Former Arizona State star Jeff Quinney had a strong tournament a year ago, leading after the second and third rounds. Despite shooting a final-round, 4-under 68, he eventually finished third behind John Rollins and winner Aaron Baddeley. It remains Quinney's best PGA TOUR finish. Quinney and Baddeley both live in Scottsdale, as does Billy Mayfair, who was fifth a year ago.

Since the tournament moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987, there have been four international winners, with Australia's Aaron Baddeley in 2007 the most recent. Others include Sandy Lyle (Scotland) in 1988, Vijay Singh (Fiji) in 1995 and 2003 and Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) in 1988.




On Thursday night following the first round of the 2008 FBR Open, The Thunderbirds are hosting a closest-to-the-hole contest at the par-3 16th hole. Invited to participate are 25 national media members in town to cover the tournament and the Super Bowl in nearby Glendale. The event will feature the opportunity to win thousands of dollars for charity, plus a million-dollar hole-in-one prize. Each participant will have $1,000 donated to the charity of their choice, with the winner receiving $40,000 he or she can donate to charity. Second- and third-place finishers will earn smaller amounts, also earmarked for charity.