Former Sun Devils Shine in Annual Return to Phoenix
by Connor Pelton, SDA Communications Student Assistant
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - There were three Arizona State golf alums in the final two groups on Sunday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
There was Jon Rahm donning a Pat Tillman jersey on the infamous 16th hole, and multiple ASU-related chants directed at Phil Mickelson as he made the rounds at TPC Scottsdale.
And finally there was Chez Reavie, fist-pumping in front of an enormous crowd around the 18th green after forcing a playoff on a 21-foot birdie putt.
"They were great," said Reavie when asked about the fan support he received throughout the week. "Being a hometown guy, I think everyone was rooting me on. It was really a lot of fun."
A whole lot of fun was had by Reavie and the other former Sun Devils in the field, who used a combination of low scores and high attendance numbers to turn last week's Phoenix Open into a memorable one for Arizona State fans.
Reavie, Mickelson and Rahm all finished inside the top-11 for the tournament, and each of three posted a round of six-under (65) at one point throughout the week. Ultimately it was the Mesa-native Reavie who made the most noise, placing second at the same event in which he used to serve as a standard bearer when he was growing up.
After a bogey on No. 16 in the final round, Reavie knew he needed to make up two strokes on the last two holes in order to force a playoff with Gary Woodland, who was already in the clubhouse at -18.
Reavie did just that. Taking advantage of the short but tricky 17th hole, Reavie made a tap-in birdie to give himself a chance on the 72nd hole of the tournament. And after a great drive and decent approach shot, the former Sun Devil was left with a 21-foot slider to tie Woodland.
Everyone in Scottsdale knew it was dropping the instant he hit it.
As clutch as it comes! Chez Reavie rolls in the must-make birdie to force a playoff at the #WMPO! pic.twitter.com/dMhR8FqmG2
"I don't anybody that doesn't like Chez," Woodland said after besting Reavie in the ensuing playoff. "I was happy for him. Obviously he's playing great and to come out and play like that at home was pretty cool."
Mickelson ended up falling just short of joining the playoff with Woodland and Reavie, but the longtime Phoenix Open fan favorite gave his supporters plenty to go crazy for down the stretch on Sunday.
Three consecutive birdies, starting on the par-5 15th, allowed Mickelson to make a late charge up the leaderboard. And when he rolled in a 30-footer for a two on No. 16, the stadium crowd let out its loudest roar of the week. Phil Mickelson acknowledges the crowd after a long birdie putt on No. 16. Photo by Evan Millstein/Sun Devil Athletics
"I really enjoyed watching that putt go in," said Mickelson. "(The energy) was very helpful and important to my success. My game feels like it's been sharp but I haven't really gotten into the round, hit shots and had fun, and I think the environment here has really helped me get out of that technical element."
Mickelson spent time earlier in the week at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, which is where Arizona State will call home beginning next season.
Papago is currently being renovated and fitted with a state-of-the-art short game training area, in addition to a new driving range. When completed, the program's new practice facility will be nearly three times larger than the one it currently uses.
"It's going to be spectacular when finished," Mickelson said when asked about the new facility. "It's such a massive piece of property and every blade of grass will be usable. I am optimistic it will allow the players at ASU to develop their games and play their best golf, and that's what the goal is."
If all goes according to plan, it may even produce the next wave of Sun Devils that steal the spotlight on the Tour's annual trip to the Valley.
"For all of us Sun Devils, it's just such a positive week," said Rahm. "It brings back a lot of the good memories from our ASU days and that's something you don't get anywhere else."
Top photo: Chez Reavie celebrates after a birdie on the tournament's 72nd hole. Photo by Evan Millstein/Sun Devil Athletics
