Ryan Palmer’s Unique Preparation Process for the WM Phoenix Open Is Complete

What does it take to prepare for a professional golf tournament?

Hitting balls. Mental preparation. Getting enough sleep. Hydrating in advance of some warm days. 

Those are likely all parts of the regimen for those on the PGA Tour as they prepare for a big event. But the WM Phoenix Open isn’t any old event.

It’s WM Phoenix Open week… and the return of the legendary 16th hole 🚨🎉 pic.twitter.com/5Ck30qXlzo

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) February 6, 2024

So in addition to the usual prep, Ryan Palmer is ready to win over the faithful at TPC Scottsdale’s most famous hole.

I’m in @WMPhoenixOpen .. I’ll throw in the beer balls for 16!! https://t.co/0N3tbuUMGM pic.twitter.com/U2AG3kVmBM

— Ryan Palmer (@RyanPalmerPGA) January 26, 2024

The tradition was started by Palmer in 2015, when he threw bills to the fans in order to buy their next round of beverages. But the bills blew around in the wind, so next came the innovation of attaching the money to golf balls via rubber bands. 

On the course, the tournament is not among the Signature Events on the schedule this year, so FedEx Cup champ Victor Hovland and Xander Schauffele are both sitting it out in order to play in The Genesis Invitational, the upcoming big events in Florida, and, of course, the Masters. 

But two-time defending champ Scottie Scheffler is in the field, along with last week’s winner, Wyndham Clark, Justin Thomas, and a host of other big names to serve as the appetizer on Super Bowl Sunday.

Cover Image via CBS Sports