It’s that time of year again golf fans, as another PGA TOUR event is set to hit the Valley of the Sun this Fall. The 2009 Frys.com Open will tee it up October 22-25, at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Frys.com Open, the “Super Bowl” of the PGA TOUR’s Fall Series, will highlight last year’s champ Cameron Beckman as he looks to defend his title among a host of veterans and new up-and-comers.
Although the first commitment list has yet to be released, tournament officials expect another standout field this year. And if previous Frys.com Open field lists prove anything, spectators can enjoy the golfing talents of some of the world’s best golfers including: Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir, Fred Couples, Aaron Baddeley, Davis Love III and local favorite Billy Mayfair. The deadline for players to commit is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2009.
Last year’s event went into overtime as 72-holes wasn’t enough to decide the winner. Two players, Cameron Beckman and Kevin Sutherland were tied at 18-under par through regulation leading to a sudden death playoff. The 2008 Frys.com Open Champion was ultimately decided on the 74th hole as Cameron Beckman tapped in a two-foot par-putt on the 464-yard, par-4 17th, for the trophy and the $900,000 first place check. Beckman shot all four rounds in the 60s, with Saturday and Sunday rounds of 64 and 63 respectively. Scottsdale resident, Matthew Goggin, shot 17-under for the week to take home 3rd place with Mike Weir, Aaron Oberhoulser and J.J. Henry all tying at 14-under to round out the top 5.
The Frys.com Open showcases a lot of the same players that you can find at the FBR Open, although that is where the similarities stop. At the Frys.com Open, spectators will not see the massive crowds that are regularly seen at the TPC Scottsdale in February. Instead, the galleries at Grayhawk will be smaller and more intimate due to its natural desert layout, giving everyone a chance to “Get Close to Greatness,” which ironically enough happens to be the tournament’s tagline. It’s a truly great spectator event and a pure golf experience from a fan standpoint.
Something else to add a little excitement to these Fall Series events is what is at stake for some of these players each week. While veteran players and those high on the 2009 PGA TOUR Money List don’t need to worry about securing their TOUR cards each year, there are a number of players who enter these final tournaments as “bubble boys” – that is, players who are at or near the top-125 players on the money list, the magic number needed to earn playing privileges for the following season.
A prime example is defending champ, Cameron Beckman. He entered the week 175th on the money list and moved to 86th, thanks to his career-best $900,000 payday. Expect plenty of players to be battling for that coveted money list position at the 2009 Frys.com Open.
Tickets and hospitality packages are still available and can be purchased online at www.frysopengolf.com, at any Fry’s Food or Fry’s Electronics Stores or by calling 480.502.3165. Free parking is available at the southwest corner of Hayden Road and the Loop 101, with free shuttles provided to take fans to the course. There will be NO parking available at Grayhawk Golf Club.
The Frys.com Open is part of the PGA TOUR’s Fall Series and will feature a full-field (132 players), four-day tournament with a $5 million purse and $900,000 payout to the winner. The Frys.com Open will be played October 22-25, 2009, at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course, and the tournament will be televised all four days on The Golf Channel. For more information, log onto www.frysopengolf.com or call 866.638.1050.