This week, the PGA Tour makes it's annually pilgrimage to the TPC Scottsdale for the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Of course, we all know this event has been made more and more famous for the chaos that is the par-three 16th hole.
For many players playing the event for the first time. The 16th hole might seem like stepping into a Roman Coliseum like atmosphere.
It may be the only hole in golf that you a Tour player will get booed on if he hits a bad shot into the green.
Record an ace in front of the amphitheatre surroundings and you are etched into the Phoenix Open's history forever. Joining the likes of Tiger Woods, who aced it back in 1997.
Many would think a three shot lead, in the middle of the fairway on the 18th hole, in the final round of an event is a nice cushion to have on the PGA Tour.
Unfortunately for Kyle Stanley, three shots were not enough.
The second year player actually had a seven shot lead to begin the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
However, everything changed for Stanley on that 18th hole.
Brandt Snedeker, one group ahead, made a tap in birdie to close out his round. Three back as he headed to the showers for the day.
He was in the media tent doing his post round interviews when he witnessed; well, what everyone else saw as well.
Stanley, with a wedge in his hand on the 18th hole with a three shot lead -- Disaster.
Robert Rock, the 117th ranked player in the world, held off reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, and former world No. 1 Tiger Woods, for his second victory in the final round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday.
The Englishman, would go on to card a final round score of two-under, 70. To defeat McIlroy, Woods, Bjorn Thomas and Graeme McDowell by one.
Despite a shaky ending on the 18th, Rock was able to hold off all comers during the final round in Abu Dhabi.
His drive on the final hole found it's way into a pile of pebbles and rocks; that liter some of the Abu Dhabi Golf Course, near the water hazard. This forced him to take a drop.
Robert Rock and Tiger Woods are co-leaders at the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, after both carded six-under, 66 rounds in the third round of play at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The Englishman Rock, birdied his last two holes on his round after slipping on the par-four 16th with a bogey to get to 11-under overall.
After his third round performance, Rock also admitted to being a little star-struck, knowing that he would have the chance to go head-to-head with Woods on Sunday.
"He's the best guy I have ever seen play golf," he said of Woods.
Woods, started his week off in Abu Dhabi with a 35 putt round of 70 on Thursday, that left many wondering if he was going to struggle this week, as he has in the past on what he called very grainy putting surfaces.
After carding his opening round of 70. Woods has improved every day after with rounds of 69 and 66 to make his way to the top of the leader board and, co-leader with Rock.
Rory McIlroy makes no bones about his goals in golf, he wants to be the No. 1 ranked player in the world.
He is starting his 2012 season off on the right foot for reaching that goal.
The 22-year old star was paired with the current No. 1 ranked player in the world, Luke Donald and former No. 1 ranked player in the world Tiger Woods during the first round of the HSBC Golf Championship.
He bested them both, carding a five-under, 67, to share the lead with Robert Karlsson.
Long hitting and fan favorite Bubba Watson, has announced he and his club sponsor Ping, will being going pink for charity beginning this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Watson, who usually plays with a pink shafted driver. Will be trading up; as it were, for not only a pink shaft -- But a pink headed Ping G20 driver as well.
The Northwest Florida native will play the entire 2012 PGA Tour season with the new stick, in efforts raise close to $1-million for charity.
The drive is being named, 'Bubba and Friends Drive to a Million'.
"I couldn't do it on my own," said Watson on his charitable efforts for cancer.
"I don't have $1 million to give away. My friends, sponsors, we're all trying to team up and raise $1 million, and for a guy from Bagdad, Fla., named Bubba that's a pretty big accomplishment. Even if we raise a half million this year it's still half a million."
The Farmers Insurance Open takes center stage this week on the PGA Tour. And has always been a crowd favorite as it always draws some of the games bombers to the event.
From Tiger Woods, John Daly to defending champion Bubba Watson. This event draws the long ball fans in drives.
Though a fan favorite, this event does not bode well for first time participants claiming victory at Torrey Pines.
In fact, the last time a first timer won at the Farmers, John F. Kennedy had yet to take the Presidential Oath.
There a few keys to putting yourself in contention to win at this event, and you must play each course differently in order to do that.
The South course is some 700 yards longer than the North course, and the infuses will be on hitting greens.
Sunday would end up being a very long day for most at the Humana Challenge in La Quinta, California.
Round three was delayed due to high winds in the area, forcing many players to finish their third rounds on Sunday before playing the final round of the event, well into twilight hours.
Mark Wilson not only had to finish his third round on Sunday, he had to get his kids ready to take to their in-laws, grab some lunch to get him through what would be a very long day of golf.
