SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The 2024 WM Phoenix Open has been one to remember with multiple frost and rain delays, multiple rounds being suspended due to darkness and a two-hole playoff that ended with Nick Taylor being crowned champion.
The Phoenix Open has earned a reputation as the rowdiest tournament on tour. It's one of the highest-attended tournaments on tour and features the truly unique stadium on the 16th hole, which is the loudest hole in golf.
Fans show up by the thousands, many in costume, and often will try to interact with the golfers.
However, not all golfers enjoy the behavior. Two of them, Zach Johnson and Billy Horschel, were caught in social media videos having tense exchanges with fans.
Johnson even stopped after hitting a tee shot to speak with a fan who heckled him, allegedly over his job as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
"Don't 'sir' me," Johnson, who was very frustrated, said to a group. "Somebody said it. I'm just sick of it. Just shut up!"
Horschel used some obscene language when he yelled at fans who were talking while Horschel's partner, Nicolo Galletti, was swinging on the fairway of the 11th hole.
"Buddy, when he's over the shot, shut the hell up man," Horschel yelled while walking up the fairway. "Come on, he's trying to hit a d--- golf shot here. It's our f------ job."
World No. 16 Jordan Spieth was also seen on the NBC broadcast using an obscenity after fans yelled during his backswing on the 18th hole.
The Phoenix Open, which has been nicknamed "The People's Open," was packed to the brim all weekend. Officials even had to close gates and not allow ticketholders in on Saturday, along with cutting off alcohol sales in areas, due to the sheer size of the crowds at TPC Scottsdale.
However, none of that apparently deterred fans from acting out. Overly rowdy as fans were also seen sliding on their stomachs through the mud on the course and even jumping onto the 16th hole and into one of the sand traps.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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