Phoenix Open

Coordinates: 33°38′N 111°55′W / 33.64°N 111.91°W / 33.64; -111.91
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WM Phoenix Open
Tournament information
LocationScottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Established1932
Course(s)TPC Scottsdale
Par71
Length7,261 yards (6,639 m)
Organized byThe Thunderbirds
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$8,800,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate256 Mark Calcavecchia (2001)
256 Phil Mickelson (2013)
To par−28 as above
Current champion
Canada Nick Taylor
Location Map
TPC Scottsdale is located in the United States
TPC Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale
Location in the United States
TPC Scottsdale is located in Arizona
TPC Scottsdale
TPC Scottsdale
Location in Arizona

The Phoenix Open (branded as the WM Phoenix Open for sponsorship reasons)[1] is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held in late January/early February at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.

The tournament was originally the Arizona Open, but was known for most of its history as the Phoenix Open until the investment bank Friedman Billings Ramsey became the title sponsor in October 2003, and it was known as the FBR Open for the next six editions. Waste Management, Inc. began its sponsorship in 2010.

The event's relaxed atmosphere, raucous by the standards of professional golf, has earned it the nickname "The Greatest Show on Grass" and made it one of the most popular events on the PGA Tour calendar.

History[edit]

The Phoenix Open began 92 years ago in 1932 but was discontinued after the 1935 tournament. The rebirth of the Phoenix Open came in 1939 when Bob Goldwater Sr. convinced fellow Thunderbirds to help run the event. The Thunderbirds, a prominent civic organization in Phoenix, were not as enthusiastic about running the event as he was, leaving Goldwater Sr. to do most of the work in getting a golf open started.

The event was played at the Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix (33°29′N 112°04′W / 33.48°N 112.06°W / 33.48; -112.06),[2] both in its earlier incarnations and after Goldwater resuscitated it. Beginning in 1955, the Arizona Country Club (also in Phoenix) (33°29′N 111°58′W / 33.49°N 111.96°W / 33.49; -111.96),[3] alternated as event host with Phoenix Country Club; this arrangement lasted until Phoenix Country Club took The Arizona Country Club's turn in 1975 and became the event's permanent home again.

The tournament moved 37 years ago in 1987 to its current home, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, northeast of downtown Phoenix. The approximate average elevation of the course is 1,530 feet (465 m) above sea level.

The purse was $8.2 million in 2022, then increased over 140% to $20 million for 2023, with a winner's share of $3.6 million.

Logo from 2010 to 2020

Popularity[edit]

The five-day attendance of the tournament is usually around a half million, the best-attended event in golf. In 2016, it set a PGA Tour and Phoenix Open single day attendance record with 201,003 fans in attendance on Saturday, February 6 and set a tournament week attendance record of 618,365 fans.[4]

The most popular location for spectators is the par-3 16th hole, nicknamed "The Coliseum." (33°38′N 111°55′W / 33.64°N 111.91°W / 33.64; -111.91) One of the shortest holes on tour at 162 yards (148 m), it is enclosed by a temporary 20,000-seat grandstand. The hole could be described as "one big party," with many students from the nearby Arizona State University in Tempe in attendance. Poor shots at the 16th hole receive boos, because the hole is very easy by the PGA's standards. Good shots, however, are cheered loudly. Players who make holes in one at the 16th will cause the gallery to erupt, leading to beverages and other objects being tossed in celebrations; Tiger Woods (1997),[5] Jarrod Lyle (2011), and Sam Ryder (2022) have each aced the hole on Saturday, creating raucous celebrations at the hole.[6] The anger of a poor shot can lead to tempers flaring, as Justin Leonard gave obscene gestures to the gallery after a poor shot one year. After 2013, the PGA Tour banned the practice of caddies racing the 150 yards (140 m) from the tee box to the green, citing injury concerns.[7]

Former Arizona State players are very popular at the Phoenix Open, with many often wearing a Pat Tillman jersey when entering the 16th hole stadium. Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm are popular there for that reason. In addition to the golf, there is a concert/party held in the Scottsdale area called the Birds Nest, at which music artists like Huey Lewis and the News play.

The Thunderbirds are still highly active in the organization of the tournament. Portions of the proceeds are used by the Thunderbirds to fund Special Olympics activities in Phoenix.

Conflicts with the Super Bowl[edit]

Since 1973,[8] the Phoenix Open has been played on the weekend of the Super Bowl. In 1976, coverage of the tournament's final round was joined in progress immediately after CBS's coverage of Super Bowl X.[9] In 1996, it was played Wednesday through Saturday, as Super Bowl XXX was held at Sun Devil Stadium in nearby Tempe.[10] In 2009, the tournament overlapped with Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida, when Kenny Perry and Charley Hoffman went to a playoff. That denied the spectators a chance to watch the beginning of the game on NBC, which featured the local Arizona Cardinals.

