PGA Tour pros generally have strong opinions about TPC Scottdale’s infamous 16th hole, but for the most part the players like the experience — or they find something else to do during Super Bowl week.
Several Tour pros were surveyed and gave their opinions on No. 16 and whether it ought to be on sports fans’ bucket lists.
Chesson Hadley
“Is it up there with the Super Bowl and the Masters? No. But it should be.”
Joel Dahmen
“If you have a friend with good tickets, yes, but it’s too hard to get in.”
Emiliano Grillo
“I love it but it’s as annoying as hell. I think of playing the 16th the whole tournament.”
Harold Varner III
“It’s the greatest hole in golf. You have to experience it.”
Adam Hadwin
“I’m Canadian so I usually go with a hockey reference. It’s like being in a hockey arena from end to end and then they’re right on top of you.”
Patrick Rodgers
“It’s one of the rare occasions where you feel like a pro athlete.”
Aaron Baddeley
“I read it was Top-10 bucket-list for people over 50 so it must be true.”
Peter Malnati
“The shot itself isn’t stressful. It’s the one place where we as players get to feel like we’re playing in an arena. It’s so stinking cool. Players feed off the energy of the crowd and vice-versa.”
Bo Van Pelt
“You’ve got to see it once. It’s the closest thing in golf to what other athletes have to deal with every time they play.”
Marc Leishman
“If you don’t mind being around a lot of drunk people and waiting in ridiculously long lines to get a drink, I guess so, but it’s not for me.”
