Sports

Woods Returns to Phoenix With Plenty of Memories

Published

11 years ago

January 29, 2015

Tiger Woods smiles as he walks on the eighth hole during a practice round at the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tiger Woods returned to the Phoenix Open and received cheers, boos and gasps.

All on one hole.

There is rarely a dull moment with golf’s biggest star, especially at the PGA Tour’s rowdiest venue. Even though Woods has played at TPC Scottsdale only three times, what defines his experience at the Phoenix Open is not a trophy, rather it’s some beer, a boulder, an orange and a gun.

So a typical pro-am Wednesday was anything but that — especially at the par-3 16th hole.

Woods managed to deliver another memory. His 9-iron was just left of the pin when it turned enough left that it tumbled into a bunker. The cheers turned to boos, and Woods tugged the bill of his cap in mock shame. Seconds later, the cheers returned from the full house.

And then the gasp — instead of blasting out of the sand, Woods bladed the shot over the green and into the front row of the gallery.

It was quite a scene, and this was not lost on John Wood, the caddie for Hunter Mahan, who was in the group ahead of Woods on the 16th. The caddie looked around at the enclosed arena, where it was hard to find an empty seat. And this was for a pro-am.

“This is usually about one-third full,” Wood said. “I have never seen it this packed on a Wednesday. Never.”

The difference?

He looked over his shoulder at Woods on the tee box and pointed his thumb in that direction.

Record crowds are expected this week at the TPC Scottsdale, though the forecast is for cold and rain on Saturday, the biggest day. The Super Bowl is in town. Woods is playing for the first time in 14 years. The field includes Phil Mickelson, Masters champion Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.

All eyes, however, are on Woods. There’s too much history with him, even at a tournament he rarely plays.

Of the three aces Woods has made as a pro, none gets replayed as much as his debut in the Phoenix Open in 1997. When the ball disappeared into the cup, it set off a celebration so wild that fans began throwing beer cups onto the tee. Woods was so excited he missed the high-five with Omar Uresti.

“Then on top of that, just smelling and hearing the beer hit behind me on the tee box,” he said. “The more eerie part was when we were playing 17 and 18, everybody didn’t really care. They were walking in, because they had seen what they wanted to see and 16 was empty. So we looked back on 16. You see all these beer cups everywhere on the tee box, and probably maybe an eighth of the people there.”

Two years later, Woods had a chance to win while playing the in the final group with Rocco Mediate. What stood out that day was a tee shot left into the desert scrub and his ball landing just short of a waist-high boulder. It might have been the heaviest loose impediment ever moved — with help. Woods summoned help from the gallery, and they heaved with all their might to get the boulder out of the way of his swing on the par-5 13th.

“I thought it was lighter than it was,” Woods said. “I thought I could move it. Evidently it took like five other dudes to do it.”

He added a twist to the tale this week. They moved it the wrong way.

“They moved it in the direction which I didn’t want to have it moved,” he said. “So that means I had to start the ball off to the right, because I hit the ball in the right bunker. But I wasn’t going to have them go back in there in the cactus and move it back the other way.”

Later in the day, a fan who had been heckling Woods was found to have a gun in his fanny pack. The gun was registered. Woods never felt threatened, though it let to headlines as far away as New Jersey and Britain.

The final year in 2001 was thought to be the final straw. Woods finished 15 shots behind the runaway Mark Calcavecchia, but a young fan threw an orange onto the green as Woods was getting ready to putt. Those close to Woods said that was a big reason why he never returned until this year. There were other factors, such as the appearance money he used to get for going to Dubai and then Abu Dhabi, along with the extended winter break that meant also skipping Kapalua.

He’s back in Phoenix, and the buzz is louder than ever. Woods didn’t make a hole-in-one on the 16th hole. He hit into a bunker. No one showered the tee box with beer cups. There were no high-fives. But as he was playing the 17th hole, fans began filing out of the bleachers behind the green, and the front row of stands were half-empty.

