Tiger Woods’ 15 essential moments on the PGA Tour

Tiger raises the roof in Phoenix

After being named “Sportsman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated, Tiger began his first full year on tour with a bang, defeating Tom Lehman in a rainy playoff at the Mercedes Championship to notch his third PGA Tour victory. His next stop was the Phoenix Open, known for its wild crowds and famous par-3 16th hole, which has become even bigger and louder over the years with the stadium seating. However, there may have never been a louder roar there than when Tiger Woods proved just how big he was becoming in late January of 1997.

Woods shot 68 the first two days at TPC Scottsdale and was well back of the lead. That certainly didn’t matter to the gallery. As per usual, massive galleries followed Tiger around the golf course and when he came to the famed 16th, little did the patrons know that they were about to witness one of the most famous non-major championship shots in history.

For those unaware of how the 16th in Phoenix works, it’s essentially the only hole in golf where you’re allowed to boo. The hole isn’t long at all. It usually plays anywhere between 150-165  yards, which usually isn’t insanely difficult for these guys. But if you hit a poor shot, you’re going to get heckled. It’s expected and it’s beautiful.

So Tiger is having a decent third round on that particular Saturday, nothing magnificent but solid, and he comes to the 16th and decides to go with a cut 9-iron. The hole was listed at 162 yards that day but was playing about 7-10 yards shorter and Tiger lets it fly. As usual, the crowd goes nuts as soon as the ball gets in the air and like he did back then, this shot went so high in the air. It landed softly on the green, took a couple of bounces and then dropped right into the cup and absolute insanity ensued.

Tiger went crazy and high-fived his caddie, who back in ’97 was still Mike “Fluff” Cowan, and then walked to the hole “raising the roof” as beer cans and cups came flying out of the gallery. There had never been a scene like that on the PGA Tour and it seemed as if everyone else on the rest of the golf course knew what had happened. The funny thing is that his playing partner that day, Omar Uresti, had hit his shot to about two-and-a-half feet and said later that he thought to himself, “Let’s see you top that.” Well, that’s just what Tiger does.

Sure, this may not match up to any of his 14 major championships but it was a defining moment in his career. He finished tied for 18th that week but most people don’t remember who won that week. If Tiger Woods wasn’t already the biggest thing in golf, this moment and the reaction that came from it proved that there was nobody like him.