Friday at the Phoenix Open is when things truly come alive! The weekend crowd starts pouring in, the energy is electric, and the competition on the course intensifies as players battle to make the cut. With the pressure mounting, every stroke counts as the field positions itself for a shot at glory over the weekend.
Perfect Weather, Perfect Setup
After last year’s chaos—where bad weather and bad behavior made headlines—this year’s tournament is a breath of fresh air, literally. The forecast remains absolutely ideal, setting the stage for some fantastic golf. With conditions this pristine, players have every opportunity to go low and shake up the leaderboard.
Wyndham Clark’s Rollercoaster Round
After one round, the reigning U.S. Open champion, Wyndham Clark, was sitting pretty at the top of the leaderboard with a 7-under score. But golf can be as cruel as it is rewarding. As his second round unfolded, Clark stumbled, allowing the rest of the field to gain ground.
Scottie Scheffler Finds His Groove
Meanwhile, heavy pre-tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler had a quiet start, posting a modest 2-under 69 on Thursday. But Friday was a different story. He came out firing, climbing the leaderboard through 11 holes to tie for 13th. By the time the sun set, Scheffler was right back in contention at 7-under for the tournament.
Emiliano Grillo’s Hole-in-One Sparks a Wild Celebration
And then came the fireworks! Emiliano Grillo cemented his name in Phoenix Open history with an unforgettable hole-in-one at the famous 16th hole. His tee shot soared through the air, landed in the cup, and sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy. Fans erupted as beer rained down from the stands—a tradition at this rowdy tournament. Grillo, ecstatic, celebrated with his caddie and playing partner Rafael Campos before retrieving the ball and proudly displaying it to the crowd.
His ace made him the 12th golfer to achieve a hole-in-one at the WM Phoenix Open’s Stadium Course since 1987. The last time fans witnessed such a feat? Carlos Ortiz and Sam Ryder did it back in 2022.
Bonkers Bunker Shot by Daniel Berger
Daniel Berger had himself a day, carding an impressive 65 to tie for fourth by day’s end. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The 16th and 18th holes gave him some trouble, both resulting in bogeys.
At the 16th, Berger found himself in the front-right sand trap after his tee shot. But what happened next was nothing short of brilliant. It took him two sand wedge shots to escape, but the second was pure magic—landing just two inches from the hole. A simple tap-in later, and Berger walked away with a hard-fought 4.
Max Homa Trolling the Crowd
Max Homa decided to have some fun at the infamous 16th hole, but in a way that didn’t exactly endear him to the Arizona fans. Despite Walker Buehler no longer being on the Los Angeles Dodgers—having signed with the Boston Red Sox—Homa proudly sported Buehler’s Dodgers jersey at the hole, much to the crowd’s dismay.
The Southern California native, who now resides in Scottsdale, wasn’t about to hide his longtime fandom. He and Buehler have built a friendship over the years, with Buehler even participating in the 2022 Annexus Pro-Am (though he played alongside Viktor Hovland instead of Homa). Even as Homa struggled, sitting at 6 over par after a tough first round, he made sure to inject some personality into his round.
Rickie Fowler’s Early Exit
One of the most beloved figures at the Phoenix Open, Rickie Fowler, was forced to call it quits on Friday morning due to illness. Known for drawing massive crowds decked out in his signature bright orange Puma gear, Fowler’s absence was felt immediately.
His withdrawal came after a rough Thursday, where he shot a 3-over 74—putting him well behind the projected cut line. It was an unfortunate end to what’s typically a raucous Rickie-following weekend at the Open.
The Weekend Awaits
With the cut looming and the leaderboard packed with big names, Saturday and Sunday promise to deliver even more drama. Can Scheffler keep climbing? Will Grillo ride the momentum of his ace? Who will emerge as the surprise contender? Buckle up, because the Phoenix Open is just getting started!
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