Tag: 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Scene and heard: Saturday’s third round at 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Here are some of Saturday’s best moments from the 16th hole.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On the eve of the Super Bowl, the WM Phoenix Open certainly drew large crowds and didn’t fall short of providing entertainment.

Friday’s action at the 16th hole warmed up the crowd after a streaker made waves and swam through the water hazards from the 17th hole and 18th hole. With another sellout crowd at TPC Scottsdale for the third round, Saturday was bound to be entertaining.

From crowd sing-alongs to sightings of other sports figures, here are some of Saturday’s best moments from the 16th hole.

A sweet scene

With the second round cutting into Saturday morning, there was plenty of idle time at the 16th hole before the first group of the third round trickled in around noon.

As it got closer for the action to begin, the video boards had a little fun and began a sing-along to the crowd-pleaser, “Sweet Caroline.”

That wasn’t the only tune that the crowd sang either. A group dressed as the Founding Fathers (wigs and all) sang the national anthem that caught on. A few days earlier, a group serenaded Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin with ‘O Canada’ at the 16th hole.

Welcome back

Brittney Griner hasn’t made many public appearances since being released from a Russian penal colony after a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, in December. But the Phoenix Mercury center was at the 16th hole with her wife, Cherelle, on Saturday. Griner had previously made her first public appearance last January when she surprised participants at a MLK Day march in downtown Phoenix.

Griner was interacting with fans at the 16th hole while enjoying the action from between the ropes. Griner still intends to come back to the Mercury this season. The team has yet to re-sign Diana Taurasi and Griner, but traded Diamond DeShields on Saturday.

Sunny times

It hasn’t been a week since Matt Ishbia was introduced as the new majority owner for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, but he’s already acquainted with one of the area’s biggest sporting events. The Suns have garnered lots of buzz this week on top of Ishbia’s introduction. Late Wednesday night, the Suns pulled off a blockbuster trade for Kevin Durant and earned widespread praise.

Ishbia was among many attendees at the 16th hole, including Suns players Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Josh Okogie, and Washington Mystics player Elena Delle Donne.

Ishbia and Paul watched Rory McIlroy tee off as McIlroy finished with a par 3 at the hole.

A gift from below

In a tournament that already has a lot of interactions between the players and the fans, there’s even more going on at the 16th hole.

Golfer Ryan Palmer continued his yearly tradition of treating fans with a golf ball that has $10 attached to it and says “Have a beer.”

Green day

Saturday at the Open means a green out and fans who arrived in the grandstands of the 16th hole received a free green t-shirt. WM and the Thunderbirds will donate money to sustainability-focused nonprofits for everyone wearing green on Saturday.

The large amount of attendees that came for the Super Bowl and the Open certainly contributed to Saturday’s green out with many Eagles fans in attendance.

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Bananas, Waldo and Vikings. Fans go extra yard with 2023 Phoenix Open outfits

Chaos is in style at the WM Phoenix Open, and fans are decked out from head to toe.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chaos is in style at the WM Phoenix Open, and fans are decked out from head to toe.

Amid the sea of T-shirts, tight dresses and regular golf attire, there are grown men dressed as Disney princesses and in Colonial garb, and one group of Waldos who weren’t difficult to find.

The quartet from Phoenix gathered for a combination Super Bowl/Phoenix Open celebration, admitting they did not come up with their Waldo idea on their own.

“We saw a video from a couple years ago of [fans] storming to run in and there were like 15 Waldos,” said Mitchell Barnes, 24. “We were like, ‘We have to do that.’ We were inspired.”

2023 WM Phoenix Open
Fans at the 16th green at the 2023 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

One local resident who has been coming to the Open for the last 20 years, brought some new spectators along. Pam Alaaldin brought her college roommate from Arizona State, her roommate’s husband and their five kids to the Open, the group traveling in from Buffalo.

“They had to understand how exciting it is when you’re wearing matching outfits because it just brings it up to a whole other level,” she said. “I provided the free hat and shirt for all the attendees. We like to bring the fun.”

The grass-like hats featured tiny white flagsticks on top while the green shirts each each had golf-themed puns like “We’re here to PAR-TEE!!”

Although many fans around the course sported Eagles or Chiefs gear ahead of the Super Bowl, John Aallen, 42, and his fellow Canadian friends wore the purple jerseys of their favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings.

Standing in an ever-growing line to get into the 16th hole, the group was ready to go with drinks in hand and at one point, tried to remember the name of the Canadian prime minister.

The friends said they have been coming to the tournament in their Minnesota gear for more than 12 years.

“We can’t go to the Super Bowl,” Aallen said, “so we’re pretending like we’re at the Super Bowl.”

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Watch: Tom Kim mic’d up for CBS broadcast, birdies 13th hole at 2023 WM Phoenix Open

One of golf’s brightest young stars was mic’d up Saturday.

For the third straight week, CBS had a player wear a mic during its third-round broadcast. This time, it was Tom Kim sporting the AirPod on the par-5 13th hole during the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.

Safe to say he’s a fan of the atmosphere and craziness.

“I wish we had this every week. Not going to lie,” Kim said with a smile on his face.

He’s no stranger to massive and loud crowds. He thrived at the 2022 Presidents Cup for the International team.

