When Sunday arrived at the Phoenix Open last winter, public attention remained firmly on Saturday’s debauchery. Were fans too rowdy? Did the tournament need to enact changes? Would players stop coming to avoid the insanity? These were the questions that dominated news stations and social media feeds. Outlets as far as Australia discussed such off-course concerns.
Meanwhile, Nick Taylor birdied three of his final four holes to force a playoff with Charley Hoffman. Both players birdied the first playoff hole before Taylor sunk an 11-foot putt on the second playoff hole to win it.
In stark contrast to the outsized interest in Saturday’s happenings, only a few thousand stuck around to witness Taylor’s heroics. Fans and news outlets alike had moved on to the next big thing.
This, as it turns out, is a common dichotomy at the Phoenix Open, which will begin its 87th edition Thursday at TPC Scottsdale. The tournament draws rowdy crowds on Friday and Saturday, stirring debate around the golf world. Then, on Sunday, it closes with a rousing finish.
In fact, nine of the past 17 editions have produced playoff finishes, often abutting the tournament with the beginning of the Super Bowl. Only once since 2006 has the tournament been decided by more than two strokes. That came in 2013, when Phil Mickelson rolled to his third Phoenix Open victory with a remarkable 28-under finish.
The on-course hype matched the off-course attention only once in recent memory. That came in 2023, when the Phoenix Open was tabbed as a designated event. That pushed the purse to $20 million and drew superstars — such as Rory McIlroy — who often skip the tournament. Golf, for once, took center stage.
The tournament is no longer a designated event, dropping the purse back into seven figures. Many of the world’s top players won’t be in Scottsdale, largely because the Phoenix Open is sandwiched by signature events.
But as this week’s tournament arrives — with the customary attention on off-course happenings — don’t forget about the golf. That’s partly because of the presence of elite players. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler recently announced he will be participating, as will fellow top 15 players Wyndham Clark, Justin Thomas and Sahith Theegala.
Once again, consternation about crowd issues did not ultimately dissuade top players — although Zach Johnson has notably not yet committed. Johnson has played in the previous 10 editions but went viral for an altercation with a fan on Saturday last year.
“I don’t know what the line is, but you have people falling out of the rafters, you have fights in the stands,” Johnson told The Arizona Republic after the tournament. “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.”
His concern, though, has proved to be the exception. And it’s not only the field that suggests an exciting tournament could be on tap. It’s the history.
Last year, Taylor notched his thrilling playoff win. In 2022, Scheffler needed three playoff holes to beat Patrick Cantlay, with three other players a stroke behind. In 2021, Brooks Koepka needed an eagle on 17 to sneak past Kyoung-Hoon Lee, who was going for his first PGA Tour win. The year prior, it was Webb Simpson winning a playoff against Tony Finau — after finishing with back-to-back birdies to force the extra hole.
No matter how the tournament seems to be shaping up throughout the weekend, drama is seemingly always in store come Sunday.
This year, the Thunderbirds, who organize the tournament, have taken steps to rein in the debauchery. The logistics have been reworked, with a new entrance to ease crowding. Ticket prices are up $50 per day. All of that will be front and center once Friday and Saturday arrive.
Still, videos will inevitably circulate, showing fans acting out and making beer snakes and perhaps sliding through mud pits. Just don’t forget about the golf.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: At Phoenix Open, the golf is often as exciting as the party
Read the full article here