It’s just you – and the ball.

In stark contrast to football, where even the best quarterbacks rely on teammates for protection, baseball and many other sports, golf is an individual challenge.

Like at the WM Phoenix Open’s legendarily rowdy Hole 16: Teeing up as the beer-fueled crowd roars, howls and chants, each golfer has no blockers, no receivers, no help whatsoever.

Or are these highly-skilled, well-paid athletes really on their own?

Just out of camera range at TPC Scottsdale, a team of police officers and firefighter/emergency medical technicians block rule breakers – and receive those who need medical help.

Scottsdale’s biggest annual event begins with practice rounds Monday, Feb. 2, and Tuesday, Feb. 3; free admission on both days. 

After the Annexus Pro-Am event Wednesday, Feb. 4, the first round tees up Thursday, Feb. 5. 

The golf action intensifies through the weekend, leading up to the championship round Sunday, Feb. 8.

As Golf Week notes, “the WM Phoenix Open continues to attract the biggest crowds on the PGA Tour” – rivaling the Indy 500 for biggest single-day crowds.

“This becomes a small city,” Scottsdale Fire Capt. Dave Folio said last week, previewing a calm – but not for long – Sixteenth Hole.

With hundreds of thousands pouring into the North Scottsdale golf course, and many continuing the legacy of a boozy frat party off the greens, members of the Scottsdale Police and Fire departments work together, forming an imaginary line between “fun” and “chaos.”

The Phoenix Open started out at the Phoenix Country Club in the 1930s. The tournament moved to the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale in 1987.

After more than four decades watching over the event, Scottsdale police and firefighters generally know what to expect.

Indeed, Scottsdale officers set up a mini-jail while firefighter/EMT’s will be stationed at a “MASH”-like medical facility off Hole 16.

According to Folio, the biggest three reasons for medical attention are “falls, over intoxication and dehydration.”

As such, officials remind golf fans to drink water during the tournament, avoid the temptation to over-indulge in alcohol – “and wear comfortable shoes,” Folio said.

With tens of thousands of charged-up fans, it’s natural for a small percentage to not follow common sense – or Arizona laws.

“We have a jail on site that if we need to book people, even if they’re going to receive a citation and then go home, we can have them go to our little jail facility on site,” Bolin said.

While rule-followers take photos of the action and get autographs of golf stars, those who can’t behave themselves get fingerprinted and photographed (“mug-shotted”) by police officers.

Most of the time, officers make sure the drunk-and-disorderlies get rides home.

“If they do need to go see a judge, because maybe the crime is more serious or severe, then we arrange for a transport unit to come pick them up from the jail here and take them down to the city jail,” Bolin said.

Chaotic 2024

Two years ago, heavy rains contributed to perhaps the most unruly crowds in the history of “The People’s Open.”

Some national headlines, in the days after the 2024 tournament:

  • “I’m Done: Zach Johnson Explains Why He Might Not Return to the WM Phoenix” (NBC);

  • “Unruly Fan Behavior Draws Ire” (ESPN);

  • “Has the WMPO Finally Gone Too Far?” (The Golf Podcast);

  • “Gates Close, Alcohol Sales Suspended Amidst Chaos” (Golf.com);

  • “Nick Taylor Wins Raucous WM Phoenix Open in Playoff After Crowd Trouble Bedevils Tournament” (CNN).

The 211 ejections in 2024 was double last year’s 102; in 2022, 90 people were ejected from the WMPO.

The Thunderbirds, longtime producers of the event that generates millions of dollars for charities, came up with a slogan for last year’s tournament: “better, not bigger.”

Without the downpours that led to chaotic conditions in 2024, the WM Phoenix Open was pretty much back to normal last year.

“The 2025 WM Phoenix Open was everything we hoped it would be – an incredible week of world-class golf, unmatched energy from the best fans in sports,” declared Matt Mooney, last year’s tournament chairman.

Many agreed with Mooney’s assessment, including the PGA, which named the WM Phoenix Open “Event of the Year” for the sixth time.

Somewhat curiously, last year’s WMPO and related “Birds Nest” concerts were the busiest in four years for the Scottsdale Police Department.

Officers made 63 arrests during the 2025 tournament – up from 54 in 2024. In 2023, 18 arrests were made, with no arrests during WMPO 2022.

And police officers ejected 319 people from the tournament last year, well up from the 211 ejections in 2024 and 102 in 2023.

Everyone who attends has written notice of expectations, Bolin stressed.

“People really need to pay attention to what their tickets say,” Bolin noted, “and then make sure that they’re not violating those codes of conduct, because you can be ejected for a violation of code of conduct.”

The tournament’s most famous – or infamous, depending on one’s view – hole has its own set of rules.

The WMPO 16th hole is an almost shocking contrast to the norm for a muted sport that inspired the term “golf clap.” Here at a short, par-3 hole, fans judge shots with raucous cheers and even boos – though they are encouraged to be quiet as players prepare for shots.

“There’s a lot of rowdiness around the 16,” Bolin acknowledged.

“A lot of people having a good time. But you can’t take the ‘16 energy’ over to some of the other holes on this course.”

The bottom line, he said: “Be respectful of the golfers. Be respectful of the game. Be respectful of the other fans.”

The stars

While it is known as “The People’s Open,” and the unusual event itself is quite a show, the stars of the show will be on the green.

This year’s competition features U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, former FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, and six-time PGA TOUR winner Max Homa.

This year’s field features seven former WM Phoenix Open champions, including top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and two-time WM Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka.

Last year, Thomas Detry took a four-shot lead into the final round. The Brussels native was cool under pressure, extending his lead as he cruised to a $1.6 million victory.

The 2026 Phoenix Open marks the 17th year with WM – formerly known as Waste Management– as proud title sponsor.

For tickets and more information, visit wmphoenixopen.com.

WM Phoenix Open tickets

Monday and Tuesday: Free.

Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: $75 per day (plus $15 fees). 

Friday and Saturday: $125 per day (plus $18 fees).

WM Phoenix Open parking

Fans are encouraged to park at two main sites.

Public parking lots at WestWorld are open Monday through Sunday.

These lots are accessed via the WestWorld area near Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard, Thompson Peak Parkway, Pima Road, Bell Road and surrounding streets.

At Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, parking is available Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Northbound traffic should exit Loop 101 at McDonald Drive.

Southbound traffic should exit Loop 101 at Pima Road and 90th Street.

Free shuttle service is available from this location to the tournament site.

Fans using rideshare, taxis and “stop and drop” can use Lot R, which is accessed from Pima Road.