Frys.com Open a calmer golf alternative

Golf fans who don’t like the hustle and bustle of the FBR Open have a calmer alternative this week.

The Frys.com Open will be held at Grayhawk Golf Club in north Scottsdale from Thursday through Sunday. A pro-am is also scheduled for Wednesday.

The Frys.com Open is part of the PGA Tour’s Fall Series and features a $5 million purse, with $900,000 going to the winner.

The field boasts such notable names as Fred Couples, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Mike Weir and Rocco Mediate. Cameron Beckman is the defending champ. Several Valley players are also in the field, including former Arizona State stars Chez Reavie and Jeff Quinney.

Daily tickets are $25, but a weekly pass is $50.

TICKETS
Daily general admission tickets can be purchased at the main entrance at Grayhawk Golf Club and at Van’s Golf Shop locations in the Valley. Cost is $25 per day, or $50 for the week. With a weekly purchase, you also get two one-day tickets to the FBR Open in February.

PARKING
Free parking is available on the southwest corner of Hayden Road and the Loop 101, with free shuttle access to the tournament gates. There is no parking available on or near the tournament grounds. Shuttles will operate Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FRY’S VIP DAY
Anyone showing a Fry’s Food Stores VIP shopper’s card at the main entrance on Wednesday will be admitted free. The Fry’s.com Open Pro-Am takes place on Wednesday.

FREE LESSONS
The Southwest Section PGA will be offering complimentary 5-minute golf lessons to spectators. The SWSPGA site is located on the Talon practice facility, next to the tournament’s main entrance.

16TH HOLE
In an effort to capture some of the magic that exists on the famed 16th hole of the FBR Open, the Frys.com Open will feature two new hospitality venues on its 16th hole. O’Donoghue’s Irish Pub hospitality tent is a raised venue with views of the 16th green and is open to the public. The VIP Paddy O’ Furniture tent requires a $75 ticket that is good for complimentary food and beverage.

GOLF ETIQUETTE 101
Stay quiet and stand still when golfers are about to hit the ball. Booing is inappropriate. For your own safety, follow the directions of tournament marshals. Spectators will be removed immediately without warning for: refusal to obey quiet signs or signals; distracting or embarrassing a golfer; making rude, vulgar or other inappropriate comments or gestures toward a golfer; cheering or booing at inappropriate times.

MUST-HAVE ITEMS
Sunscreen, hat, comfortable shoes and binoculars.

DON’T BRING
Officials ask that you do not bring the following items to the tournament site: weapons; cell phones; pagers; purses or other containers larger than 6-by-6-by-6; cameras; beverages (except sealed bottled water and special drinks, such as baby formula); food items (unless pre-prepared in clear bags and carried by hand in a plastic grocery style bag; sliced fruit will be allowed).

HAVE A PLAN
There are basically two ways to watch a golf tournament: “parade style,” where you pick a spot and watch the field pass by, or “cross-country style,” where you follow a particular player or group around the course. Arrive early to reserve a spot, especially if you plan on watching the tournament parade style. Thursday and Friday, groups are simultaneously started on the first and 10th tees. Most people watch the action on the back nine, which may give you the opportunity to get a better view of the players on the front nine.

DAILY PAIRING
Daily pairing sheets let you know when players tee off and the order of the groups, and include a course map. They are available in the expo area near the Grayhawk clubhouse and at various locations on the course. The pros will play in threesomes all four days of the tournament. One way to tell the players from a distance is to look for their caddies, who wear vests that have color-coded pockets and trim (red, white or black), which will be indicated on the daily pairing sheet.

AUTOGRAPHS
Golfers are more receptive to requests for autographs after they have completed their round, so don’t interrupt them before or during their round. PGA Tour guidelines do not allow players to sign autographs during their competitive round. A good place to catch them is at the practice area, as most players will return there after finishing their round.

FOOD & SOUVENIRS
Concession stands are located throughout the tournament grounds. For lunch or dinner, visit Michael’s Food Court. Souvenirs can be found at the Grayhawk Golf Shop, located inside the Grayhawk Clubhouse.

