PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale, the PGA Tour's loudest and most enthusiastic golf hole, will also become the Tour's first-ever true Stadium Golf Hole when the 2009 FBR Open tees off January 26th - February 1st. Tournament hosts The Thunderbirds have added close to 3,000 new general admission bleacher seats behind and to the right of the green on the 162-yard, par 3. The 16th is now fully enclosed by bleachers and skyboxes and has capacity for between 15,000 to 20,000 golf fans.

"As tournament hosts and organizers, we know we have something pretty special and unique here in our 16th hole," said 2009 FBR Open Tournament Chairman John Felix. "There are certain holes on Tour that are identified simply by their number. When you say 17, you know people are talking about the island green at TPC Sawgrass. When you say 16, you know it's the FBR Open and the TPC Scottsdale."

In addition to the new bleacher seating (also known as tip-up seats) a new tunnel has been added underneath the new seats from the 16th green to the 17th tee for the TOUR professionals to walk through. A separate tunnel from the 15th green to the 16th tee, underneath the skyboxes, has been in use for years.

The 16th hole fan experience will also be enhanced at the 2009 FBR Open as a video board display has been added to the west side of the hole. The 51 ft. x 19 ft. video display will be located behind the tee box and will give fans an up-close view of all of the action regardless of where they're seated.

"Bleacher seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis just as hillside space was in previous years," added Felix. "Fans will not need any special tickets to sit in the bleachers. Entrance to the Skyboxes, however, does require a distinct Skybox badge."

The FBR Open is the best-attended golf tournament in the world and has raised more than $61.7 million for charities, with more than $33.6 million generated in just the last five years alone. The 2008 FBR Open raised a PGA TOUR record $8,652,542 for charity. Annually sporting by far the largest crowds for any golfing event in the world, the FBR Open has gained legendary status for being a unique stop on the PGA TOUR. The 2009 edition, to be played January 26th through February 1st, will mark the 74th playing of the event, and the sixth as the FBR Open, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR.

Rob Myers
FBR Open Media Relations Director
Vice President -- Communication Links
Office - 480-348-7540
Cell - 602-317-6131