Get warmed back up for his final round, an oh yeah. Hold off some hard charging players to win the Humana Challenge.
Wilson, who won twice early in 2011, now has three wins in two years on the PGA Tour after holding off Robert Garrigus, John Mallinger and Johnson Wagner to win by two for his fifth PGA Tour win of his career.
Rumblings began to make their way through the galleries at the Humana Challenge in La Qunita, California when they looked at the score boards around the Palmer Private course and noticed Mark Wilson's score.
Through his first 11 holes, he was at eight-under par. Talks of 59 started to fill the conversations.
"I don't know why the conversation went there. But I thought about it," said Wilson after his round.
He didnt't card a 59, though Wilson did card his lowest career round on the PGA Tour, 62. Ending the day tied atop the leader board at 16-under with Ben Crane and David Toms.
Crane, who started his round of going the wrong direction, with a birdie on No. 10, his first. Proceeded to go eagle, birdie on his next two holes to make up for that slip at the start of his round.
A total of 18 birdies and no bogeys propelled both Camilo Villegas and David Toms to the top of the leader board after round one at the Humana Challenge.
Both sit at nine-under par after carding matching 63's to lead by two one over Ted Potter Jr, Sang-Moom Bae, Brandt Snedeker and Bob Estes.
Toms, who did not play at the Chevron World Challenge in order to spend more time with his family. Got off to a bit of a rocky start last week in Hawaii.
Though he more than made up for that in round one in La Qunita.
Northern Irishmen and current Champion Golfer of the Year [British Open] has decided to put down the 20 oz. pints of Guinness and pick up the 20 lb. weights.
After winning the 2011 Open Championship, a seemingly never ending party ensued as Clarke traveled the world with the Claret Jug in one hand and a pint in the other.
And who could blame him really.
Oh but how times have changed since then.
The two weeks of paradise are over for the PGA Tour, as the Hawaii swing of the 2012 swing is behind us.
Our sites now turn to an event where after 47 years, has a new name. The once Bob Hope Classic is now the Humana Challenge.
The event received the new name and sponsors after signing an eight year deal with Humana and the William J. Clinton foundation, to help emphasize wellness.
Reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy announced via his twitter account on Monday afternoon the early portion of his 2012 world wide schedule.
It looks as though it is a mirror image of his 2011 schedule, though this year, he will be a member of the PGA and European Tour.
The young Northern Irishmen will make his U.S. debut at the World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship, February 22-26.
McIlroy posted this tweet on Monday, "@McIlroyRory A lot of people asking for my 2012 schedule, here are the first few events: Abu Dhabi Dubai WGC Matchplay Honda Classic WGC Doral Masters"
Dustin Johnson is egging to go in the 2012 PGA Tour Season.
The long hitting five-time PGA Tour winner announced he has moved up his 2012 PGA Tour season debut, and will now tee it up at the Humana Challenge this week in La Qunita, California.
Confirming the addition to the event via his twitter account, "Yes sir! @HumanaChallenge just got added!! @PGATOUR @TaylorMadeGolf #TM2012"
Johnson, World No. 8 will be joining the likes of Phil Mickelson, Bill Haas, Greg Norman and even former President Bill Clinton at the event.
On November 29th, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee.
Johnson Wagner seemed to make more head lines about his mustache rather than his game since growing the 'soup strainer' in November.
However, the 31-year old Virginia Tech Hokie capped off a great bogey-free run from No. 12 on, to capture his third PGA Tour title; which punches his ticket to the Masters, at the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Coming down the stretch with many of the guys at the top of the leader board faltering. Wagner was one of six players to have or share the lead at some point during the final round.
Ultimately, he would be the one to keep it.
Wagner grabbed the out right lead after holing a birdie putt on the par-three 15th.
His tee shot was just off the green, pin high to the right of the cup. The putt, which needed every rotation of the ball to fall -- Did in fact drop, for Wagner to take the lead.
Matt Every finished his second round at the Sony Open in Honolulu, Hawaii with a very nice six-under, 64. However, he made his most noise in his post round interview with the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilgham.
Every, as I'm sure most golf fans are aware of, got himself into a little bit of trouble a few years back.
The three time All-American at the University of Florida, was arrested for marijuana in his possession in a hotel in Bettendorf, Iowa.
Every denied the charges, though was arrested after police reports stated, when police knocked on the door, the smell of marijuana; which they smelled outside the room, became stronger.
The first full event field of the 2012 PGA Tour season is once again set against the paradise backdrop that is, Hawaii.