Because of the Super Bowl weekend status, the PGA Tour's television contracts with CBS and NBC include an alternating tournament. Usually a CBS tournament when NBC or FOX televises the Super Bowl, the Phoenix Open airs on NBC when CBS has the Super Bowl, and NBC's Honda Classic aired on CBS during the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Highlights[edit]

  • 1987: Paul Azinger wins the first edition of the Phoenix Open held at TPC Scottsdale.
  • 1990: Tom Pernice Jr. makes the first double eagle in tournament history on the par-5 15th hole.
  • 1996: Grant Waite sets the course record of 60 (−11). Phil Mickelson, an alumnus of nearby Arizona State University, wins the tournament for the first time.
  • 1997: Tiger Woods aces the par-3 16th hole in the third round on Saturday.
  • 2000: Andrew Magee makes the first ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour history on the par-4 17th hole.
  • 2001: Mark Calcavecchia sets the tournament record for lowest aggregate score with 256 (−28), including a course record-tying 60 (−11) in the second round.
  • 2011: Jarrod Lyle aces the par-3 16th hole in the first round.
  • 2019: Amy Bockerstette, a golfer with Down syndrome, pars the par-3 16th hole during the pro-am in front of Gary Woodland, a moment that went viral on social media.
  • 2020: Woodland and Bockerstette reunite one year after their viral moment with a $25,000 contribution to the I Got This! Foundation, launched the previous year.
  • 2022: Sam Ryder aces on the par-3 16th hole during the third round on Saturday.

Records[edit]

The 17th hole during the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The tournament's lowest 72-hole score was set by Mark Calcavecchia in 2001 with 256 (–28), which was matched by Mickelson in 2013. In the second round Calcavecchia scored a 60 (–11), which equalled the lowest score at the Phoenix Open (by Grant Waite in 1996) and subsequently matched by Mickelson in 2005 and 2013. Calcavecchia had 32 birdies in the tournament, which was also an all-time record.

There have been only two double eagles in the history of the Phoenix Open. Tom Pernice Jr. made the first one on the 558-yard (510 m) par-5 15th hole in 1990. Andrew Magee scored the second on the 332-yard (304 m) par-4 17th hole in 2001, and was the first-ever ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour history.[11]

Winners[edit]

