PGA: FBR Open Preview

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By Everardo Keeme via TheSandTrap.com

Can Phil Mickelson become the first back-to-back winner of the FBR Open since Jonny Miller did it back in 1974-75?

So the 2006 FBR Open is starting in my town this week and I am glad that I'm out of town for it too. I love my home town and I love this event since it's start as the Phoenix Open however I'm not one for crowds and boy oh boy does this event draw a crowd. Dubbed "The Greatest Show on Grass" people come to the event to have a good time and the PGA Tour players know this well.

The FBR Open continually has the largest attendance of any PGA Tour event, despite having the final round on Super Bowl Sunday. The FBR Open also has the loudest hole in golf, the 162-yard par-3 16th, which is surrounded by bleaches and private boxes. Players know to expect anything at this hole, they can be boo-ed for not getting their approach next to the pin or they can create a roar that can be heard for miles for getting it close or making a hole-in-one like Tiger did years back, this while being sung their college fight song, "Happy Birthday" or "O'Canada".



What else can players expect in Phoenix?



In 1999, Tiger Woods learned that fans in Phoenix will move mountains for him literally, as he had a dozen men move a massive 1,000-pound rock for him that was deemed a loose impediment by a rules official. Tiger has also learned that fans in Phoenix can take the party and booze way too far as a fan once threw an orange at him while putting out on his final hole or finding out a man was carrying a gun after being arrested for taunting him during a round.



Events like these have made the FBR Open one of the most attended events by private security firms, police officers and sheriff deputies to protect everyone in attendance and spends more money on security than any other event. Despite everything that has gone on here many players on the PGA Tour actually look forward to the 16th hole and love this event for the atmosphere that it creates.



Last year we saw Kevin Na fall slip at the end to tie for second with Scott McCarron while Phil Mickelson charged to the win after shooting a final round 66 and creating some great publicity with a 60 in the second round. Mickelson and Na were actually tied at -12 going into the 15th but Na made bogey on 15 after his tee shot found the water while Phil played safe and made par.



Stepping of the 16th green is where the momentum and mood really shifted though as Na three-putted for another bogey and as if he wasn't feeling bad enough he was booed by the crowd and had to listen to the crowd cheer Phil for making an excellent sand save. Na regained some composure and went on to par the 17th and 18th but that didn't help as Phil birdied the final two holes to calmly walk away with the win.



The event has a distinguished list of winners dating back to 1932 that include, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, defending and two-time champion Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Scottsdale residents Tom Lehman and Jonathan Kaye.



The FBR Open is the fifth of nine events in the 2006 West Coast Swing presented by Allianz. Chad Campbell still holds the lead after his win at the Bob Hope and his T-2 finish at the Sony Open.



This year's purse is $5.2 million with $936,000 going to the winner. This year the FBR Open will take place at the TPC of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ from January 30 - February 5, 2006. This is also the 20th consecutive year the TPC of Scottsdale has held this event.



It can be seen on USA and CBS and heard on XM Radio at the following times:



Thu, 2/2 4-6 pm ET USA
Fri, 2/3 4-6 pm ET USA
Sat, 2/4 3-6 pm ET CBS
Sun, 2/5 3-6 pm ET CBS

Thu, 2/2 12-6 pm ET XM 146
Fri, 2/3 12-6 pm ET XM 146
Sat, 2/4 12-6 pm ET XM 146
Sun, 2/5 12-6 pm ET XM 146

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