FBR Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Mark Calcavecchia, who re-wrote the record book en route to his third Phoenix Open victory last year, received the tournament's highest honor Tuesday night when The Thunderbirds inducted him into the Phoenix Open Hall of Fame.

Calcavecchia became only the 15th Hall of Fame member, and just the sixth golfer to be inducted since the honor was established in 1985. The Thunderbirds surprised Calcavecchia with the announcement as part of the annual Phoenix Open Celebrity Dinner.

Also at the dinner, Sam Irwin, leader of the band Duck Soup, was made an honorary Thunderbird in appreciation for his many years of entertaining fans at the Birds Nest as well as at selected other PGA TOUR events.

Calcavecchia set or tied several Phoenix Open and PGA TOUR records with his runaway victory last year, most notably the all-time PGA TOUR and Phoenix Open 72-hole scoring record of 28-under-par 256. His second-round 60 also tied the course record at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale.

Calcavecchia is the only player to win three times at the TPC of Scottsdale (2001, 1992, 1989), and joins Arnold Palmer and Gene Littler, also Hall of Fame members, as the only three-time winners in tournament history. His victory last year was the 10th of his PGA TOUR career, which includes the 1989 British Open, and sparked one of his best seasons ever with nearly $2 million in earnings and a berth on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. In 15 Phoenix Open appearances he has eight top-10 finishes and has banked more than $1.3 million.

The Thunderbirds established the Phoenix Open Hall of Fame to honor those individuals whose exemplary play and/or extraordinary efforts have been an integral part of the tournament's popularity and success. Past inductees include Ken Venturi, Frank Chirkinian, Ben Hogan, Herb Drinkwater, Glen Campbell, Vic Armstrong, Byron Nelson, Phil Harris, Karsten Solheim, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Bob Hope, Bob Goldwater, Sr., Arnold Palmer and Gene Littler.