TPC Scottsdale: The Water Hazards of the WM Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – At the WM Phoenix Open, the closing stretch at TPC Scottsdale is both thrilling and treacherous. As every golfer knows, the last few holes can make or break a tournament, and danger lurks around every corner.

The Challenge of the Final Holes

The sequence begins with the short par-5 15th hole, which leads up to the infamous par-3 16th. Following this is the driveable par-4 17th, often pivotal in determining the tournament’s winner, before players head to the par-4 18th to finish their round.

While these holes present scoring opportunities, they also come with significant risks. Notably, three out of the four last holes feature water as a potential game-changer.

• 15th Hole: A lake runs along the entire left side, and a ring of water surrounds most of the green.
• 16th Hole: This par-3 is the only closing hole that lacks water hazards.
• 17th Hole: Features a narrow lake to the left of the green, where shots hit long find their fate in the water.
• 18th Hole: Although there’s water running down the left side, PGA Tour pros typically avoid it.

Water Balls: A Statistical Look

Since 2003, the TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course has seen 4,165 golf balls land in the water. This figure ranks it as the fifth-highest on the PGA Tour during that time period. Specifically, the 17th hole alone accounts for 755 of those water balls, making it the third-most penalizing hole on the Tour.

In total, 2,784 balls have splashed down on the last four holes, indicating that nearly 67 percent of all water balls on the course occur in this high-stakes stretch.

Conclusion

The closing holes of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale are notorious for their formidable combination of scoring opportunities and water hazards. Golfers must tread carefully as they navigate this treacherous terrain, reminding fans and players alike that the thrill of the game is often accompanied by the risk of a splashdown.

With each tournament held at this dynamic venue, the stakes remain high and the water hazards persist as a defining element of the competition.