He might have finished a distant 62nd last year but Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle couldn’t wait to get back to the party in Phoenix.

The US PGA Tour heads into its Happy Gilmore-style event at TPC Scottsdale on Friday (AEDT), highlighted by the par three 16th which is fully enclosed by stadium seating packed with raucous fans.

While most weeks fans are asked to be quiet, in Phoenix, the rowdier the better. And Lyle sent them into raptures last year in the second round when he became just the eighth man to ace the coliseum-like 16th hole, joining among others, Tiger Woods.

“It’s a career highlight of mine for sure. If you were ever going to pick a time and a place to do it everybody would pick here,” Lyle said on Tuesday.

“The atmosphere, the party, everything about it, the hole is crazy.

“The stadium was probably only a little over half-full when it happened but it felt like there were 100,000 people there.

“I can’t really compare it to anything but I reckon it would be like a football player walking onto the MCG on grand final day. It was incredible it was so loud, it was just awesome.”

While many golfers, like Lyle, welcome the party stop on the Tour calendar others don’t.

The fans are educated, but brutal. They’ll chant impressive stats, sing and cheer clever ditties but if players miss the green from 150 yards the boos ring loud.

“It’s not something you usually associate with a golf tournament but it’s certainly what makes this tournament what it is,” Lyle says.

“It’s a great week that everyone enjoys and those who don’t like it don’t play, it’s as simple as that. But I reckon it’s something special.”

And after three made cuts but no better finish than a tie for 26th from his three starts this year, Lyle is ready to post a high finish.

“It hasn’t been spectacular by any means but to make all three cuts is a good start to the year,” he said.

“I would love to have been a little better positioned but I’m still putting money in the bank.

“I’m hitting the ball well so hopefully I can put four good days together this week.”

Eight other Australians join Lyle in the field this week – Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Mathew Goggin, Matt Jones, Nick O’Hern, Rod Pampling and Marc Leishman.

Baddeley is no stranger to success in Phoenix, having claimed his second US PGA Tour victory back in 2007 at the event.

It’s a home game for the Victorian who has his home just a few minutes from the course.