Monday was a special day for professional golfers from Colorado.

While Denver native and reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark was declared the winner of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am due to weather concerns, another Coloradan was in Scottsdale, Ariz., making news. 

Basalt native and current Littleton resident Jim Knous fired a 7-under 64 and survived a four-man playoff at Pinnacle Peak Country Club to qualify for this week’s WM Phoenix Open.  

“This career path is a grind. This week is going to be amazing. We’re going to soak it all in,” Knous said in a video on Monday Q Info’s X account. 

Knous, who was the runner-up to Clark at the 2010 CGA Amateur, last played a PGA event at the Wyndham Championship in 2022 where he missed the cut. The 34-year-old played in 19 events in 2022 with two top 25s. He played on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023. 

At Colorado School of Mines, Knous earned All-American honors and finished runner-up at the NCAA championships in 2012. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering. 

“I had my college coach (Tyler Kimble) on the bag (caddying) and we’re going to enjoy it this week,” Knous said on social media. “I’ve gone through a lot in the past couple of years. But, hey, we’re going to have a good week this week.” 

There will be several golfers with Colorado connections at the WM Phoenix Open this week. Joining Knous will be Clark, Mark Hubbard and Denver residents Kevin Stadler and Martin Laird. Stadler is in the field on a sponsor exemption after winning the tournament 10 years ago. 

PGA-LIV debate continues

What happens between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf continues to be the topic of the golf world. Several players, including Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, have weighed in on the debate. 

McIlroy has become more open to the idea of LIV players returning to the PGA Tour with little to no penalty, because he wants unity. Spieth and Fowler disagreed and thinks there needs to be some sort of consequences for LIV players.

Justin Thomas, who is close with Spieth and Fowler, made his viewpoint clear during a press conference at the WM Phoenix Open. 

“I would say that there’s a handful of players on LIV that would make the PGA Tour a better place, but I’m definitely not in agreement that they should just be able to come back that easily,” Thomas said. 

Thomas has a strong voice within professional golf despite his struggles in 2023. He has been adamant since LIV started that the PGA Tour was the best place to play. 

It seems the only thing everybody agrees on is that the best players need to be playing together. The path to that gets murkier by the day.    

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The list

The PGA Tour goes to Scottsdale this week for one of the most fun and loud tournaments of the year at the WM Phoenix Open. Fans get into the action and are especially rowdy on the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. 

Here is a look at some of the best and most exciting par-3s on tour:  

1. No. 12 at August National: This hole is probably mostly famous for players failing on it. Tiger Woods made a 10 in 2020. Jordan Spieth was on his way to another green jacket before dumping two balls in the water for a seven in 2016. It can make or break a run to a Masters title. Greg Norman made a double bogey there during his 1996 collapse.  

2. No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass: The famous island green presents an intimidating tee shot even though most pros hit a pitching wedge into it. It is a hole that any amateur can go play and give it a shot. Can’t even imagine of how many balls are in that lake, considering 58 balls were dunked during the 2023 Players Championship. 

3. No. 6 at Riveria Country Club: This is one of the most unique holes in the United States. The green is two-tier and has a bunker in the middle of it. The bunker can come into play depending on the pin placement. The PGA Tour will be at Riveria next week.   

4. No 16 at TPC Scottsdale: This hole is all about the pressure and atmosphere. Bad shots are booed, and great shots are celebrated. There really is nothing like it on the PGA Tour. Woods made an ace here in 1997.  

5. No. 8 at Royal Troon: The famous “Postage Stamp” rates as the easiest hole on the course, but it is not as simple as it looks. Bunkers guard every side of the green so any shot a little bit off could be in trouble. The British Open is back there in 2024.