The unlikely player to dominate Scottsdale’s world-famous 16th

Feb 2, 2020

Last year Denny McCarthy had a very strange week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Roll the clock forward and the American equalled an impressive record

The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale will always capture the headlines but it was a player well down the pack who had the measure of it better than anyone.

A year ago at the Waste Management Phoenix Open Denny McCarthy was given a two-shot penalty, which was later rescinded, when his caddie was caught standing behind his player before he played a bunker shot.

This year the 26-year-old matched Luke Donald’s previous best from 2003 of four birdie 2s at the 16th after holing a 37-footer on Sunday. Over the course of the week, in among all the boozing and jeers and cheers, McCarthy rolled in nearly 74 feet of putts over the four days.

McCarthy finished the week in a tie for 59th at level par.

Related: Varner breaks impressive, if strange, PGA Tour record

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Mark Townsend

Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game