Phoenix Open paying tribute to Kobe Bryant with special 16th hole location

The week has been filled with tributes to Kobe Bryant, the future hall of fame basketball player who died tragically in a helicopter crash last Sunday. One more touching tribute is planned for the Waste Management Phoenix Open Sunday: a hole location 24 steps on and 8 from the left.

But that isn’t just any hole location. It’s the location of the par-3 16th hole in the raucous stadium setting at TPC Scottsdale. The nos. 24 and 8 signify the jersey numbers Bryant famously wore throughout his career, both with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Tour announced the tribute in an Instagram post Saturday night.

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Sunday’s hole location on No. 16 @wmphoenixopen will be 24 paces on and 8 from the left to honor NBA legend Kobe Bryant. ??

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on Feb 1, 2020 at 5:06pm PST

This joins a long line of tributes on Tour this week. Tony Finau wore Bryant’s no. 8 while playing the 16th all week. Justin Thomas matched him with Bryant’s no. 33 Lower Merion High School jersey. Finau one-upped him with purple and gold golf shoes on Thursday. Chances are they’ll see dozens of Bryant jerseys in the stands Sunday as well.

Bryant’s legacy has been honored all over the sports world this week.

Emmanuel Sanders, wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, will be wearing custom-designed cleats during the Super Bowl. Every NBA team conducted a tribute of their own, many opening NBA games with 24-second shot clock and 8-second half-court violation turnovers. What else does the golf world have in store? You’ll have to tune in Sunday on CBS.

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