Jarrod Lyle's Phoenix Open ace honoured

Late golfer Jarrod Lyle's memorable hole-in-one on the 16th at the Phoenix Open will be honoured with a memorial during the tournament at TPC Scottsdale.

By Melissa Woods, Australian Associated Press
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Jarrod Lyle's unforgettable hole-in-one on the iconic 16th hole at the Phoenix Open is to be honoured with memorial on the TCP Scottsdale golf course.

Lyle, who died last year after a long battle with leukaemia, had the 15,000-strong crowd in the stadium that lines the famous par-3 hole on their feet with his ace during the second round of the 2011 tournament.

It was the popular Australian's first hole-in-one during his professional career and he took off his cap and celebrated hard with the raucous crowd.

Phoenix Open director Chance Cozby said the tournament wanted to honour Lyle.

A temporary memorial will be placed at No. 16 during Saturday's third round, which will be a replica of Lyle's Titleist staff bag stuffed with replica clubs, including the 8-iron he used for the hole-in-one.

A yellow bucket hat, like the one Lyle wore later in his career, will be draped on top, while a plaque painted yellow and displaying the Australian flag as well as details of his memorable feat will be stationed nearby.

"Every player is going to walk on the tee on Saturday and see that monument and see his bag with the yellow bucket hat, and they can all have a quick moment for their friend and his family and celebrate him," Cozby said.

"We wanted to keep it simple and go with his colour, bright yellow, and just put the facts on it."

A permanent marker will also be affixed on the tee to honour all those who aced the hole.

There have only been nine golfers to do so - among them by Hal Sutton, Steve Stricker and Tiger Woods.

Gregory Presland
Jan 30 '19

Such a wonderful idea. Jarrod Lyle was and still is an inspiration to us amateur golfers in Australia. The man is a legend and a hero to his family and friends. He battled for so long with leukaemia and tried to make a come back but it got the better of him. I personally don't know Jarrod but I do know this, he would be so proud of the memorial for him and honoured that it will be in a place that put him in golfs history.

Rest in peace Jarrod and play the great course in the sky with the other greats.


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