Hosted by the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, the Sony Open offers both fans and players alike, a glimpse at what the PGA Tour season may have in store for them.
Steve Stricker had the headlines for most of the week, looking to become the first player since Ernie Els to win the 'Aloha Slam' -- But it was perhaps little known Graham DeLaet that stole the show carding an opening round 63, to lead by two.
The 29-year old Canadian had little reason to have the confidence Stricker had coming to the Plantation Course this week.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was awarded a four year extension from the PGA Tour Policy Board, that will see him retain the position through June of 2016.
In June of 1994, Finchem became the the third commissioner in the PGA Tour's history, which has seen the the tour grow tremendously in popularity not only in the U.S., but around the globe as well.
Victor Ganzi, Chairman of the PGA Tour Policy Board said, "Under Tim's leadership, and that of his Executive Team, the PGA Tour has achieved many very significant accomplishments."
"Tim has positioned the Tour for continued growth in areas such as player prize money, charity, sponsor value and growing the game around the world, and we are fortunate that he has agreed to continue as Commissioner for another four years."
The first full event field of the 2012 PGA Tour season tees off this week, on yet another picture perfect Hawaiian back drop at the beautiful Waialae Country Club in Honolulu for the Sony Open.
With the great finish we saw at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where Steve Stricker held off all-comers to win his 12th event by three strokes. PGA Tour fans are ready for a full event field.
We saw many good scores in the final round of the event in Maui, which leads us to look at the players you may want to keep an eye on this week at the Sony Open.
Steve Stricker saw his five shot lead shrink to one through the first six holes of the 2012 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Though in the end, Stricker would overcome an early slip with a bogey on No. 6, to birdie No.'s 8, 9, 12, 16 and 18 to hold off all comers, to win by two at the first event of 2012 PGA Tour season.
Martin Laird, Jonathan Byrd and Webb Simpson would at some point; get within one shot of the lead in the final round -- Though no one would catch him.
Stricker did lose most of his five-shot lead to several attackers through the first six holes, the Wisconsin native steadied himself to set off his 2012 PGA Tour season with a three-shot victory in Hawaii.
At times, when his game [and lead] seemed to be slipping away from him. Stricker went on to make back-to-back birdies on No.'s 8 and 9; that would restore his lead; and perhaps confidence to close this event out by three strokes.
Tiger Woods announced via his website that his 2012 PGA Tour debut event will be at Pebble Beach at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
This will mark the first time Woods has played in this event since 2002.
"I'm excited to start my PGA Tour season at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am," Woods said in a statement on his website.
"AT&T is a great partner to my Foundation, and I'm looking forward to playing in this event. I haven't been to this tournament lately, but I have a lot of good memories at Pebble. It will be fun going back."
Beginning the third round at the PGA Tour's opening event with a five shot lead, Steve Stricker saw Webb Simpson close that gap throughout the round.
However, Stricker had a late charge in the tank for himself to end with a five stroke lead heading into a rare Monday finish at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Opening the event up with rounds of 68 and 63, Stricker ended the day with a nice birdie charge on holes 15, 16, 17 and 18, to end his third round with a four-under 69, to take a five shot lead into the final round.
Two players, Jonathan Byrd and Martin Laird made hard charges to close the gap on Stricker early in the round, both carding rounds of 67.
However, they would end up five strokes behind the leader.
Playing along side Stricker, Webb Simpson cut the lead down to one after keeping a clean card in round three. Birdying No. 5, 8, 10 and 12 before conceding a bogey on the par-four 16th to fall behind three strokes to Stricker.
The LPGA Tour announced today they will be returning to the Rainbow State in 2012 for the first time since 2009.
Signing a new three-year agreement with LOTTE, a very well respected industrial conglomerate in Japan and Korea. With the $1.7 million LPGA LOTTE Championship, presented by J Golf.
The dates are set for play on April 18-21, finishing on a Saturday on the island of Oahu.
“We are honored that such an established and well-respected conglomerate like LOTTE has chosen the LPGA to expand its global platform.” LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said upon making the announcement.
The 2012 PGA Tour season is set to kick off in three short days, as the 2011 Tour victors converge on Kapalua, Hawaii for the 2012 edition of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
28 players, all of whom won a PGA Tour event the previous season are invited to tee it up in the season's first event.
With so many story lines carrying over from 2011, belly putters, the FedEx Cup points system, young guns winning, rookies showing no fear. We are going to take a look at a few players to watch come Friday in the Rainbow State.
This week, the PGA Tour makes it's annually pilgrimage to the TPC Scottsdale for the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
