Arizona Diamondbacks’ Aaron Hill makes ‘big’ appearance at Phoenix Open Pro-Am

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Aaron Hill has never been known to have a big head, until Wednesday.

As the Diamondbacks’ second baseman made his way to the first tee for the Waste Management Phoenix Open Annexus Pro-Am, he couldn’t help but notice a very large likeness of himself; in fact, four very large likenesses.

Teammates Charles Brewer, Eric Chavez, Josh Collmenter and Patrick Corbin were each carrying Aaron Hill Fatheads.

“We were thinking about bringing signs,” said Collmenter, the mastermind of the group. “We were just going to make a big sign that said, ‘King of the Hill’, or maybe a quote from (the movie) ‘Happy Gilmore’ or something. And then we threw around the idea of the Big Heads. I was looking into getting them, and the D-backs said, ‘Oh, we can have somebody make them’, so they made them and got them for us. I didn’t realize they were going to be as enormous as they are.”

Yes, they were quite big.

“I think this is hilarious,” Corbin said laughing.

It got better.

Hill’s playing partner, second-year PGA Tour pro Billy Horschel, joined in on the fun.

“As soon as we showed up, he’s like, ‘Those guys are coming with us.’ He’s drawn glasses and a mustache on one of them,” Collmenter said. “It really worked out that (Hill) is playing with such a fun guy.”

Conditions were perfect at the TPC Scottsdale—sun and bright blue skies greeted the golfers, giving Hill’s supporters perhaps one last opportunity before getting back to work. Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers report to spring training one week from Thursday; position players five days later.

“Just come out here and support…kind of follow Aaron around and just help him out; take the pressure off of him a little bit,” Corbin said. “He’s having a good time with it.”

Perhaps inspired by the support, Hill played fairly well, for stretches.

“He just birdied the last hole (No. 8), so hopefully he can get on a groove here,” Chavez said.

Again, it was all in good fun.

“Aaron is great. He’s taking it in stride and having fun with it,” Collmenter said. “It’s nice to have a little relaxed atmosphere out here, especially for the pros. I’m sure it’s good for them because Thursday through Sunday is so intense it seems like so for them to just kind of let loose and have fun. It’s a good time. He’s with a good group, it seems like.”

So, what was Hill’s reaction to his teammates ribbing?

“It’s funny, man. I mean its good stuff,” he said. “What are teammates for, right?”

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