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Purse
($)
Winner's
share ($)
WM Phoenix Open
2024 Canada Nick Taylor 263 −21 Playoff United States Charley Hoffman 8,800,000 1,584,000
2023 United States Scottie Scheffler (2) 265 −19 2 strokes Canada Nick Taylor 20,000,000 3,600,000
2022 United States Scottie Scheffler 268 −16 Playoff United States Patrick Cantlay 8,200,000 1,476,000
Waste Management Phoenix Open
2021 United States Brooks Koepka (2) 265 −19 1 stroke South Korea Lee Kyoung-hoon
United States Xander Schauffele
7,300,000 1,314,000
2020 United States Webb Simpson 267 −17 Playoff United States Tony Finau 7,300,000 1,314,000
2019 United States Rickie Fowler 267 −17 2 strokes South Africa Branden Grace 7,100,000 1,278,000
2018 United States Gary Woodland 266 −18 Playoff United States Chez Reavie 6,900,000 1,242,000
2017 Japan Hideki Matsuyama (2) 267 −17 Playoff United States Webb Simpson 6,700,000 1,206,000
2016 Japan Hideki Matsuyama 270 −14 Playoff United States Rickie Fowler 6,500,000 1,170,000
2015 United States Brooks Koepka 269 −15 1 stroke Japan Hideki Matsuyama
United States Ryan Palmer
United States Bubba Watson
6,300,000 1,134,000
2014 United States Kevin Stadler 268 −16 1 stroke Canada Graham DeLaet
United States Bubba Watson
6,200,000 1,116,000
2013 United States Phil Mickelson (3) 256 −28 4 strokes United States Brandt Snedeker 6,200,000 1,116,000
2012 United States Kyle Stanley 269 −15 1 stroke United States Ben Crane 6,100,000 1,098,000
2011 United States Mark Wilson 266 −18 Playoff United States Jason Dufner 6,100,000 1,098,000
2010 United States Hunter Mahan 268 −16 1 stroke United States Rickie Fowler 6,000,000 1,080,000
FBR Open
2009 United States Kenny Perry 270 −14 Playoff United States Charley Hoffman 6,000,000 1,080,000
2008 United States J. B. Holmes (2) 270 −14 Playoff United States Phil Mickelson 6,000,000 1,080,000
2007 Australia Aaron Baddeley 263 −21 1 stroke United States John Rollins 6,000,000 1,080,000
2006 United States J. B. Holmes 263 −21 7 strokes United States J. J. Henry
United States Steve Lowery
United States Ryan Palmer
United States Scott Verplank
Colombia Camilo Villegas
5,200,000 936,000
2005 United States Phil Mickelson (2) 267 −17 5 strokes United States Scott McCarron
United States Kevin Na
5,200,000 936,000
2004 United States Jonathan Kaye 266 −18 2 strokes United States Chris DiMarco 5,200,000 936,000
Phoenix Open
2003 Fiji Vijay Singh (2) 261 −23 3 strokes United States John Huston 4,000,000 720,000
2002 United States Chris DiMarco 267 −17 1 stroke United States Kenny Perry
Japan Kaname Yokoo
4,000,000 720,000
2001 United States Mark Calcavecchia (3) 256 −28 8 strokes United States Rocco Mediate 4,000,000 720,000
2000 United States Tom Lehman 270 −14 1 stroke Australia Robert Allenby
United States Rocco Mediate
3,200,000 576,000
1999 United States Rocco Mediate 273 −11 2 strokes United States Justin Leonard 3,000,000 540,000
1998 Sweden Jesper Parnevik 269 −15 3 strokes United States Tommy Armour III
United States Brent Geiberger
United States Steve Pate
United States Tom Watson
2,500,000 450,000
1997 United States Steve Jones 258 −26 11 strokes Sweden Jesper Parnevik 1,500,000 270,000
1996 United States Phil Mickelson 269 −15 Playoff United States Justin Leonard 1,300,000 234,000
1995 Fiji Vijay Singh 269 −15 Playoff United States Billy Mayfair 1,300,000 234,000
1994 United States Bill Glasson 268 −16 3 strokes United States Bob Estes 1,200,000 216,000
1993 United States Lee Janzen 273 −11 2 strokes United States Andrew Magee 1,000,000 180,000
1992 United States Mark Calcavecchia (2) 264 −20 5 strokes United States Duffy Waldorf 1,000,000 180,000
1991 United States Nolan Henke 268 −16 1 stroke United States Gil Morgan
United States Curtis Strange
United States Tom Watson
1,000,000 180,000
1990 United States Tommy Armour III 267 −17 5 strokes United States Jim Thorpe 900,000 162,000
1989 United States Mark Calcavecchia 263 −21 7 strokes United States Chip Beck 700,000 126,000
1988 Scotland Sandy Lyle 269 −15 Playoff United States Fred Couples 650,000 117,000
1987 United States Paul Azinger 268 −16 1 stroke United States Hal Sutton 600,000 108,000
1986 United States Hal Sutton 267 −17 2 strokes United States Calvin Peete
United States Tony Sills
500,000 90,000
1985 United States Calvin Peete 270 −14 2 strokes United States Morris Hatalsky
United States Doug Tewell
450,000 81,000
1984 United States Tom Purtzer 268 −16 1 stroke United States Corey Pavin 400,000 72,000
1983 United States Bob Gilder (2) 271 −13 Playoff United States Rex Caldwell
United States Johnny Miller
United States Mark O'Meara
350,000 63,000
1982 United States Lanny Wadkins 263 −21 6 strokes United States Jerry Pate 300,000 54,000
1981 United States David Graham 268 −16 1 stroke United States Lon Hinkle 300,000 54,000
1980 United States Jeff Mitchell 272 −12 4 strokes United States Rik Massengale 300,000 54,000
1979 United States Ben Crenshaw 199[a] −14 1 stroke United States Jay Haas 250,000 33,750
1978 United States Miller Barber 272 −12 1 stroke United States Jerry Pate
United States Lee Trevino
200,000 40,000
1977 United States Jerry Pate 277 −7 Playoff United States Dave Stockton 200,000 40,000
1976 United States Bob Gilder 268 −16 2 strokes United States Roger Maltbie 200,000 40,000
1975 United States Johnny Miller (2) 260 −24 14 strokes United States Jerry Heard 150,000 30,000
1974 United States Johnny Miller 271 −13 1 stroke United States Lanny Wadkins 150,000 30,000
1973 Australia Bruce Crampton 268 −12 1 stroke United States Steve Melnyk
United States Lanny Wadkins
150,000 30,000
1972 United States Homero Blancas 273 −11 Playoff United States Lanny Wadkins 125,000 25,000
Phoenix Open Invitational
1971 United States Miller Barber 261 −23 2 strokes United States Billy Casper
United States Dan Sikes
125,000 25,000
1970 United States Dale Douglass 271 −13 1 stroke United States Howie Johnson
United States Gene Littler
100,000 20,000
1969 United States Gene Littler (3) 263 −21 2 strokes United States Miller Barber
United States Don January
United States Billy Maxwell
100,000 20,000
1968 Canada George Knudson 272 −12 3 strokes United States Julius Boros
United States Sam Carmichael
United States Jack Montgomery
100,000 20,000
1967 United States Julius Boros 272 −12 1 stroke United States Ken Still 70,000 14,000
1966 United States Dudley Wysong 278 −6 1 stroke United States Gardner Dickinson 60,000 9,000
1965 United States Rod Funseth 274 −14 3 strokes United States Bert Yancey 65,000 10,500
1964 United States Jack Nicklaus 271 −13 3 strokes United States Bob Brue 50,000 7,500
1963 United States Arnold Palmer (3) 273 −15 1 stroke South Africa Gary Player 35,000 5,300
1962 United States Arnold Palmer (2) 269 −15 12 strokes United States Billy Casper
United States Don Fairfield
United States Bob McCallister
United States Jack Nicklaus
35,000 5,300
1961 United States Arnold Palmer 270 −10 Playoff United States Doug Sanders 30,000 4,300
1960 United States Jack Fleck 273 −11 Playoff United States Bill Collins 22,500 3,150
1959 United States Gene Littler (2) 268 −12 1 stroke United States Art Wall Jr. 20,000 2,400
1958 United States Ken Venturi 274 −10 1 stroke United States Walter Burkemo
United States Jay Hebert
15,000 2,000
1957 United States Billy Casper 271 −9 3 strokes United States Cary Middlecoff
United States Mike Souchak
15,000 2,000
Phoenix Open
1956 United States Cary Middlecoff 276 −8 3 strokes United States Mike Souchak 15,000 2,400
1955 United States Gene Littler 275 −5 1 stroke United States Billy Maxwell
United States Johnny Palmer
15,000 2,400
1954 United States Ed Furgol 272 −12 Playoff United States Cary Middlecoff 10,000 2,000
1953 United States Lloyd Mangrum (2) 272 −12 6 strokes United States Johnny Bulla
United States Ted Kroll
United States Bo Wininger
10,000 2,000
1952 United States Lloyd Mangrum 274 −10 5 strokes United States Dutch Harrison 10,000 2,000
1951 United States Lew Worsham 272 −12 1 stroke United States Lawson Little 10,000 2,000
Ben Hogan Open
1950 United States Jimmy Demaret (2) 269 −15 1 stroke United States Sam Snead 10,000 2,000
Phoenix Open
1949 United States Jimmy Demaret 278 −6 Playoff United States Ben Hogan 10,000 2,000
1948 South Africa Bobby Locke 268 −16 1 stroke United States Jimmy Demaret 10,000 2,000
1947 United States Ben Hogan (2) 270 −14 7 strokes United States Lloyd Mangrum
United States Ed Oliver
10,000 2,000
1946 United States Ben Hogan 273 −11 Playoff United States Herman Keiser 7,500 1,500
1945 United States Byron Nelson (2) 274 −10 2 strokes United States Denny Shute 5,000 1,000
1944 United States Jug McSpaden 273 −11 Playoff United States Byron Nelson 5,000 1,000
1941–1943: No tournament
1940 United States Ed Oliver 205 −8 1 stroke United States Ben Hogan 3,000 700
1939 United States Byron Nelson 198 −15 12 strokes United States Ben Hogan 3,000 700
1936–1938: No tournament
1935 United States Ky Laffoon 281 −3 4 strokes United States Craig Wood 2,500 500
1934 No tournament
Arizona Open
1933 United States Harry Cooper 281 −3 2 strokes United States Ray Mangrum
United States Horton Smith
1,500 400
1932 United States Ralph Guldahl 285 −1 5 strokes United States John Perelli 2,500 600

