In my opinion, there are two must-attend, BIG events in Arizona. Being a former Wildcat, the first has to be UA Homecoming … always a spectacle and great time. The second is something we all (UA and ASU fans) can agree on: the FBR Open — “The Greatest Show on Grass!” I have to admit, I hardly watch the golfing and focus more on the beer, great food and crowds filled with my fellow Arizonans, but I hear it’s exceptional.
Last year’s attendance broke records, with an estimated 538,356 fans for the week and 170,802 just for Saturday’s third round. This was however due to the fact that Super Bowl took place in Glendale that same weekend. If you thought this year would be less exciting and accommodate a lower energy, “mellowed-out” crowd, you thought wrong. With the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s Super Bowl, Arizonans are pumped and ready to celebrate (I mean this may be a once in a lifetime for our Arizona NFL team).
New to FBR: Shot At Glory
Read this quickly because today beginning at 3:30 p.m., Actor/comedian George Lopez, actors Josh Duhamel and Luke Wilson, the beautiful pro-surfer Kelly Slater and other celebs will participate in the FBR Open’s Shot At Glory – a unique closest-to-the-pin contest for charity on the famed 16th hole.
The contest, MC’d by The Golf Channel’s Andrew Magee, will feature approximately 30 participants, including celebrities, war heroes, tournament sponsors and regular, every-day FBR Open golf fans. In fact, two lucky fans will be chosen randomly from the 16th hole crowd and asked to participate in the contest. Fans 21 and older that do stay for the competition will receive 2 for 1 ticket vouchers for Wednesday evening’s Coors Light Birds Nest featuring Zowie Bowie… So worth it!
FBR OPEN CALENDAR OF EVENTS (subject to change)
Wednesday, January 28
8:30 a.m. FBR/Xerox Silver Pro-Am, TPC Stadium Course
10 a.m. Honeywell Pro-Am, Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor)
3:30 p.m. Shot At Glory — 16th Hole TPC Stadium Course
3:30 p.m. Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens
Featuring Duck Soup at 6 p.m. and Zowie Bowie at 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 29
7:40 am FBR Open 1st round
3:30 pm Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens
Featuring Duck Soup at 6 p.m. and O.A.R. at 8 p.m.
Friday, January 30
7:40 a.m. FBR Open 2nd round
3:30 p.m. Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens
Featuring Static at 6 p.m. and MetalHead at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 31
Tee Times TBA: FBR Open 3rd round
3:30 p.m. Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens
Featuring The Chadwicks at 6 p.m. and The Boogie Knights at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 1
Tee Times TBA: FBR Open 4th round
About the Open:
This year’s event at the beautiful TPC Scottsdale will mark the 74th playing of the Open, and the sixth as the FBR Open, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA Tour. The Thunderbirds. Hosts of the Open since 1939, The Thunderbirds have turned the tournament into a Valley extravaganza and have helped raise almost $53 million for Arizona charities.
Tickets:
Daily general admission is $25. Children ages 17 & under are free when accompanied by an adult. The FBR Open is never sold out and tickets will be available at the FBR Open gate during tournament week (January 26 – February 1). Advance daily general admission tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster ticket centers including Fry’s Marketplace Stores and by phone at 480.784.4444 in Greater Phoenix; or you can order online in the Tickets section ) of the Web site.
Sounds like a jam-packed weekend.
It’s here, it’s here! SO EXCITED!
Because I love golf so much, I eventually had to denounce the rowdy FBR. But the stadium course is probably worth checking out! And if you love to party – the birds nest is definitely the place to be!
This has got to be one of the most pulsating weekends of the winter. I am not an avid duffer, but I do seem to have tons of fun at this event. After all, it’s for the love of the game, right. Sunday will be the most thrilling, witnessing the winner of the FBR Open, then racing across town (I’m thinking it may take longer than that) to watch the Cards make history. CHEERS! To a fun weekend.
I’ll be there…woot woot!!
Has the time come again already?! Yay so excited!
Kelly Slater still continues to blow me away with the moves he pulls off.