TPC Scottsdale's 16th just one of several testy TOUR par 3s

text size

No matter what they say, the best golfers in the world will feel a bit of tension this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. They can whistle past the graveyard all they like, but there's no doubt that the fast-twitch muscles in their body will twitch a little faster when they approach the 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale.

WASTE MGT. PHOENIX

Round 1 Tee Times
Expert Picks
Sleeper Picks
Power Rankings
Inside the Course
Inside the Field
Fantasy Insider

Eagles' lair

The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is a test of nerves, but other holes on the desert course are "go time" for big hitters, including the drivable par-4 17th. More

The hole itself isn't that daunting, only 162 yards, and offers players a birdie opportunity if they can locate their shot on the proper quadrant of the green. But it isn't the topography of the green or the bunkering or the temperature that makes the difference.

It's the crowd at the 16th hole that makes this hole so difficult and intimidating. The hole is surrounded by bleachers, filled with rowdy fans. Some of these people may have had a beer or a sip of wine. You'd have to be attending an Auburn-Alabama football game to find an atmosphere of equal intensity. The crowd's response depends on the result of the shot.

"You know what you're walking into when you go into the stadium on 16," said Charley Hoffman, who was second in 2009. "It's fun and you just hope you hit the green so you don't get booed."

Some of the fans on the 16th hole have done their homework and know the appropriate things to yell. They'll chant "ASU, ASU" when Arizona State alum Phil Mickelson comes through. And last year they were prepared with advanced knowledge about Kenny Perry's hobbies, family and alma mater when his group arrived.

"They're not yelling anything negative at you, they're just telling you what you already know, and I think that's pretty neat," Perry said.

Most of the players try to get the crowd on their side, sometimes by responding with an emphatic fist pump when something good happens. Those who don't enjoy the atmosphere stay away; Tiger Woods hasn't played there since 2001.

The intimidation factor at Phoenix is definitely crowd related. (No other place in the world has 50,000 people surrounding a single hole.) But it is far from the most intimidating hole on the PGA TOUR. Players must deal with holes on a regular basis that have the potential to cause a collar-tightening experience. Here are five other par 3s that are on the short list when it comes to the most intimidating.

• No. 12, Muirfield Village: Anyone interested in winning the Memorial Tournament must get past this 189-yard beauty before starting the home stretch. The tee shot is played from a hillside and requires a carry across water to a two-tiered, kidney-shaped green. There are bunkers in the rear left and front right, so those who miss are likely to be taking a drop or assessing their sand skills. This hole was the 35th most difficult on TOUR last year and played to an average of 3.293.

• No. 15, PGA National: The first of the three-hole portion of the course known as "The Bear Trap," you get a real warm, fuzzy feeling when you read the plaque inset in a large rock that welcomes golfers to the hole. There's a diagram of the final three holes and a quote from Jack Nicklaus that reads, "It should be won or lost right here." Not exactly words of comfort to read on Sunday afternoon. It was the 13th toughest hole on the PGA TOUR in 2010, playing to an average of 3.364 shots.

Halleran/Getty Images

To win at Quail Hollow, the watery 17th at Quail Hollow must be conquered.

• No. 17, Quail Hollow: To earn a victory at the prestigious Wells Fargo Championship, a player must withstand this unforgiving hole just to get to the even-more-difficult 18th. A tee shot must carry 200 yards to clear the water and connect with the green, which slopes back-to-front and right-to-left toward the lake. This hole was tied for 16th for difficulty on the PGA TOUR at 3.343 shots.

• No. 12, Augusta National: It only plays 155 yards and it barely ranked among the toughest 200 holes on TOUR in 2010, but this hole can be the Masters Maker. A narrow green that is susceptible to the whims of the wind, a mistake here at the beginning of Amen Corner can leave a player shaking his head and playing only for prize money. Phil Mickelson parred it the first three days and birdied it in the final round last year and went on to win his third green jacket.

• No. 17, TPC Sawgrass: One of the most famous -- or infamous -- holes in the world gets the edge in intimidation not only because of its island green, because of its location on the course. The PLAYERS Championship can easily be lost on the tournament's penultimate hole if a player doesn't have his short iron dialed in. Fate plays a role here, too, as windy conditions change this hole from docile to ferocious.

Intimidation doesn't have to be 600 yards long, as these par 3s indicate. So if you're a person who revels in watching the comfort factor diminish, as it will on the 16th hole at Phoenix this week, be happy. There are many more intimidating moments waiting over the horizon.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.