SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Augusta National has No. 12. Pebble Beach has No. 7. TPC Sawgrass has the 17th.
All par 3s. All iconic. All a part of the lore of the game.
But for several years now, the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale – normally an innocuous challenge – has become one of the bucket-list places in the game, for pro golfers and fans alike. And there’s really nothing like it anywhere in the game.
It was long known as the party hole at the Stadium Course, but a hole-in-one there by Tiger Woods in 1997 really ignited things. That year, fans surrounded the hole, but the thought of a triple-decker grandstand hadn’t yet materialized.
These days, it’s known as the Coliseum, a mini-stadium packed with close to 18,000 fans, all seemingly breathing down the necks of those golfers who partake in the challenge.
What does it feel like to walk through the tunnel? How do you handle all the noise? What about the name-calling or the singing or chanting? And is it really cool for fans to boo you when you miss the green?
James Hahn, an 11-year veteran on the PGA Tour with two career victories, has played the tournament 11 times and made the cut eight times, which means he has had 38 cracks at making an ace on the 16th hole.
During a recent media event, Hahn let Golfweek tag along for the four closing holes, Nos. 15 through 18. It’s the most exciting stretch on the Sundays of the WM Phoenix Open. Hahn provided some insight to the craziness that is the 16th hole.
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