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By Gregory Graves
Cronkite News
SCOTTSDALE – After last year’s tournament, the WM Phoenix Open created another noteworthy spectacle but not in the way they hoped.
Record numbers were set at “The Greatest Show on Turf,” but in the wrong ways. A rainy and wet weekend of golf and record attendance was overshadowed by incidents off the course captured from cell phone footage of attendees. An arrest number that was at zero in 2022 skyrocketed to 54 in 2024, the Scottsdale Police Department reported.
However, the Phoenix Open, which tees off Thursday, is determined to change the narrative this week. Tournament organizers, including tournament chairman Matt Mooney, have stepped up efforts to ensure the event remains a celebration of golf and community.
Significant crowding behind the greens during the event last year was made worse by unfavorable weather, resulting in an eyesore and nightmare for golf fans in attendance and watching the Scottsdale staple.
“Last year gave us some unique insights with the insane weather,” Mooney said. “Having this new entrance will give us more options for the fans.”
While incidents have been on the rise in recent years, it cannot be stated enough that last year’s poor weather conditions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday added to the situation.
Overcrowding rendered many areas of the stadium course nearly unusable for fans, forcing hundreds into smaller, congested spaces. Unruliness became an issue as well. Arrest increased from 18 in 2023 to 54 last year. Ejections more than doubled to 211, according to the Scottsdale Police Department.
In an effort to ease traffic and improve the overall fan experience, organizers have added a second entry located off by the 18th tee box, and also enlarged walkways all across the course to solve these issues. The WM Phoenix Open intends to reestablish order and foster an atmosphere where the game is the primary emphasis.
The second stop of the PGA Tour is not just a tournament; it’s an unparalleled spectacle, and fans know the experience is unmatched.
From Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer to Tiger Woods, golf’s greatest players of all time have left their mark on the course. The legendary 16th hole, known for its crowds and thrilling moments, has hosted its share of greatness – and this year, the anticipation is higher than ever.
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is set to return to the Valley to defend his 2022 and 2023 title, just months removed from hand surgery. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are also expected to join the field, bringing even more star power to what promises to be an unforgettable weekend. ASU senior Josele Ballester will also be competing at the tournament for the first time.
“I think it will be one of our strongest fields ever,” Mooney added. “Scottie Scheffler is a pretty darn good headliner and we are glad he’s back in good health and going to lead us off”.
While all watching eyes will be geared towards superstars like Scheffler and Thomas, the magic of this tournament all begins on the 16th Hole.
The 163-yard par-3 hole, famously known as ”the loudest hole on earth,” is surrounded by stadium-style seating to create an electric atmosphere unlike any other in golf.
Over the years, the iconic hole has delivered unforgettable moments –from a younger Woods sinking a hole-in-one nearly 30 years ago to Sam Burns’ recent ace that sent the crowd into a frenzy. At hole 16, history isn’t just made – it erupts, and this week, fans expect nothing less.
The buzzing environment builds long before the tournament begins for spectators and tournament personnel behind the scenes Whether first-time staff members witnessing the experience or seasoned workers who have seen their fair share of historic Phoenix Open moments, the excitement and anticipation are contagious.
For first-time security worker Reggie Lawson, stationed just outside the 16th hole’s upper seating area, the excitement was palpable Monday.
“I’m excited because I’m going to meet new people, and this is my first time in Phoenix,” Lawson said. “Also it’s my first time at a golf tournament.”
Lawson traveled from Alabama to Scottsdale to work the tournament, a trend common among many of the first-time workers and spectators.
Gallery management worker Dan Clements, who was on a fairway away from the 16th hole, has lived and breathed this course for years.
“I mean personally I think it’s awesome,” Clements said. “I think a lot of the players enjoy it, a couple years ago with the hole-in-ones and throwing half-full beer bottles on the green was a fun joke because you know, three groups later a guy is trying for a birdie putt and can’t see the line.”
By late Monday afternoon, the buzz surrounded the 16th hole.. From outside, the roars from the packed paid grandstands echo across the course as the pro-ams kick off the week of golf at TPC Scottsdale.
A golf tournament truly unlike any other comes to life this week, with coliseum-style viewing areas, lively bars and an array of food and beverages. A tournament that unites people from different backgrounds while creating one of the most thrilling environments in golf, is set to tee off Thursday.
A PGA Tour stop that can be compared to the likes of Coachella and the Kentucky Derby is sure to deliver an unforgettable weekend once again.
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