An additional rupture of excitement was evident on the eve of the Super Bowl. The enthusiasm at the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., was dreamlike. More than 90,000 fans came to watch in eagerness of a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. The single-day attendance record for the FBR Open surpassed the attendance at the big game in Houston.
The fans were not disappointed due to the final group which had Phil Mickelson, Chris DiMarco and Jonathan Kaye. It would be a duel until the end as the local favorite, Mickelson, who had won last week, looked to take command of yet another tournament. Mickelson at one point was in the lead but slowly faded like Joe Lieberman in the race for the White House.
DiMarco, who won this event in 2002, would not concede until the very end as he posted bogeys on the tough 16th and then 17th holes. He would eventually end up loosing to Kaye by two strokes. Mickelson bogeyed four of his last five holes and disappeared into the sunset.
Kaye played extremely well and handled the pressure down the stretch like Michael Jordan did time and again.
The FBR Open is a tournament that is never sold out and is considered by many as one of the loudest venues to witness golf. The one hole that stands out the most is the par three 16th which is beyond belief. Some call it the most exciting hole in golf. As the player approaches the hole, a gigantic banner awaits and reads "Attitude is Everything."
As the golfer stands on the tee box, the feeling one can get is similar to that of a gladiator in the Colosseum during Rome's glory days. The golfer on this hole will either receive a pleasant ovation from the fans or a rude awakening as he attempts his target.
While Mickelson and DiMarco both bogeyed the 16th, Kaye's par on 16 was the difference in this tournament. Kaye stole all the momentum and energy from the crowd and became the favorite. This was Kaye's second win on the tour and he dedicated this performance to his grandfather, who is recovering from surgery.
The debate can start but there is no question who is the most consistent player on tour. Vijay Singh is as steady as they come. Singh has posted 11 successive top-10 finishes. No one works harder than Singh and his dedication is vivid for all to see.
