The Associated Press
John Nicholson
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm got the party started early today in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The former Arizona State stars will begin play with Xander Schauffele on the 10th tee at TPC Scottsdale just before 8 a.m. (local time).
They will hit the rowdy par-three 16th hours before the alcohol-fuelled revelry kicks into high gear at the stadium hole.
But no matter the time, they’ll hear plenty of “Forks up!” and “Go Devils!” cries from the gallery.
“Every time I go by, every hole, every single shot, I get cheers from someone from ASU,” Rahm said.
“When you miss a shot, you remember how many people you have pulling for you,” he added. “And when you’re playing good, it makes it that much more fun.
“It just escalates everything to a whole level of joy.”
Two-time defending champ Hideki Matsuyama will be in the group directly ahead with Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson–the players the Japanese star outlasted in playoffs the last two years.
“It’s going to kind of be weird to play with them on Thursday and Friday,” Matsuyama conceded.
On the other side of the draw, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas will join Patton Kizzire, the lone two-time winner on tour this season.
“This is always a little different week, very exciting,” Spieth remarked.
“Nice change, kind of a fun change with this kind of party crowd.”
Rahm won the CareerBuilder Challenge two weeks ago in a playoff in the California desert and was in contention last week in his title defence at Torrey Pines before fading on the weekend.
The 23-year-old has jumped to No. 2 in the world behind Dustin Johnson.
“He’ll get there [No. 1] eventually,” Mickelson said. “He’s so talented and to have him do it as quickly as he had right out of college, very impressive.
Not only that, he’s such a nice guy to be around.”
Rahm was second behind Johnson at Kapalua in his first start since winning the European Tour’s season-ending event in Dubai back in November.
He’s making his third appearance in the tournament after tying for fifth as an amateur in 2015 and tying for 16th last year.
“I live a couple miles from here,” Rahm noted. “It’s home.”
Mickelson is making his 29th start in the event–matching the record held by Gene Littler, Jim Ferrier, and Jerry Barber.
“Lefty” won on the Stadium Course in 1996, 2005, and 2013.
“I just love what I do. I love playing golf for a living,” Mickelson said. “I love the West Coast and I’m excited to be back here in Phoenix.
“The golf course is in great shape,” he added. “We have got great weather.
“It’s just a fun place to play; one of the places I look forward to every year.”
