Golf fans the world over know the WM Phoenix Open as the “Greatest Show on Grass,” with the historically raucous atmosphere on the par-3 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course playing a huge part in that reputation. Surrounded on all sides by almost 20,000 vocal fans, who are there as much for a good time (especially during Saturday’s third round, when it can be a long wait for general admission seats) as they are to see the world’s best golfers try to rack up birdies. In honor of the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament, here are seven most memorable moments on the famous 16th hole.
1988
There were no massive grandstands encircling the hole back in 1988, but Hal Sutton still caused a roar from the crowd when he carded the tournament’s first hole-in-one on the 16th during the second year of action at TPC Scottsdale. Sutton had won the tournament two years earlier when it was played at Phoenix Country Club.
1992
The road to 16 becoming known as “The Coliseum” begins this year when 11 corporate boxes are built. By 2020 there were 278 of those in a three-story high structure with room for more than 13,000 people. Pricing for a Skybox 16 Loge suite now ranges from $165,000 to $195,000 for tournament week.
1997
He would win his first major two months later at The Masters, but when Tiger Woods made a hole-in-one on 16 this year, the crowd reaction was electric. The ace exposed the world to the rowdy atmosphere of the Phoenix Open thanks to the shot being replayed on television over and over (and over – still, to this day!).
2011
The “Coliseum” gets completely surrounded by stands this year, making it the first hole of its kind on the PGA Tour. By 2020, total capacity reached almost 17,000, with 3,700 general admission seats. Construction of the grandstands and corporate hospitality suites usually takes four months to build, with 1,600 tons of structural steel used during the process.
2022
Sam Ryder stepped to the tee during the third round, hit a sand wedge, and thrilled the late afternoon crowd with the 12th ever hole-in-one on 16. So much so that play was stopped for 20 minutes to clean up all the debris thrown onto and around the green from the fired-up spectators. The very next day, Carlos Ortiz replicated the feat, marking the first time since 1997 that there were aces on 16 on consecutive days!
2022
Normally the action on 16 takes place during daylight hours, but that changed this year when the hole was transformed into a concert venue on the Saturday night before tournament week. The “Concert in the Coliseum” features a temporary stage built halfway between the tee boxes and the green. Now an annual tradition, musical entertainment was provided by Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett that first year, followed by Maroon 5 and Walker Hayes in 2023 and Post Malone in 2024.
Tom Mackin, a former Senior Editor at Golf Magazine, writes for local, regional and national golf publications across the U.S. The New Jersey native met his wife in Scottsdale and the two have lived here since 2013. See more on Instagram: @temackin
