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'Never seen this': Golf world goes bonkers over 'insane' scenes

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Sam Ryder, pictured here sending the Phoenix Open crowd into absolute pandemonium.
Sam Ryder sent the Phoenix Open crowd into absolute pandemonium. Image: Getty/PGA

There was absolute pandemonium at golf's Phoenix Open on Saturday after Sam Ryder nailed an incredible hole-in-one on the famous 16th 'party hole'.

The American brought the house down on the stadium-like 16th hole at Scottsdale, where PGA Tour rookier Sahith Theegala topped a leaderboard as crowded as the course.

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Ryder's wedge shot on the 124-yard hole landed just right and short, before bouncing a couple of times, spinning left and tumbling into the cup.

The rowdy fans on the 17,000-seat hole threw drinks in the air in celebration and littered the turf with bottles, cans and cups, leading to a 15-minute delay.

“Oh my god. There’s liquid coming down, there’s beer going everywhere,” one TV commentator said.

Another commentator added: “We are covered in beer. Everyone is going insane.

“We might have a slight delay on the 16th here, because it’s going to take a little bit of a clean-up when you take a look at what is happening.”

Fans, pictured here going absolutely bonkers after Sam Ryder's hole-in-one at the Phoenix Open.
Fans went absolutely bonkers after Sam Ryder's hole-in-one at the Phoenix Open. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) (Mike Mulholland via Getty Images)

Ryder said it may go down as his favourite moment to date.

"I don't know how I could pick a hole over this one," said Ryder, eight strokes behind Theegala after an even-par 71.

"I don't think there's any hole that has the electricity that this one has."

Sam Ryder ace sends Phoenix Open into pandemonium

Ryder's first tour ace was the 10th at No.16 since the tournament moved to the course in 1997 and first since Francesco Molinari in the third round in 2015.

Tiger Woods did it in 1997 before grandstands ringed the hole, while the late Australian Jarrod Lyle took great delight in his ace in 2011.

With some 200,000 fans packing firm and fast TPC Scottsdale on another warm day in the Valley of the Sun, Theegala overcame a double bogey on the par-4 second to shoot a 2-under 69.

"What a day," Theegala said. "So many ups and downs. I mean, it was wild."

Groundskeepers, pictured here picking up bottles thrown from the stands on the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open.
Groundskeepers pick up bottles thrown from the stands on the 16th hole at the Phoenix Open. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images) (Mike Mulholland via Getty Images)

Making his event debut on a sponsor exemption, Theegala was at 14-under 199 total for a one-stroke lead over defending champion Brooks Koepka (68).

"I'm really exhausted right now," Theegala said.

"Probably, I hit it in the desert five times. I got my ball stepped on twice, got my ball picked up twice. Very draining, for sure."

FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay (68), Xander Schauffele (69), Scottie Scheffler (62) and Talor Gooch (66) were tied for third at 12 under.

Hideki Matsuyama (66), a two-time champion in Scottsdale, was in a group tied for seventh at 11 under with Tom Hoge (67), Max Homa (68), Alex Noren (67) and Adam Hadwin (68).

Adam Scott was best-placed of the two Australians to make the cut with a 69 leaving him eight shots off the pace in a share of 29th while Matt Jones (72) is well back at 1 under.

with AAP

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