2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Reflections on a Thriller

Feb 5, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Hideki Matsuyama reacts on the green of the 17th as his putt nears the hole during a playoff against Web Simpson during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports /

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The 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open brought a record 655,434 fans to the “Greatest Show On Turf.”

2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open fans, all 655,434 of them, tell a story that’s unique in the game of pro golf. They scream and yell, they boo and cheer like an uninhibited mob of World Cup soccer fans.

Once a year, pro golfers encourage those rowdy fans who need little encouragement to whip themselves up into shrieking frenzies just because it’s TPC Scottsdale and the Greatest Show on Turf.

Hideki Matsuyama gave those fans what they wanted last week. He put together a flawless performance, recording 65, 68, 68 and 66 in his four rounds. Matsuyama’s 72-hole showing capped off 48 pars, 19 birdies, 1 eagle and 4 bogeys. That was just enough to get into a stunningly balanced 4-hole playoff against Webb Simpson. In the end Matsuyama walked away from the playoff with his 2nd Waste Management Phoenix Open title.

Matsuyama’s performance wasn’t the only thing that caught eye this week in Scottsdale. That said, let’s take a look back at some of the highlights of this year’s tournament.

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