Sports

Woods Returns to Phoenix With Plenty of Memories

Published

11 years ago

January 29, 2015

Tiger Woods smiles as he walks on the eighth hole during a practice round at the Phoenix Open golf tournament, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tiger Woods returned to the Phoenix Open and received cheers, boos and gasps.

All on one hole.

There is rarely a dull moment with golf’s biggest star, especially at the PGA Tour’s rowdiest venue. Even though Woods has played at TPC Scottsdale only three times, what defines his experience at the Phoenix Open is not a trophy, rather it’s some beer, a boulder, an orange and a gun.

So a typical pro-am Wednesday was anything but that — especially at the par-3 16th hole.

Woods managed to deliver another memory. His 9-iron was just left of the pin when it turned enough left that it tumbled into a bunker. The cheers turned to boos, and Woods tugged the bill of his cap in mock shame. Seconds later, the cheers returned from the full house.

And then the gasp — instead of blasting out of the sand, Woods bladed the shot over the green and into the front row of the gallery.

It was quite a scene, and this was not lost on John Wood, the caddie for Hunter Mahan, who was in the group ahead of Woods on the 16th. The caddie looked around at the enclosed arena, where it was hard to find an empty seat. And this was for a pro-am.

“This is usually about one-third full,” Wood said. “I have never seen it this packed on a Wednesday. Never.”

The difference?

He looked over his shoulder at Woods on the tee box and pointed his thumb in that direction.

Record crowds are expected this week at the TPC Scottsdale, though the forecast is for cold and rain on Saturday, the biggest day. The Super Bowl is in town. Woods is playing for the first time in 14 years. The field includes Phil Mickelson, Masters champion Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.

All eyes, however, are on Woods. There’s too much history with him, even at a tournament he rarely plays.

Of the three aces Woods has made as a pro, none gets replayed as much as his debut in the Phoenix Open in 1997. When the ball disappeared into the cup, it set off a celebration so wild that fans began throwing beer cups onto the tee. Woods was so excited he missed the high-five with Omar Uresti.

“Then on top of that, just smelling and hearing the beer hit behind me on the tee box,” he said. “The more eerie part was when we were playing 17 and 18, everybody didn’t really care. They were walking in, because they had seen what they wanted to see and 16 was empty. So we looked back on 16. You see all these beer cups everywhere on the tee box, and probably maybe an eighth of the people there.”

Two years later, Woods had a chance to win while playing the in the final group with Rocco Mediate. What stood out that day was a tee shot left into the desert scrub and his ball landing just short of a waist-high boulder. It might have been the heaviest loose impediment ever moved — with help. Woods summoned help from the gallery, and they heaved with all their might to get the boulder out of the way of his swing on the par-5 13th.

“I thought it was lighter than it was,” Woods said. “I thought I could move it. Evidently it took like five other dudes to do it.”

He added a twist to the tale this week. They moved it the wrong way.

“They moved it in the direction which I didn’t want to have it moved,” he said. “So that means I had to start the ball off to the right, because I hit the ball in the right bunker. But I wasn’t going to have them go back in there in the cactus and move it back the other way.”

Later in the day, a fan who had been heckling Woods was found to have a gun in his fanny pack. The gun was registered. Woods never felt threatened, though it let to headlines as far away as New Jersey and Britain.

The final year in 2001 was thought to be the final straw. Woods finished 15 shots behind the runaway Mark Calcavecchia, but a young fan threw an orange onto the green as Woods was getting ready to putt. Those close to Woods said that was a big reason why he never returned until this year. There were other factors, such as the appearance money he used to get for going to Dubai and then Abu Dhabi, along with the extended winter break that meant also skipping Kapalua.

He’s back in Phoenix, and the buzz is louder than ever. Woods didn’t make a hole-in-one on the 16th hole. He hit into a bunker. No one showered the tee box with beer cups. There were no high-fives. But as he was playing the 17th hole, fans began filing out of the bleachers behind the green, and the front row of stands were half-empty.

They saw what they wanted.

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

5 days ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

7 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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Activism

McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

10 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.