Golf fans flock to Scottsdale, Arizona, every year for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which is well-known as the biggest party in the sport.
But after a wild weekend in the desert, changes are coming to the “Greatest Show on Grass.”
Fans drink beer from their shoes in hospitality boxes on the 16th hole during the final round of the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) on Feb. 11, 2024, in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty)
The Phoenix Open experienced overcrowding of the course on Saturday, which caused the suspension of admission and alcohol sales, and multiple videos of unruly fans went viral over the weekend.
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“Due to steady rainfall in Scottsdale this week that created deteriorating course conditions, we unfortunately had to close the gates at the tournament entrance and stop allowing fans to enter the golf course on Saturday afternoon,” The Thunderbirds, the group that puts on the event, said in a statement.
Chance Cozby, the executive director of The Thunderbirds, joined the Golf Channel on Monday and said there will be changes moving forward.
“We’re going to make changes. I think everybody probably agrees, we have a very unique culture at our event,” Cozby said.
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“The fine line was really when we felt like we were just at a point on Saturday where our fans could not move around the golf course,” Cozby continued. “And at that moment, the right thing to do was to take the steps that we did.”
Cozby said leadership spent “five to six hours” on Saturday “brainstorming” the next steps, adding that they have “365 days to fix this.”
Players on the 18th green during the final round of WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 11, 2024 in Scottsdale. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty)
“I think that you will see a complete operational change of how we manage, really our Friday and Saturday, but the entire week,” Cozby said. “We’re very proud of what we built. I think we’ve been tournament of the year on the PGA Tour five of the last seven years.
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“But we don’t like what happened on Saturday. The players don’t like what happened on Saturday. Our fans don’t like what happened on Saturday. So, nothing is off the table.
“We’re going to look at our just general admission ticket exposure and how many are out in the marketplace. We’re going to look at our complete security plan, and just how we operate. I think Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open in 2024 is gonna end up being a turning point for our tournament and our organization to make our event better. We learned so much. And we know that we have to make improvements.”
During the final round on Sunday, two videos of golfers snapping back at comments made by fans went viral.
Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, got into it with a fan, prompting security to step in.
Matt Fitzpatrick swings on the 16th tee box during the final round of WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 11, 2024. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty)
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“Don’t sir me, somebody said it. I’m just sick of it,” Johnson said to a gallery. “Just shut up.”
Shortly afterward, Billy Horschel confronted a fan who was speaking during someone else’s backswing.
“Buddy, when you’re told to shush, shut the hell up,” he said. “He’s trying to hit a golf shot here. It’s our f—— jobs.”
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
