Feb 1 FBR Open preview

It’s unique, it’s different, it’s mad and totally bonkers: yes folks, it’s FBR Open time at TPC Scottsdale just outside Phoenix, Arizona. There’s simply no other tournament like it on Planet Golf.

I’ve been fortunate to cover a handful of FBR Opens for Today’s Golfer in recent years and it never ceases to amaze me and the same can be said for this year’sd pre-tournament weather which has hardly been scorching desert elements – more like a wet weekend in Manchester! So much for the Valley of the Sun.

No doubt though the sun will soon be shining (hopefully) on another star-studded field and the vast galleries this action-packed event annually attracts. The FBR Open, you see, is one big party with a capital P. Many of the good folk who turn up just because it is the place to be and to be seen, taking full advantage of the second-to-none corporate hospitality facilities.

This is a completely different crowd to the one that will turn up at this year’s Open at Carnoustie: a great many in the vast galleries won’t see a single shot struck in anger all week, preferring to top-up their tan or to see who can demolish the most pies and pints. It’s true even that many punters won’t know one end of a golf club from another. Harsh, but true…

Incredibly during the week over 500,000 spectators flock into the TPC, as bold and brassy golf venue you’rfe evr likely to see. Last year’s event attracted a whopping record attendance figure of 536,737 wikth 168,337 showing up for Saturday’s third round. About 40,000 of them gather round the par 3 16th, almolst certainly the world’s most raucous, wildest short hole.

Heaven help anybody who hits a bad shot here…if so they’re likely to be ‘rewarded’ with a choros of boos and jeers.

TPC course superintendent Jeff Plotts summed it up: “It should be one of the easiest par 3s on the PGA Tour but with 40,000 people there it makes it very intimidating. A different ball game.”

Players either love or loathe the rowdy galleries. Swede Jesper Parnevik is a big fan but then again he has always been different and off-the-wall. It certainly creates a lively, electric atmosphere when the heat is really on and probably the only thing that can compare with the noise generated is the Ryder Cup.

The FBR Open is also unique in that it is run by a large group of local businessmen called the Thunderbirds who are hoping to raise $7m for charity.

I still haven’t got used to the Thunderbirds officials donning their rather loud and striking uniforms kept in ploace by massive belts. The Thunderbirds should be flying high come Sunday night even though the clash with the Superbowl in Miami should restrict the attendanxce to a mere 80,000! But the real party takes place a year from now when Phoenix actually hosts the Superbowl.