The Toughest Holes at TPC Scottsdale
No need for rain checks if the course is already tough! For the 38th time, the WM Phoenix Open is decked to electrify TPC Scottsdale, bringing the rowdiest crowd in golf to the famed greens. At one point, fans at the arena had made headlines for surpassing a 600,000 count! This year, Nick Dunlap joins forces with OWGR #5 Hideki Matsuyama and Scottie Scheffler, all looking to dethrone defending champ Nick Taylor.
The 2025 WM Phoenix Open is hosting 132 players at the TPC stadium for a $9.2 million prize pool, it’s a set match under the Arizona sun. As the event arrives soon from Feb 6th–9th, this is a good time to look at some of the toughest holes the TPC Scottsdale course has to offer for the greenest show!
What are the toughest holes at TPC Scottsdale?
The entertainment during matchplays is certainly higher for fans, but the stakes double at TPC Scottsdale. The brutal waterways, and unconventional islands are its thing! So, what are the 3 danger zones of this course?
The #16-Par 5, 163 yards
The iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, known as “The Coliseum,” is the spotlight of the WM Phoenix Open. This famous par-3 in golf was designed in 1986 by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. In 2021, it played to a 3.00 scoring average, surrendering 68 birdies but punishing with 54 bogeys and seven doubles; ranking as the course’s 7th-hardest hole. A pressure builder like no other! As of 2024, there have been just 11 successful hits here! The latest? We’ll get to that in a second.
The #11-Par 4, 472 yards
The 11th hole at TPC Scottsdale is a test of finesse, a spot admired by architect Tom Weiskopf for its shot-shaping demands. “You have to learn how to play it,” a sentiment echoed by his former colleague, Smith. On this par-4, the lake slicing into the fairway makes for a nerve-wracking approach, while the fans add to the chaos. The right of this par 4 is heavy on trees and leaves a tight middle and two greenside bunkers to sail through. Even Nick Taylor, who’s bagged two birdies here, still tips his cap to its difficulty.
The #15-Par 5, 553 yards
Another one that tests your nerves is the 15th, The script-flipper holds an island green on a par 5, not the usual par 3. At 552 yards, it dares golfers to go for glory in two, but the risk is as big as the reward. The front-left landing zone tempts the bold, though tee placement can shrink the hole under 500 yards. Here, the pin on top is a slope so it’s either a hit or putt-walk to the hole. With water lurking along the fairway and deafening fan noise adding pressure, a misstep could sink more than just a scorecard! Scottie Scheffler, who won the tournament in 2022, and 2023 birdied it in the former year.
That being said, these three holes have seen a lot of memorable and historic moments. Let’s go over some of the most prominent ones.
A few historic moments at the hole
The TPC Scottsdale course has given us more than many moments to remember! This one’s pretty well-known but could we leave it out? Back in 1997, a 21-year-old Tiger Woods made his debut in the WM Phoneix Open and stepped onto the 16th, with The Sentry as his latest triumph. At the electric 16th, Omar Uresti landed his shot, three feet from the pin. It was set for Woods from here. In one pure strike, the ball was cradled into the hole. One of the loudest golfing moments ever! More recently, but in classic WM Phoenix Open fashion, in 2022, Sam Ryder dialed in a perfect shot on the 16th. His ball hit four feet right of the pin, got some spin, and trickled home, sending fans into a frenzy.
A misstep into the water at the 11th hole nearly derailed Rickie Fowler’s championship run. He responded with a clutch 17-foot putt for bogey, seemingly leaving the door open for Branden Grace. But Fowler wasn’t done. Eventually, he used a 6-iron to ace TPC Scottsdale’s 216-yard seventh hole.
For the 2025 WM Phoenix Open, could we get another dear-diary moment? Stay tuned to know more!
