FBR Open

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The FBR Open is a nationally televised golf tournament, a part of the PGA Tour, held at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) of Scottsdale, Arizona around the last weekend in January. The tournament was originally the Arizona Open, but was known for most of its history as the Phoenix Open until the investment bank, Friedman Billings Ramsey, became the title sponsor in October 2003.

1 History
2 Records of the Phoenix Open
3 Other facts
4 Winners

[edit] History

The Phoenix Open began in 1932 but was discontinued after the 1935 tournament. The rebirth of the Phoenix Open came in 1939 when the vision of a dedicated golfer, Bob Goldwater, Sr. convinced fellow Thunderbirds into running the event. The Thunderbirds (a prominent civic organization in Phoenix) were not enthusiastic about running the event as he was as he did most of the work in getting a golf open started. The event was played at Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona, both in its earlier incarnations and after Goldwater resuscitated it. Beginning in 1955, The Arizona Country Club (also in Phoenix) alternated as event host with Phoenix Country Club; this arrangement lasted until Phoenix Country Club took The Arizona Country Club's turn in 1975 and became the event's permanent home again. In 1987 the tournament was moved to the TPC of Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

In 1939 the total payout was $3000 and has increased dramatically with $4,000,000 being the total payout now. The winner of the tournament receives $720,000 of that money (i.e., 18% of the purse, the standard winner's share on the PGA Tour). The reigning champion (2006) is J.B. Holmes. Other well-known winners in recent years included Phil Mickelson in 2005 and 1996, Vijay Singh in 2003 and 1995, Chris DiMarco in 2002, and Mark Calcavecchia in 2001, 1992, and 1989.

[edit] Records of the Phoenix Open

The lowest 4-day score (72 holes) for the tournament was Mark Calcavecchia in 2001 with a total score of 256, which was an incredible 28 under par. One of the days of the tournament he scored a 60, which was the lowest score in the history of the Phoenix Open tied with Grant Waite in 1996. Calcavecchia had 32 birdies in the tournament, which was also an all-time record. He was among three 3-time winners of the Phoenix Open. The other two were Gene Littler in 1955, 1959, and 1969 and Arnold Palmer in 1961, 1962, and 1963. There has been only one double eagle in the history of the Phoenix Open, by Tom Pernice Jr. on the 15th hole in 1990.

[edit] Other facts

The 4-day attendance of the tournament is usually around 500,000. The most popular hole for spectators to watch is the 16th hole due to the "Amphitheatre" atmosphere of the hole, created by the stands erected every year before the tournament. The hole could be described as "one big party", with many students from the nearby Arizona State University. Poor shots at the 16th hole receive boos, because the hole is very easy by the PGA's standards. Good shots, however, are cheered for loudly. Famous moments at the 16th include Tiger Woods' hole-in-one in 1997, which caused the gallery to erupt, throwing cups and other objects in celebration, and Justin Leonard giving the finger to the gallery after a poor shot. The most popular golfer at FBR is unquestionably Phil Mickelson, an Arizona State alum. In addition to the golf, there is a concert/party held in the Scottsdale area called the Birds Nest, in which music artists like Huey Lewis and the News play.

The FBR Open is the opportunity to see the best golfers in this nationally televised event that gives the City of Scottsdale more name recognition across the U.S.

This is the best attended golf tournament of every calendar year, and in 2006 the FBR Open set a PGA Tour single day attendance record with over 168,000 fans in attendance on Saturday, Feb. 4, as well as a tournament week attendance record of 536,367 fans.

The Thunderbirds are still highly active in the organization of the FBR Open. Portions of the proceeds are used by the Thunderbirds to fund Special Olympics activities in Phoenix.