It\u2019s just you \u2013 and the ball.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Like at the WM Phoenix Open\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Or are these highly-skilled, well-paid athletes really on their own?<\/p>\n
Just out of camera range at TPC Scottsdale, a team of police officers and firefighter\/emergency medical technicians block rule breakers \u2013 and receive those who need medical help.<\/p>\n
Scottsdale\u2019s biggest annual event begins with practice rounds Monday, Feb. 2, and Tuesday, Feb. 3; free admission on both days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the Annexus Pro-Am event Wednesday, Feb. 4, the first round tees up Thursday, Feb. 5.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The golf action intensifies through the weekend, leading up to the championship round Sunday, Feb. 8.<\/p>\n
As Golf Week notes, \u201cthe WM Phoenix Open continues to attract the biggest crowds on the PGA Tour\u201d \u2013 rivaling the Indy 500 for biggest single-day crowds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis becomes a small city,\u201d Scottsdale Fire Capt. Dave Folio said last week, previewing a calm \u2013 but not for long \u2013 Sixteenth Hole.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cfun\u201d and \u201cchaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After more than four decades watching over the event, Scottsdale police and firefighters generally know what to expect.<\/p>\n
Indeed, Scottsdale officers set up a mini-jail while firefighter\/EMT\u2019s will be stationed at a \u201cMASH\u201d-like medical facility off Hole 16.<\/p>\n
According to Folio, the biggest three reasons for medical attention are \u201cfalls, over intoxication and dehydration.\u201d<\/p>\n
As such, officials remind golf fans to drink water during the tournament, avoid the temptation to over-indulge in alcohol \u2013 \u201cand wear comfortable shoes,\u201d Folio said.<\/p>\n
With tens of thousands of charged-up fans, it\u2019s natural for a small percentage to not follow common sense \u2013 or Arizona laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d Bolin said.<\/p>\n
While rule-followers take photos of the action and get autographs of golf stars, those who can\u2019t behave themselves get fingerprinted and photographed (\u201cmug-shotted\u201d) by police officers.<\/p>\n
Most of the time, officers make sure the drunk-and-disorderlies get rides home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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,\u201d Bolin said.<\/p>\n
Chaotic 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n Two years ago, heavy rains contributed to perhaps the most unruly crowds in the history of \u201cThe People\u2019s Open.\u201d<\/p>\n Some national headlines, in the days after the 2024 tournament:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Done: Zach Johnson Explains Why He Might Not Return to the WM Phoenix\u201d (NBC);<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cUnruly Fan Behavior Draws Ire\u201d (ESPN);<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cHas the WMPO Finally Gone Too Far?\u201d (The Golf Podcast);<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cGates Close, Alcohol Sales Suspended Amidst Chaos\u201d (Golf.com);<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cNick Taylor Wins Raucous WM Phoenix Open in Playoff After Crowd Trouble Bedevils Tournament\u201d (CNN).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The 211 ejections in 2024 was double last year\u2019s 102; in 2022, 90 people were ejected from the WMPO.<\/p>\n The Thunderbirds, longtime producers of the event that generates millions of dollars for charities, came up with a slogan for last year\u2019s tournament: \u201cbetter, not bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n Without the downpours that led to chaotic conditions in 2024, the WM Phoenix Open was pretty much back to normal last year.<\/p>\n “The 2025 WM Phoenix Open was everything we hoped it would be \u2013 an incredible week of world-class golf, unmatched energy from the best fans in sports,\u201d declared Matt Mooney, last year\u2019s tournament chairman.<\/p>\n Many agreed with Mooney\u2019s assessment, including the PGA, which named the WM Phoenix Open “Event of the Year\u201d for the sixth time.<\/p>\n Somewhat curiously, last year\u2019s WMPO and related \u201cBirds Nest\u201d concerts were the busiest in four years for the Scottsdale Police Department.<\/p>\n Officers made 63 arrests during the 2025 tournament \u2013 up from 54 in 2024. In 2023, 18 arrests were made, with no arrests during WMPO 2022.<\/p>\n And police officers ejected 319 people from the tournament last year, well up from the 211 ejections in 2024 and 102 in 2023.<\/p>\n Everyone who attends has written notice of expectations, Bolin stressed.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople really need to pay attention to what their tickets say,\u201d Bolin noted, \u201cand then make sure that they’re not violating those codes of conduct, because you can be ejected for a violation of code of conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n The tournament\u2019s most famous \u2013 or infamous, depending on one\u2019s view \u2013 hole has its own set of rules.<\/p>\n The WMPO 16th hole is an almost shocking contrast to the norm for a muted sport that inspired the term \u201cgolf clap.\u201d Here at a short, par-3 hole, fans judge shots with raucous cheers and even boos \u2013 though they are encouraged to be quiet as players prepare for shots.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a lot of rowdiness around the 16,\u201d Bolin acknowledged.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people having a good time. But you can’t take the \u201816 energy\u2019 over to some of the other holes on this course.\u201d<\/p>\n The bottom line, he said: \u201cBe respectful of the golfers. Be respectful of the game. Be respectful of the other fans.\u201d<\/p>\n The stars<\/strong><\/p>\n While it is known as \u201cThe People\u2019s Open,\u201d and the unusual event itself is quite a show, the stars of the show will be on the green.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s field features seven former WM Phoenix Open champions, including top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and two-time WM Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The 2026 Phoenix Open marks the 17th year with WM \u2013 formerly known as Waste Management\u2013 as proud title sponsor.<\/p>\n\n