up and the rowdy fans were exiled to the south-side bleachers where they could still be easily heard. The rowdies give the warmest applause to former ASU golfers -- like Mickelson and Joey Synder III, who finished in a tie for 11th overall.
Some golfers, like Chandler resident Steve Jones, welcome the applause with open arms while others frown on the wildness.
With every passing group, fans would bet on who hits closest to the pin, leading to more $1 bills being exchanged than a strip club at closing time. Great shots were rewarded with applause -- and more money for beer -- while poor shots were booed.
But the fine folks of the Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, the sponsors of the FBR Open, should still do more. I'm no Ronald Reagan, but tear down those corporate tents. In replacement -- more beer gardens. On Saturday, beer lines were 100-deep with lines lasting at least 30 minutes.
The only positive the corporate areas bring to the rowdies are a new line of jokes. Where else could you see a guy with a pink, checkered shirt and a sweater vest and barrage him with insults until he walks away? Only if he was drinking an appletini would the verbal abuse have gotten worse.
Next year, the event will be just as big and more raucous. I hope by then, my buddy will be back with my Miller Light.
The Tao of Zow is the weekly column of assistant sports editor Jeff Hoodzow. If you have any questions, comments or rumors to report, please feel free to e-mail him at TaoofZow@gmail.com.
