After Rickie Fowler Shunned TGL as ‘Not Real Golf’, PGA Tour Star Opposes Him With a Bold Comparison

Remember when golf meant hushed voices and raised hands signaling for silence? That tradition is rapidly transforming. At the heart of this transformation stands the TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole, where over 20,000 fans create an atmosphere that would make even the most hardcore traditionalist question golf’s “quiet, please” mantra.

This evolution opened doors for innovative formats like TGL, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy’s tech-infused league that embraces crowd energy in an arena setting. However, not everyone’s embracing this shift. Rickie Fowler dismissed the format after his practice sessions at the venue, calling it “a glorified man cave” and declaring “it is not real golf”—comments that sparked debate about golf’s entertainment future.

Min Woo Lee challenges Rickie Fowler’s TGL stance with WMPO’s stadium experience

Fresh off The Bay Golf Club’s victory over Atlanta Drive GC at the SoFi Center, Lee addressed the atmosphere head-on in his post-match press conference. When questioned about handling the distractions—the music, lights, and crowd noise—Lee embraced the environment with characteristic confidence. “Yeah, there was a bit of call-outs, but it was funny, the one call-out that I remember is the one I chipped in on. So whatever. Do it,” he shared.

The Australian star didn’t stop there. Drawing from his experience at both TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole and SoFi Center, he made a connection that validates TGL’s approach. “It’s the same vibe, especially on 16 at the stadium hole. There’s going to be noise, and you’ve just got to expect it the whole week,” Lee explained, comparing TGL’s environment to WMPO’s famous party hole. His comparison carries weight—the 16th at TPC Scottsdale has evolved from five skyboxes in 1992 to today’s three-story coliseum hosting over 20,000 spectators, whose cheers can reach deafening levels, especially during iconic moments like Tiger Woods‘ 1997 hole-in-one that sparked the legendary “beer shower” tradition.

For Lee, the adjustment to TGL’s atmosphere wasn’t a challenge but a natural extension of modern golf. “You know the sound is there. You know someone is going to make a sound. You’re kind of expecting it,” he noted, speaking of TGL’s 1,500-seat SoFi Center, where every match has sold out since its January 2025 debut. The venue’s intimate setting, combined with its arena-style design and constant crowd engagement—from player introductions to real-time fan reactions to shots on the massive simulator screens—creates an electric atmosphere more akin to an NBA game than a traditional golf tournament. Unlike regular tour events where spectators spread across 18 holes, TGL concentrates its entire audience into one compact arena, amplifying every cheer, jeer, and reaction.

The league has already proven its entertainment value, drawing nearly one million viewers in its opening week and surpassing both NBA games and LIV Golf broadcasts in ratings. Even Woods’ recent TGL debut pulled in over 1.005 million viewers, showcasing the format’s growing appeal despite—or perhaps because of—its departure from golf’s traditionally quiet atmosphere.

WMPO’s 16th hole: The blueprint for golf’s rowdy future

The comparison isn’t without merit. Since 1987, the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale has evolved from a simple par-3 into golf’s most electrifying amphitheater. What began as natural mounding with minimal infrastructure has transformed into a three-story superstructure that’s redefined how fans experience golf.

This evolution began organically with Arizona State University students gathering to support Phil Mickelson in the early 1990s. Since then, the hole has witnessed 12 aces and countless dramatic moments. In 2015, organizers installed decibel meters to measure crowd reactions, with unofficial readings during recent events regularly surpassing 100 decibels—comparable to a jackhammer and rivaling rock concert levels. The three-story grandstand design, constructed with 1,600 tons of steel, creates a natural amphitheater effect that amplifies the already thunderous crowd noise.

Today, the hole nicknamed “The Coliseum” serves as a blueprint for golf’s entertainment future. With its complete stadium enclosure, walk-up music, and constant crowd energy, it’s proven that golf can thrive in an atmosphere of controlled chaos—exactly what TGL aims to recreate in its own way.

The real question isn’t whether golf should embrace these new atmospheres but how to maintain the delicate balance between tradition and entertainment. What’s your take on golf’s evolving atmosphere? Let us know in the comments section below!