The Greatest Show On Grass

The FBR Open

By J. Robert Davies

The best attended golf tournament of every year, replete with thrills and skills of the PGA’s top shooters, is the FBR Open. This year’s 2007 FBR Open, held at the TPC in Scottsdale, drew in annual crowds larger than the major championships. This has become quite a trademark of this wildly popular tournament. The attendance for this year’s event was unable to edge out last year’s record setting numbers of 536,767. This year marked the 72nd playing for one of the oldest events on the PGA Tour. The FBR was previously known as the Arizona Open, later becoming the Phoenix Open. Some of the noteworthy golfers who competed this year were Chris DiMarco, Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples and crowd favorite Phil Mickelson. However, the FBR missed the likes of Tiger Woods, who has not returned to the tournament since an altercation that occurred in 2001. Purse figures totaled $9 million, with the winner’s share at over a million. Aaron Baddeley, resident of Scottsdale, emerged as the victor with a score of -21. Many speculate on how big this tournament could be if it were held on a different day than the Super Bowl. The plans to make next year even bigger and more exciting are undoubtedly underway, as it has been reported that FBR officials are attempting to entice Tiger Woods to play in the 2008 field.