Golf’s biggest party went too wild at TPC Scottsdale this winter, and organisers are promising it won’t happen again.
The WM Phoenix Open is known for its rowdiness, although what happened in the desert during the 2024 event caused a wicked hangover for the event. There were a number of unpleasant exchanges between players and galleries. There was a viral video of fans fighting. An individual fell from the stands and Saturday’s atmosphere was so out of control that the gates were eventually closed. Following their final rounds several players telegraphed the threat of skipping the event if measures weren’t taken by the tournament to get the crowd under control.
“This tournament has been inappropriate and crossed the line since I’ve been on tour and this is my 21st year,” Zach Johnson told the Arizona Republic after the tournament’s final round. “I don’t know what the line is, but you have people falling out of the rafters, you have fights in the stands. … It’s to the point where now, how do you reel it in? Because it’s taken on a life of its own. I think [tournament organizers] probably need to do something about it. I’m assuming they’re ashamed. Because at some point, somebody’s either gonna really, really get hurt or worse.”
This week, the tournament announced changes to ensure a repeat won’t happen in 2025. Those implementations include:
-Adding another tournament entrance designed to improve crowd flow, particularly during peak hours on high-attendance days like Friday and Saturday.
-Several walkways around the course have been expanded, providing fans with more space to move easily and comfortably in what is traditionally one of the most popular and high foot-traffic areas of the golf course.-Full-digital ticketing, which will improve issues fans experienced entering the property.-Two additional fan spectating venues.
“Each and every year, The Thunderbirds review the previous tournament and look for ways to improve,” said WM Phoenix Open chairman Matt Mooney. “We’ve been working closely with the PGA Tour, Scottsdale Police and Fire, title sponsor WM and our other valued partners to make impactful changes for 2025. We are excited to announce these enhancements as the countdown to ‘The People’s Open’ begins.”
The Phoenix Open traces its roots back to the 1930s and has been played at TPC Scottsdale since 1987. Nick Taylor won this year’s event with a birdie on the second playoff hole against Charley Hoffman.
Main Image: Ben Jared