WEATHER FORECAST
The foracast all week calls for sunny skies and highs ranging between 84 and 88 degrees.

IF YOU STAY HOME
The Frys.com Open will be televised all four days on the Golf Channel.
 

FIRST-ROUND TEE TIMES

Raptor Tee No. 1 

6:45 a.m. Bubba Watson, D.A. Points, Jeff Klauk

6:55 a.m. Jay Williamson, Bryce Molder, Matt Bettencourt.

7:06 a.m. Rich Beem, Glen Day, John Merrick.

7:16 a.m. Ryuji Imada, D.J. Trahan, Fred Couples.

7:27 a.m. Martin Laird,Pat Perez, Daniel Chopra.

7:37 a.m. Steve Lowery, Aaron Baddeley, Todd Hamilton.

7:48 a.m. Joe Ogilvie, Brian Bateman, Brad Faxon.

7:58 a.m. Troy Matteson, Tim Herron, Bill Lunde.

8:09 a.m. Tommy Armour III, Alex Cejka, Cliff Kresge.  

8:19 a.m. Jimmy Walker, Aron Price, Derek Fathauer. S

8:30 a.m. Colt Knost, Brian Vranesh, Dean Vomacka.

11:10 a.m. Tim Petrovic, David Duval, Nick O’Hern.

11:20 a.m. Michael Allen, Chris Stroud, Darron Stiles.

11:31 a.m. Fredrik Jacobson, Greg Chalmers, John Mallinger.

11:41 a.m.Bo Van Pelt, Justin Leonard, Mike Weir.

11:52 a.m. Heath Slocum, Adres Romero, George McNeill.

12:02 p.m. Marc Turnesa, Stuart Appleby, Chris DiMarco.

12:13 p.m. Michael Bradley, Johnson Wagner, Steve Flesch.

12:23 p.m. J.J. Henry, Briny Baird, Charlie Wi.

12:34 p.m. Jeff Maggert, Kevin Sutherland, James Nitties.

12:44 p.m. Casey Wittenberg, Jarrod Lyle, David Mathis.

12:55 p.m. Leif Olson, Kris Blanks, Eric Meierdierks.

Raptor Tee No. 10

6:45 a.m. Rocco Mediate, Robert Garrigus, Webb Simpson.

6:55 a.m. Tom Pernice Jr., Kent Jones, Jeff Overton.

7:06 a.m. Tim Clark, Brian Davis, Ken Duke.

7:16 a.m. Richard S. Johnson, Stephen Ames, Paul Goydos.

7:27 a.m. Nathan Green, Mark Wilson, Chad Campbell.

7:37 a.m. Will MacKenzie, Krik Triplett, Arron Oberholser.

7:48 a.m. Ryan Palmer, Parker McLachlin, Tom Lehman.

7:58 a.m. Vaughn Taylor, Peter Lonard, Ricky Barnes.

8:09 a.m. Jason Gore, Harrison Frazar, Matt Jones.

8:19 a.m. Spencer Levin, Matt Weibring, Brady Schnell.

8:30 a.m. Aaron Watkins, Patrick Moore, Jake Younan-Wise.

11:10 a.m. Eric Axley, Scott McCarron, Jeff Quinney.

11:20 a.m. Dean Wilson, Brett Quigley, Bob Heintz.

11:31 a.m. Ted Purdy, Mathew Goggin, Brad Adamonis.

11:41 a.m. Ryan Moore, Rory Sabbatini, Charley Hoffman.

11:52 a.m. John Rollins, Cameron Beckman, Jonathan Byrd.

12:02 p.m. Carl Pettersson, Chez Reavie, Mark Calcavecchia.

12:13 p.m. Billy Mayfair, Nicholas Thompson, Kevin Streelman.

12:23 p.m.Ben Crane, Chris Riley, Greg Owen.

12:34 p.m. Steve Elkington, Michael Letzig, Roland Thatcher.

12:44 p.m. Brendon de Jonge, Brendon Todd, Rickie Fowler.

12:55 p.m. Stan Utley, Peter Tomasulo, Jamie Lovemark.