SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A volatile mix of huge crowds, mud and alcohol at the WM Phoenix Open had fans and players talking about changes needed to keep the event safe while maintaining its unique atmosphere.
On Saturday, the tournament shut its gates in the early afternoon, leaving ticketed fans unable to gain entry. At the same time, alcohol and food sales were cut off — all in an attempt to ease crowding near the entrance. The issue, organizers believed, was that muddy conditions left much of the course unsuitable for fans, forcing them to crowd into smaller areas.
The unusual weather was also mentioned by the Scottsdale Police Department.
The mud and rain, according to department public information officer Allison Sempsis, “made the course conditions abnormal.” “As a result, the large crowds only filled a small section of the course, which led to a significant crowd buildup.”
Sempsis also mentioned that, briefly, tickets were not being scanned in order to admit fans.
“There was a large group of attendees that were stopped before going through the gate,” Sempsis said. “Attendees were waved through for a short time period in order to keep everyone safe and to create a larger space for people to move around on the course.”
Sempsis did not say whether Scottsdale police plan to make any changes to their procedures next year. Tournament chairman George Thimsen was not available for comment Sunday.
The tournament stopped announcing daily attendance figures in 2019. The last time attendance was made public, 576,807 fans watched the four days of tournament action, including over 200,000 on Saturday, which is typically the most crowded and chaotic day.
Sempsis said, “Every year after the event, SPD and other partnerships continually assess and evaluate what can be done the following year to ensure everyone attending the event is safe and has a good experience.”
Safety was questioned on Saturday as fans reveled in the conditions while intoxicated.
Fans without shirts found muddy hills to slide down throughout the entire event. On the sixteenth hole, a shirtless fan jumped into a bunker to perform sand angels. Viral videos of fans who couldn’t stand still went viral on social media.
These events, along with other logistical concerns, tipped the scales for many tournament regulars.
One regular attendee, Todd Williams of Phoenix, has gone to the Open for 10 straight years but said the tournament would need to announce “drastic changes such as multiple new entrance points and more concessions” for him to continue attending.
“I’m all for the party and craziness,” Williams said. “The insane and rowdy crowds make the event. This year, Friday felt like a normal Saturday, and Saturday was just complete chaos. It was hard to enjoy the event when it took 30-plus minutes at any concessions and bathrooms were long waits, too.”
Elizabeth Suchocki, a regular attendee who lives in Tempe, echoed that sentiment.
“I felt cramped and anxious,” Suchocki said. “All of a sudden, there were just so many people in our area. … But people just kept packing in and packing in and there were people all over. And I was like OK, this is a lot of people, this is very uncomfortable.”
Suchocki was frustrated by the lack of communication from the tournament. At 2:05 p.m. Saturday, the Phoenix Open’s X account posted a message notifying fans that gates were closed but made no mention of food or alcohol sales being impacted. And with overcrowding on the course, many fans were unable to get cell service.
“If you’re going to shut down alcohol, if you’re going to shut down food, you need to communicate that over the speakers,” Suchocki said, “because it created more chaos.”
When the tournament’s account posted a video on X on Sunday morning celebrating the party atmosphere on the 16th hole, it received 50 replies, almost all of which were critical.
“Your event has become an embarrassment,” one reply read. “It’s out of control.”
“Embarrassing the game,” read another. “PGA players need to boycott next year.”
Tour pros debate where to draw the line.
Billy Horschel likes the WM Phoenix Open. Loves it, even. Every year, playing in the event is a priority for him. Partly because he believes TPC Scottsdale suits his game, but for more than that, too.
“I love the energy, I love the crowds,” Horschel said. “I love some of the funny things they say.”
Typically, the players who choose to participate in the Phoenix Open revel in the event’s unique role on tour. With a handful of notable exceptions, like Chris DiMarco’s famous comments in 2004, they celebrate the atmosphere.
After his win in Sunday’s playoff, champion Nick Taylor said, “The atmosphere has been incredible all week.”
But that sentiment began to shift for some. By Sunday afternoon, Horschel had seen enough. That’s when he was shown on video yelling at a fan for heckling during Nicolo Galletti’s backswing. “Buddy, when he’s over a shot, shut the hell up, dude,” Horschel told the fan. “He’s trying to hit a damn golf shot here. It’s our (expletive) job.”
Outside the clubhouse after his round, Horschel explained to The Republic where he draws the line.
“When you’re impacting the golf tournament, that’s where it gets a little bit too much,” Horschel said. “And when you’re saying personal things. The last couple of years, the guys I’ve played with, I’ve heard some personal stuff yelled at them. And I think that’s just not right.”
Horschel stated that this week, the topic of players’ potential not to return to the tournament has come up for discussion.
Players have discussed the possibility that they won’t want to come here if things get worse over the coming years, according to Horschel. “And that’s a regrettable circumstance.”
Horschel promised to return, but Zach Johnson, another player who was seen fighting with fans in a widely shared video over the weekend, was less certain.
“You’re hitting me at a very emotional point right now, so if I were to say if I’m gonna come back, I’d probably say no,” Johnson told The Republic. “But at the same time, I have no idea.”
Johnson added, “This tournament has been inappropriate and crossed the line since I’ve been on tour and this is my 21st year.”
He plays in it, he said, because he likes the course. But this week, his frustrations mounted.
“I don’t know what the line is, but you have people falling out of the rafters, you have fights in the stands,” Johnson said. “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 the Thunderbirds 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.”
Similar to Johnson, Horschel fears that the large number of inebriated spectators on the course could lead to a tragedy.
Horschel said, “We all know alcohol plays a massive factor in all of this.” “And I believe restricting the amount of alcohol sold, the time at which it is available, and the quantity of drinks that an individual may purchase. I believe that a few different outcomes are possible.
Horschel claimed to have discussed his grievances with the Thunderbirds, the organization in charge of organizing the competition.
According to Horschel, “I think they understand the situation and want to do right for everyone involved with this tournament.” “So let’s wait and see.”