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:[12][13][14]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Waste Management to sponsor Phoenix Open". PGA Tour. December 9, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "Golf". Phoenix Country Club. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  3. ^ "Golf". Arizona Country Club. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ^ "Waste Management Phoenix Open attendance records". AZ Central. February 7, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jones maintains Phoenix lead; Woods records ace on No. 16". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). January 26, 1997. p. 6B.
  6. ^ "Watch: Sam Ryder makes an ace on 16 at WM Phoenix Open, coliseum nearly explodes and beer cans come raining down". Golfweek. February 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "PGA Tour Bans Popular Caddie Races at TPC Scottsdale, Colonial | Golf Channel". www.golfchannel.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Crampton's birdie nets Phoenix win". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. January 15, 1973. p. 16.
  9. ^ "NBC's Post-Super Bowl LVI Show Will Be the Winter Olympics". ca.movies.yahoo.com. November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Mickelson grinds out another win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 28, 1996. p. 3F.
  11. ^ Kelley, Brent. "The Amazing Story of the Only Par-4 Hole-in-One in PGA Tour History". thoughtco.com. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  12. ^ 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open Media Guide – Section 14: Top Finishers 1932–2014 – at wmphoenixopen.com
  13. ^ Phoenix Open – Winners Archived 2014-06-01 at the Wayback Machine – at www.pgatour.com
  14. ^ Phoenix Open – Winners – at golfobserver.com

External links[edit]