Lefty back in the valley

Mickelson tees it up in this week's FBR Open

Last updated: 29th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lefty back in the valley

Mickelson: 18th appearance

We've had this kind of buzz in San Diego and what it does for the community is wonderful.

Phil Mickelson
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A strong field will assemble for one of the most enjoyable tournaments of the PGA Tour season this week, the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Seven of the world's top 20 will tee it up in the event formerly known as the Phoenix Open, with the TPC Scottsdale course playing host to the infamous 16th hole.

Like no other in the game, the par-three houses up to 20,000 fans who are sure to increase the volume this year with the Arizona Cardinals competing in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

One player who has always loved the unique challenge is Phil Mickelson, who attended Arizona State University and will open his season this week with his 18th consecutive Phoenix Open appearance.

The left-hander has won the event twice, in 1996 and 2005, and came close to adding a third title when going down in a play-off to JB Holmes 12 months ago.

Really cool

"It's always good to be back in the Valley," said the 38-year-old. "And it's really cool this year with the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. We've had this kind of buzz in San Diego and what it does for the community is wonderful.

"The last few holes here always provide a feeling we don't get at other tour events but it's really going to be special now with 16 essentially surrounded by seating."

Chris DiMarco, who won the event in 2002, admitted the 16th hole is like nothing else on the PGA Tour.

"It has an unbelievable atmosphere," he said. "You walk on that hole and you don't feel like you're at a golf tournament, you feel like you're at a football game.

"The hardest thing is calming yourself down because you get pumped walking through that tunnel. It's an eight iron (off the tee) and if you miss the green you deserve to get booed.

"It doesn't matter what hole you're on, you can hear it. It doesn't matter if you're on number three, number six, you can hear it."