These Guys are Good!

This past week was Phoenix's red-headed stepchild PGA Tour event, the Frys.com Open. The FBR (Phoenix) Open is the mega-golf tournament in town. It is usually played on Super Bowl weekend and, notwithstanding the conflict with the Super Bowl on Sunday, has by far the largest crowds of any PGA event. Everyone knows about the Par 3 16th hole, which is the rowdiest hole on the PGA Tour.

The Frys.com Open is part of the Fall Season events and was played on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. This year the tournament raised $670,500 for a variety of local and national charities. Since the tournament is played after the FEDEX Cup championship, most of the superstars do not participate in the event. It is a tournament for those players that are trying to make the top 125 money list for a full exemption the following year on the PGA Tour or the top 150 money list for a partial exemption the following year on the PGA Tour. The highest guy on the money list was Rory Sabbatini at No. 18. It is also an opportunity for a young player to win a tournament and receive all of the benefits of a tour winner in addition to the $1M+/- winner's check, including an exemption for the remainder of that season and the following two seasons, and an automatic invitation to the following year's PGA Championship. However, winners of Fall Series tournaments do not receive automatic invitations to the following year's Masters.

The golf was unbelievable! The winner, Troy Matteson, shot back-to-back 61s to break the PGA's consecutive 36 hole record. There were four holes in one, two on the 199 yard 16th hole, one on the 211 yard 5th hole, and Nicholas Thompson had a double eagle 2 on the par 5 11th hole, holing a 261 3-wood, and followed that with a hole in one from 199 yards on No. 13! I need to add a double eagle to my golf bucket list. He took care of two bucket list items in 3 holes and still finished tied for 8th place. The advertising company that came up with the campaign, "These Guys are Good!" hit the nail right on the head. Here's a second video.