This weekend, FanHouse will be out at the FBR Open, a tournament known more for its party atmosphere than its golf.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- You need to understand something. That headline? Yeah, it is all relative to the FBR Open.
No, the wind isn't blowing hats off of the golfers, but it is a little brisk for this part of the country. And after walking the course a little bit, I noticed a few things.
First, the wind will not allow any player to drive the always-entertaining 17th hole. At 334 yards, a lot of the big hitters can normally take a whack at it and hope to find the putting surface, with hopes of an eagle putt finding that heavenly circle.
Watching Pat Perez, Johnson Wagner and Fred Couples go after their drivers and come up short by 30-plus yards was every indication of how the swing hole could play today.
Another hole that will play different with the wind? The 18th, which measures just 438 yards but is playing directly into a right-to-left wind, forcing golfers to hit it at the right fairway bunker to avoid finding the water to the left of the fairway (just ask Daniel Chopra). In the past, golfers could just boom-driver over the water and clear the fairway bunker, leaving a flip wedge for an inviting green that opens up the further left you play your tee shot. Today? Golfers are more in the 150-200 yard range after their tee shots.
Also, for party-goers getting antsy for the 16th hole on Saturday, understand this -- the place will be far less rowdy with the added grandstands (illustration here). In the past, grandstands covered a portion of the hole but behind the green on the par-3 was open for standing, allowing droves of people to surround the most raucous hole in golf. Now, people will have to find another hole to take over because I don't think 16 will be as "fun" as it used to be. The PGA Tour golfers probably completely disagree with me.
One last note -- our Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger, drives a Prius. I never thought I'd like that guy anymore, and he goes out and does this and totally redeems himself.
