IN THE DESERT WITH QUINNEY JANUARY 31 - FEBURARY 3, 2008

Date Published: Thursday, January 31, 2008    
Posted By: Foundation Team

D.J's blog: In the desert with Quinney

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Welcome to the FBR Open at the TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz. The FBR Open is a very unique tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule each year. This event always has the largest attendance of any tournament, and this year was no exception. The tournament set single-day attendance records on three separate occasions this week and also set a record for total attendance for the entire week with 538,356 fans.

The FBR Open is also known to have one of the most famous holes on the PGA TOUR and that hole is the par-3 16th hole. I have been to many golf tournaments, but I have never in my life experienced a hole like the 16th at the FBR Open. This hole has a truly unique amphitheatre-arena type setting with corporate hospitality skyboxes and general spectator seating lining both sides of the hole from tee to green. An estimated 20,000 fans can watch the action on this par 3 at one time. Having the opportunity to experience the 16th hole at the FBR Open is something I will never forget, and this was the most memorable experience of the week. The tournament program says the FBR Open is the greatest show on grass, and, after attending this tournament, I will say the FBR Open is very unique and it is a spectacular site to see over 170,000 fans in one day at a golf tournament.

I had the opportunity to spend the week with Jeff Quinney, who resides in Scottsdale and played college golf at Arizona State University in nearby Tempe. Arizona State has the reputation of having one of the best college golf programs in the NCAA. "It was unbelievable (to play there)," Jeff told me. "I wanted to stay in a Pac 10 school. I grew up a Duck fan, but the weather and the facilities weren't quite up to par, so I wanted to come down here, and we had a blast. We had a great team and a very successful team. Basically, our whole starting five is out on TOUR this year through q-school and the Nationwide (Tour), and (I'm) having a blast having them out here. I would do the same thing over again, obviously (I'm) a big Sun Devils fan still because I live in the area, and we had a great program and definitely I think (it's) the best program in the country."

Understanding that Jeff is a local resident, I asked if he felt any extra pressure this week playing at home. "A little bit," he said. "But I don't think it really effects my play, I'm busy giving people tickets and trying to chat, and sometimes you're trying to practice and everyone wants to say hi, and it's kind of hard. But, last year, I performed really well. I won my home tournament in Oregon in a Nationwide (Tour) event, so I have had a lot of success when I'm in my hometown or am comfortable in my own bed."

Before turning professional, Jeff had a very successful amateur career -- including winning the 2000 U.S. Amateur. "It was awesome," he said. "It was just kind of where I put myself on the map. I had a great summer, and I was a pretty good college golfer, but I think I just kind of proved to me that maybe I can do something special in this game, and to win the U.S. Am is basically a major championship in some people's minds. I got to play in the Masters. I got to play all the majors that year, I got to play with Tiger. It was just something that I will never forget."

I asked Jeff to tell me one thing people don't know about him. "I'm more than just a golfer," he said. "I feel like I'm a good athlete; I can play tennis, I can play basketball, and I can do a lot of other things besides golf, I just enjoy all sports." In fact, Jeff was named MVP of his high school basketball team. In fact, Jeff's family has a very impressive athletic background -- his three brothers all played Division I college athletics. "We're always very competitive whether it's playing pool or ping pong," Jeff told me. "We usually try and play some golf about one time a year. My brother Mark, he used to play professional tennis, he's now the golf nut (and) he's probably a 2 handicap. Anything we do, we're always very competitive, but we always cheer each other on."

As for the TPC Scottsdale, I feel this course is a very fair walk. This course does carry some distance, but for the most part, the course is straightforward, with greens and tees being relatively close together

To learn more about me, please tune in to Golf Central on the GOLF CHANNEL on Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10 and watch a two-part feature on me. Thank you again for all of your e-mails and support.

As I close my week at the FBR Open, I would like to express my appreciation to Jeff Quinney for his kindness and generosity throughout the entire week. I really appreciate it! I would also like to say thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Quinney for their kindness this week, as well.

See you next week from Pebble Beach where I will follow: Chris DiMarco