The 5: Most lit 16th-hole acts through 2 rounds of the Waste Management Open
Feb 3, 2017, 7:52 PM | Updated: 7:58 pm
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Playing the 16th hole of the Waste Management Phoenix Open can’t be treated like any other hole. There’s an undeniable and unavoidable approach PGA golfers take as adrenaline gets pumping in front of a large, rowdy and sometimes hostile crowd.
Just ask Mackenzie Hughes, a Canadian who learned this lesson firsthand on Thursday during the first round of the event at TPC Scottsdale.
Couple things I learned today…
1. Club down on 16.
2. Don't run into sharp plants.Fun day out there, hoping for a low one tomorrow!
— Mackenzie Hughes (@MacHughesGolf) February 2, 2017
Luckily, Hughes also knows how to play to the crowd.
With that, we give you “The 5” most lit 16th-hole acts — taking into account performance and showmanship — through the first two rounds of the event.
BAGS AND BIRDIES
It’s 10 a.m. and listen to how loud 16 is … pic.twitter.com/wsltzKPP7o
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 3, 2017
Bubba Watson not only birdied his hole in the second round Friday but earned that through karma. He was handing out Oakley goodie bags to fans after his tee shot and again after he found the bottom the cup.
Two days prior, Bubba also helped celebrity pal Mark Wahlberg keep it together after he sent a tee shot into the 16th-hole stands.
Bubba Watson plays MC, Mark Wahlberg gets a mulligan & the 16th hole at #GreenestShow goes crazy. pic.twitter.com/eHLenj13Nr
— Mark McClune (@MarkMcClune) February 1, 2017
NICE RECOVERY
The boo birds came out when J.B. Holmes failed to make it on the green on Friday. The woo-birds came out when he recovered to chip in a birdie. Holmes
Holmes gets the tip of the cap for his nerves standing up to the challenge to close with arguably the best shot at the hole all day.
What a hole for a chip-in birdie!
Keep ’em loud, @JBHolmesGolf. pic.twitter.com/gIvKpLviPP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 3, 2017
Beeeeef
Andrew “Beef” Johnston is a marketing campaign made in meat heaven for fast-food chain Arby’s. As such, he got the 16th-hole crowd pumped by handing out Arby’s gear.
That included “We Have The Beef” t-shirts along with Arby’s curly fry golf head covers.
Some players throw out visors at the 16th…@BeefGolf throws out @Arbys shirts.
Just so much fun! #GreenestShow pic.twitter.com/LQYevcIbC1
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 2, 2017
Andrew "Beef" Johnson gave out gifts to the crowd Thursday on the 16th hole at the Waste… https://t.co/EizDTrIaAG pic.twitter.com/Cf8fKy3tUz
— Michael Collins (@ESPNCaddie) February 2, 2017
Tillman tribute
There’s not a much better way for an ASU alum to play to the Sun Devils in attendance.
Jon Rahm, who recently earned his first PGA Tour victory, broke out the Pat Tillman No. 42 jersey that read “Rahmbo” on the back. Rahm two-putted for par on Thursday.
Wearing a jersey.
Pumping up the crowd.Golf’s a little different at this hole. pic.twitter.com/0pstqdsNXn
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 2, 2017
Canadian (and Scottsdale) pride
Hamilton, Ontario native Mackenzie Hughes sure knew how to recover.
He bogeyed the 16th hole in the first round Thursday, and it came while he honored the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rookie, Auston Matthews, by wearing his jersey. Matthews, the 2016 first overall pick, just so happens to be from Scottsdale, Ariz. Hughes is not from the desert, and it showed when he walked through the desert area of the 16th and got his loose-fitting Matthews jersey caught in a cactus.
@MacHughesGolf @AM34 @F55F @MCF55F @WMPhoenixOpen Hey Mac stay out of the cholla…#TeamFreedom pic.twitter.com/oJrpIzmbtm
— Myron Molenda (@plannermyron11) February 2, 2017
Well, the man showed little fear of the hole Friday. He birdied the same hole again wearing Matthews’ jersey.
Making his fellow @MapleLeafs fans proud.
Mackenzie Hughes just made birdie while rocking an @AM34 jersey at 16. pic.twitter.com/eAlAEyPrJV
— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) February 3, 2017
