At just 162 yards, the par-3 16th is a simple 8 or 9-iron for most players on TOUR.
Jan. 31, 2012
By PGA TOUR staff
WATCH: Jarrod Lyle's ace at the 16th in 2011
| Tiger Woods' ace at the 16th in 1997
The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is not the hardest par-3 hole on the PGA TOUR, nor is it the easiest. Last year, it ranked 143rd out of 206 par 3s in stroke average, playing slightly above par (3.017 average, to be exact).
Neither is it the hardest nor the easiest hole at TPC Scottsdale. Last year, it ranked sixth in difficulty, but third among the par-3 holes at the course.
At 162 yards, it is among the shortest par-3s on TOUR but certainly not the shortest. At least 18 holes were shorter in 2011.
But there's little doubt about what the 16th actually is -- the loudest, most raucous hole on TOUR, which will be proven once again this week during the Waste Management Phoenix Open. With fans surrounding the entire hole, it truly does give the players a sense of what it's like to play inside an arena.
"16 is always fun," Geoff Ogilvy said. "You just want to give them what they've been waiting for. You just want to hit a decent shot.
"It's the funnest hole of the year when you make birdie or hit a good shot and it's the least fun hole of the year if you hit a bad shot or make bogey."
In taking a closer look at the 162-yard par-3 16th, PGA TOUR ShotLink guru Alex Turnbull broke down some numbers.
| Holes with most aces (since 1983) |
| Westchester CC |
6 |
19 |
| Riviera CC |
6 |
14 |
| TPC Sawgrass |
13 |
10 |
| Oak Hills CC |
9 |
9 |
| TPC Scottsdale |
16 |
8 |
| Augusta National GC |
16 |
8 |
| TPC Avenel |
11 |
8 |
| Colonial CC |
8 |
8 |
| TPC Southwind |
4 |
8 |
| Riviera CC |
16 |
8 |
|
| Aces on 16th Hole (since 1987) |
| 2011 |
Lyle, Jarrod |
2 |
| 2002 |
Sposa, Mike |
2 |
| 1997 |
Woods, Tiger |
3 |
| 1997 |
Stricker, Steve |
4 |
| 1991 |
Delsing, Jay |
3 |
| 1990 |
Bryant, Brad |
1 |
| 1990 |
Edwards, David |
3 |
| 1988 |
Sutton, Hal |
3 |
|
| Most under par at 16th hole (since 1987) |
| Perry, Kenny |
-15 |
83 |
| Forsman, Dan |
-10 |
58 |
| Mediate, Rocco |
-9 |
75 |
| Magee, Andrew |
-8 |
70 |
| Jacobsen, Peter |
-7 |
38 |
| Crenshaw, Ben |
-7 |
28 |
| Mize, Larry |
-7 |
35 |
| Green, Ken |
-7 |
29 |
|
| Most rounds played at 16th hole (since 1987) |
| Calcavecchia, Mark |
-6 |
86 |
| Perry, Kenny |
-15 |
83 |
| Mayfair, Billy |
Even |
80 |
| Mickelson, Phil |
5 |
78 |
| Azinger, Paul |
5 |
76 |
| Mediate, Rocco |
-9 |
75 |
| Magee, Andrew |
-8 |
70 |
| Janzen, Lee |
-4 |
70 |
|
| Highest scores at 16th hole (since 1987) |
| 2007 |
Tway, Bob |
2 |
7 |
+4 |
| 2007 |
Berganio Jr., David |
2 |
7 |
+4 |
| 1991 |
Buttner, Bill |
3 |
7 |
+4 |
| 1991 |
Inman, John |
3 |
7 |
+4 |
| 1999 |
Gallagher, Jeff |
1 |
6 |
+3 |
| 1999 |
Triplett, Kirk |
4 |
6 |
+3 |
| 1990 |
Byrum, Curt |
2 |
6 |
+3 |
| 1990 |
Shirey Jr., Don |
2 |
6 |
+3 |
| 1990 |
Cochran, Russ |
4 |
6 |
+3 |
| 1989 |
Twitty, Howard |
2 |
6 |
+3 |
| 1987 |
Jones, Steve |
4 |
6 |
+3 |
|
| Most birdies made on 16th hole (since 1987) |
| Perry, Kenny |
23 |
| Calcavecchia, Mark |
20 |
| Mediate, Rocco |
19 |
| Forsman, Dan |
15 |
| Lehman, Tom |
14 |
| Janzen, Lee |
13 |
| Pate, Steve |
12 |
| Verplank, Scott |
12 |
| Singh, Vijay |
12 |
| Armour III, Tommy |
12 |
| Mayfair, Billy |
12 |
| Magee, Andrew |
12 |
|
| Making birdie all four rounds at 16th hole (since 1987) |
| 2003 |
Donald, Luke |
Birdie |
Birdie |
Birdie |
Birdie |
| 1992 |
Mediate, Rocco |
Birdie |
Birdie |
Birdie |
Birdie |
| 1987 |
Wiebe, Mark |
Birdie |
Birdie |
Birdie |
Birdie |
|
| Longest putts made at 16th hole (since 2003) |
| 2003 |
Molder, Bryce |
2 |
2 |
55 ft |
| 2011 |
Teater, Josh |
2 |
2 |
51 ft |
| 2004 |
Estes, Bob |
3 |
2 |
44 ft |
| 2005 |
Gamez, Robert |
1 |
2 |
42 ft |
| 2006 |
Glover, Lucas |
2 |
2 |
42 ft |
| 2008 |
Flesch, Steve |
2 |
2 |
41 ft |
| 2007 |
Janzen, Lee |
3 |
2 |
40 ft |
| 2005 |
Oberholser, Arron |
4 |
2 |
40 ft |
|
| Highest Greens In Regulation percentage at 16th hole |
| de Jonge, Brendon |
0 |
10 |
10 |
100 percent |
| Wilson, John |
0 |
10 |
10 |
100 percent |
| Curtis, Ben |
1 |
21 |
22 |
95 percent |
| Bates, Pat |
1 |
13 |
14 |
93 percent |
| Hamilton, Todd |
1 |
11 |
12 |
92 percent |
| Rose, Justin |
1 |
11 |
12 |
92 percent |
| Briggs, Danny |
1 |
9 |
10 |
90 percent |
| Driscoll, James |
1 |
9 |
10 |
90 percent |
| Morse, John |
1 |
9 |
10 |
90 percent |
| Simpson, Webb |
1 |
9 |
10 |
90 percent |
|