They saw what they wanted.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Serena Williams vs. Madison Keys: Australian Open 2015 Semifinal Score, Reaction

Don't Miss

The Belichick Image, Marked by Hoodie and Scowl, Obscure His Impact in NFL

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Business

Sale of Coliseum to African American Developers Moves Toward Completion

The deal includes the sale of the Oakland Arena to an unidentified third-party buyer for no less than $100 million, which Bobbitt said was one of the most important aspects of the site’s future redevelopment.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 16, 2026

bpusa-syndication

The deal includes the sale of the Oakland Arena to an unidentified third-party buyer for no less than $100 million, which Bobbitt said was one of the most important aspects of the site’s future redevelopment.

‘This is on the precipice of actually occurring,’ said Ray Bobbitt, buyers’ representative

By Post Staff

After many months of complex negotiations, the Oakland Coliseum development deal is finally nearing an agreement that will open the way for new owners – the African Americans Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG) – to revitalize the sports complex and the Hegenberger Corridor in East Oakland.

On May 28, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a non-binding agreement to dispose of the County’s portion of the complex for $115 million in a deal with AASEG, with a closing date set for June 30.

“People are seeing that this is on the precipice of actually occurring,” said Ray Bobbitt, founder of the AASEG and an East Oakland native. “People feel that this needs to happen for Oakland, for East Oakland in particular,” Bobbitt said, as reported in the East Bay Times.

The agreement would transfer ownership of the 112-acre Coliseum complex property, which was owned 50-50 by Alameda County and the City of Oakland, to Oakland Acquisition Company, which is AASEG’s real estate wing.

The County’s approval marks an important step in the sale of the property, even though concerns about environmental liability remain. Under the terms of the non-binding agreement, the county will pay $115 million to Coliseum Way Partners, the corporate entity of the Oakland Athletics that had previously purchased the county’s half of the property for $85 million.

AASEG will then pay $115 million to the County in three annual payments, with 5% annual interest paid on any outstanding balance, according to the term sheet.

AASEG already negotiated a purchase of the city’s half of the property for $125 million in 2025, awaiting the sale of the county’s half.

A strong supporter of the sale, Supervisor Nate Miley said he was not “breaking out the champagne” until the sale was final. This is not perfect, but it is good.

“It’s good because the County ends up with more money,” Miley continued. “It’s good because an African American team takes ownership of the property, and they’ve got a lot of potential in terms of what they want to do with the property.”

A remaining disagreement between Alameda County and the AASEG involves environmental concerns.

AASEG wanted a “carve-out” for environmental concerns so that it would not face liability for the release of groundwater into San Francisco Bay without a permit. Obtaining a permit could be time-consuming and expensive, requiring the need for consultants, studies, and an oversight process by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

County supervisors unanimously supported the non-binding agreement without the carve-out, though Bobbitt said delaying or excluding the carve-out creates timing risks for the project.

“The motion is to accept the terms as presented, excluding the carve-out,” Board of Supervisors President David Haubert said. “Noting that it’s a non-binding term sheet and terms can always be discussed going forward. It’s been pointed out that that could affect the deal, timing, which we’ve been at this for nine years, but what’s a little more time?”

“The arena represents an anchor of the site,” said Babbitt. “This arena … has become a pop culture mecca, and the opportunity to enhance that and expand that is critical to the overall process.”

Speaking at the Board of Supervisors meeting, Miley explained the County’s reasoning behind some of the complex negotiations. He asked interim County Counsel Andrea Weddle:

“In layman’s term’s who’s on the hook for the environmental (cleanup)” under the current deal with the Oakland A’s?

“When the county with a former board entered in the deal with the (A’s), we took on all of the environmental obligations,” Miley said. “Since then, we’ve learned a lot more about the environmental conditions of the Coliseum.”

“If we do a deal with Coliseum Way Partners (the A’s), we remain on the hook,” she said. “If we do a deal as we’ve currently structured with OAC (AASEG), we have eliminated some or hopefully all (or) as much as we can of that liability and aligned our deal with the terms of the city.”

Bobbitt, despite his concerns, supported the nonbinding agreement. He said the public has waited nearly a decade to come to this point.

“The community support has been overwhelming,” he said. “We’ve used a lot of P-words: patience, perseverance, persistence. And we’ve just had to do it, and we understand how complex this has been.”

bpusa-syndication

Posts by bpusa-syndication

Alameda County

Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

7 months ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

1 year ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.