WM Phoenix Open praised by players, fans after last year’s chaos: ‘Ten times better’

Two days after the conclusion of last year’s Phoenix Open, tournament organizers — known as the Thunderbirds — flew to Los Angeles to meet with the PGA Tour’s advisory council for feedback.

Players on the advisory council had already moved past the Phoenix Open in preparation for that week’s Genesis Invitational, but the Thunderbirds knew they had to act quickly. Their tournament — carefully cultivated into an event without parallel — was at risk of losing its prestige.

For years, the tournament had grown without repercussion. Its expanding stature brought only more fun. But in 2024, the bubble burst. Fifty-four attendees were arrested, three times more than ever before. Rain turned hillsides into mud pits, creating overcrowding in dry areas. Players sparred with fans, then used reporters to amplify their complaints.

“The Thunderbirds probably need to do something about it,” Zach Johnson said at the time. “I’m assuming they’re ashamed.”

All of that was the context with which this week began. As Thursday approached, tournament chairman Matt Mooney felt the pressure. There was only one chance to right the wrongs of 2024.

Four days later, everyone involved passed the test.

Players outside the clubhouse, where they had shared their complaints a year earlier, praised the Thunderbirds.

“I thought it was as well run as I’ve seen,” said Gary Woodland, who has played the tournament 16 times.

Playing in his seventh Phoenix Open, Sam Burns doesn’t quite have that wealth of experience. But he has a unique perspective, having been in that meeting with the Thunderbirds last February.

As soon as the meeting began, he could tell that the organizers were taking changes seriously.

“When you’re trying to play golf, you expect a certain atmosphere and I think at times, it had gotten a little too out of control,” Burns said. “A little too much extracurricular stuff going on.”

A year later, he credited the Thunderbirds for finding an ideal balance between fun and sensibility.

“Everybody should still have fun and it should still be rowdy out there,” Burns said. “But I think using common sense and not letting it get too out of control (is important).”

Over the first few months of their annual tournament preparation, the Thunderbirds identified the changes that could make that balance a reality. They added a second entrance by the 18th tee to alleviate crowding and alter movement patterns. They built four new bridges between holes for players, reducing choke points. They added new pavement to cart paths, widening walkways.

They also removed a ticketing option that had permitted fans to choose which day they attended at the last moment. That enabled them to control crowds on a daily basis. Plus, ticket prices jumped from $50 to $75 on Thursday and Sunday, and from $75 to $125 on Friday and Saturday.

The tournament no longer announces attendance figures, but that drastic increase in pricing appeared to keep crowds at a more manageable level.

All over the course, fans moved around with ease. That didn’t erase the party for which this tournament is known. When Emiliano Grillo sunk a hole-in-one on the 16th hole on Friday, beer cups went flying as they always do. But there were not crowds of drunk fans interrupting the golf, as occurred a year ago.

The organizers also got some external help, with four days of ideal weather.

“This course is always gonna show best when the weather’s great,” Mooney said. “That’s the way the course was designed. But with the changes that we’ve made, we feel confident that, in the years that we do get bad weather, we’re gonna be able to move people around efficiently.”

All over the course, fans agreed.

Standing by the fifth green Sunday afternoon, Nick Barry had flown in from Oregon for the tournament. A self-described “big-time” golf fan, Barry had never been to PGA Tour event. He picked the Phoenix Open for its marriage of a party atmosphere with high-level golf.

“We came down with a couple other couples that are not big golf fans,” Barry said. “But they want to come to this tournament, just because they know it’s a fun time in some way, shape or form.”

When he arrived over the weekend, Barry said the tournament surpassed those expectations.

“Great set up here,” he said.

A few holes over, John Lovejoy is a Phoenix Open veteran. He’s been coming for years, often attending all four days. Last year, he said, was “ugly.”

“The worst thing was walking out,” Lovejoy said. “Because of only the one entrance, you were with all those crazy drunk people if you stayed til the end. And we did. And oh my gosh, it was brutal.”

Because of the increased prices, he attended only three days this year. But that was worth the tradeoff for a more measured atmosphere.

“Ten times better,” Lovejoy said. “Of course, it helps not to have any rain. But last year was ridiculous.”

In 2025, there were no such complaints.

“The feedback,” Mooney said, “has been overwhelmingly positive.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: After last year’s chaos, players and fans praise Phoenix Open