There were plenty of predictions about the Waste Management Phoenix Open this time around. However, with all of the hype and shenanigans going on at one of pro golf’s most fan-friendly events of the year, it all could seem to blend in and make for a bad mix.
While I might have been pulling for Charley Hoffman down the stretch, I surely support and congratulate Nick Taylor for his endurance to take the win in a stirring second playoff.
There was some good golf being played out there. I like what I saw from a lot of pros who don’t always get the shine from the press and media. Names like Theegala, Scheffler, and Spieth appeared on the leaderboard, but they also gave fans plenty to cheer about.
Some folks show up at Phoenix for the wild weekend fanfare and fun in the sun. You have to wonder where golf fits into the entire scope of their itinerary, especially when pros have to call out bad behavior among fans. This isn’t Coachella. It’s a golf tournament. It’s becoming a bit troubling to have to share pro sports magical moments like the Taylor-Hoffman playoff along with unruly fans acting badly throughout the weekend. Let’s just agree to let this weekend die down before trying to make sense of it all. After all, this has been one of the most storied tournaments of the PGA Tour.
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Bruce, seems like it’s a combination of alcohol fueled behavior with herd mentality. Phoenix is not unique with its consumption numbers compared with other sporting events, but the “expected” behavior for fans, especially around #16 is different. I don’t think anything changes next year because the Tour knows where its bread is buttered.
Interesting read on the alcohol consumption patterns at major sporting events. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/how-the-wm-phoenix-open-compares-to-the-other-drunkest-events-in-sports
Thanks!
Brian
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