• COURSE: TPC Scottsdale (Stadium), 7,216 yards, par
71. Built in 1986 specifically for the Open's move to the suburbs, the
Tom Weiskopf/Jay Morrish design quickly carved its niche as the
best-attended - and most raucous - venue on the PGA TOUR. The
centerpiece is the par-3 16th, now an enclosed arena that holds some
20,000 spectators at once. Tiger Woods scored a hole-in-one there in
1997, one of just eight at the hole. Andrew Magee made PGA TOUR history
with his ace at No. 17 - the first on a par-4.
• FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points.
• FIELD WATCH: Defending champion Phil Mickelson, making his
25th Waste Management start, and former Masters winner Bubba Watson
highlight a field that features eight of the top 30 and 21 of the top 50
in the current Official World Golf Ranking. Mickelson has been battling
back woes that hampered his play at Torrey Pines this week. … Former
world No. 1 Lee Westwood makes his first visit, altering his schedule to
play the Arizona desert instead of the Middle East's desert stops. …
Spencer Levin, who squandered a six-shot lead on the final day two years
ago, returns after a one-year hiatus. Thumb surgery forced Levin to sit
out all of last season.
• 72-HOLE RECORD: 256, Mark Calcavecchia (2001), Phil Mickelson (2013).
• 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Grant Waite (4th round, 1996), Mark
Calcavecchia (2nd round, 2001), Phil Mickelson (2nd round, 2005), Phil
Mickelson (1st round, 2013).
• LAST YEAR: Mickelson began his week flirting with a historic
59 and ended it just short of the PGA TOUR scoring record, going
wire-to-wire for a four-shot romp that was the 41st of his career.
Mickelson completed 72 holes in 28-under 256, matching the tournament
scoring record and two off the TOUR mark by Tommy Armour III at the 2003
Texas Open. The biggest drama came in the opening round, when
Mickelson's 25-foot try attempt on the final hole caught the lip and
spun back toward the Hall of Famer. Ensuing rounds of 65 and 64 pushed
his lead to six shots entering the final round. Brandt Snedeker was
second after a closing 65.
• STORYLINES: Mickelson, Phoenix's "favorite son" going back
to his Arizona State days, seeks to become the event's first four-time
winner. Last year's victory, coupled with wins in 1996 and 2005, lifted
him alongside Arnold Palmer, Gene Littler and Mark Calcavecchia.
Mickelson's career earnings at TPC Scottsdale come to $3,689,782. …
Harris English (Sony Open) and Patrick Reed (Humana Challenge) seek to
become the first man with two wins in 2014. They would join Jimmy Walker
with two wins in the wraparound season. … Sang-Moon Bae and Derek Ernst
are the only men to enter each of the first five events since winter
break.
• SHORT CHIPS: A Mickelson victory also would break a tie with
Johnny Miller for the most PGA TOUR wins in Arizona. Both have six -
Mickelson also owns three wins at the old Nortel Open in Tucson; Miller
won four times in Tucson and twice in Phoenix. … Last year's cumulative
scoring average of 68.95 was the lowest in the tournament's 82-year
history. The previous best came in 2003, when the field averaged 69.13.
It also marked the first time four players finished at 24-under or
lower. … Attending fans are encouraged to wear green on Saturday, in
support of Waste Management's eco-sensitive initiatives.
• TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (CBS).
Last Week's Winner Ed! Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Ed - 1696
2. Sea - 1677
3. DL - 1565
4. Liz - 1490
5. dfs - 1352
6. Bobcat - 1307
7. 2952 - 1289
8. 67810 - 1075
9. NiA - 1043
10. Ocala - 963
11. NMT - 754
12. Baldy - 716
13. Bill - 379
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 2/2 7:39 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