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Last week, Kim was a part of a foursome that included Jon Rahm, J.J. Watt and Michael Phelps playing a practice round at TPC Scottsdale. He talked about learning from Rahm, who has plenty of experience at the People’s Open., and how Rahm talked with him about which lines to take.

“Jon Rahm makes golf look very, very easy. He’s great. He’s awesome.”

On Friday, he sported a Devin Booker jersey on the par-3 16th hole, appealing to the local fan base.

While mic’d up, Kim talked about having Joe Skovron, Rickie Fowler’s former caddie who was on the bag during Fowler’s win in 2019 at the WM Phoenix Open, and how Skovron has helped Kim since taking over his bag. Kim and Fowler played together on Saturday.

He also discussed with the CBS crew about working with instructor Cameron McCormick.

After hitting the fairway with his drive, Kim proceeded to stick his approach shot to 4 feet for eagle. Kim lipped out the eagle putt but converted on the birdie.

Kim then discussed a practice round he had at TPC Scottsdale with Olympic legend Michael Phelps, recently retired NFL standout J.J. Watt and Jon Rahm.

Two weeks ago, it was Max Homa who was mic’d up. Last week, Keith Mitchell sported the mic. This time, it was Tom Kim, who has quickly become a fan favorite and blossomed as one of the world’s best players at only 20 years old.

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Watch: Cutting of new hole at No. 16 riles up raucous crowd at 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Most of the time, the grounds crews at PGA Tour events go about their business in obscurity.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Most of the time, the grounds crews at PGA Tour events go about their business in obscurity. Things like changing hole locations between rounds happen in darkness, to little or no fanfare.

Because of the first-round frost delay and the subsequent delay in play, the second round of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open spilled into Saturday.

The cut finally came in around midday, which meant the cutting of the new hole was done in full view of all the fans, who absolutely loved it.

The grounds crew member who got the call enjoyed his moment in the sun, bowing the crowd when he was done.

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Just as they drew it up: Big names rise to occasion at $20 million 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Gentlemen, start your engines.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The PGA Tour’s first full-field designated event is working pretty much as planned.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy – who admitted after Thursday’s first round: “I wouldn’t say that this is a golf course that sets up terribly well for me. I struggle off the tee here.” – was outside the top 25 after 36 holes were in the books and a couple big names failed to make the cut – Patrick Cantlay, Collin Morikawa – but all in all, the formula worked.

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The best names in the game came to play at TPC Scottsdale this week.

A Thursday frost delay led to a Saturday completion of the second round, but after those 36 holes were done, the leaderboard was stacked with big names:

  • Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who broke through for his first Tour win here a year ago, posted a 64 on Friday to get to 10 under. If he wins, he’ll be the seventh golfer to defend his title
  • Adam Hadwin finished off his second-round 66 on Saturday to also get to 10 under. He’d be the second Canadian to win here since George Knudson did so in 1968
  • Jon Rahm is among three heavyweights at 8 under after scores of 68-66. He leads the PGA Tour on the active cuts made list with 23
  • Xander Schauffle, who has finished in the top 20 in all five of his appearances at the tournament, including T-2 and T-3 the last two years, has a pair of 67s so far this week, and is also at 8 under
  • Jordan Spieth opened with a 71 but shot the round of the week so far in round 2 with a 63, is at 8 under. He has three top-10s in six starts here
  • Jason Day is solo eighth at 6 under
  • Tom Kim, Rickie Fowler, Sam Ryder and Sungjae Im are among an eight-way tie for ninth at 5 under
  • Max Homa and Tony Finau are lurking at 4 under, six shots back of the lead

No doubt, the stage is now set for fireworks. Saturday’s tickets are sold out and massive crowds expected.

Gentlemen, start your engines.

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Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay among big names to miss the cut at 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Morikawa’s last missed weekend came at the 2022 Open.

TPC Scottsdale has shown some teeth in Arizona this week for the WM Phoenix Open. The winds have been up, the greens have dried out and the course is playing firm and fast.

The tough conditions at the PGA Tour’s first full-field designated event have sent some of the biggest names in the game home early.

On the other side of the coin, Scottie Scheffler, this week’s defending champion, leads the pack alongside Adam Hadwin through 36 holes at 10 under. Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele are two shots behind them at 8 under.

The cut came in at even-par 142, with 66 players making the weekend.

Here are the bigs names headed home.

Photos: Fans race to No. 16 on one of the best days in golf, Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open

Would you participate in the early-morning dash in the desert?

It’s tough to compete with weekends at major championships, The Players and the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, but Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open is one of the best days in golf year in and year out.

The annual dash for the stadium par-3 16th has become tradition as fans hope to see an ace, something Sam Ryder produced in 2022.

Spectators at TPC Scottsdale Saturday are in for a good one as names like Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler litter the leaderboard.

The stands filled up quickly on day three in the desert.

Here are some photos of the early-morning dash.

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Jason Day and Rickie Fowler lurking at WM Phoenix Open in hopes of ending winless droughts: ‘You go from being the best in the world to you can’t bust an egg with a hammer’

Day is four back of Scheffler while Fowler is five back.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jason Day was lost.

That could summarize the state of his game for the last few years as the former world No. 1 plummeted all the way down to No. 150 after barely scraping to make the cut at the 3M Open in July. But last month at the American Express in Palm Desert, California, Day actually was lost after making a wrong turn in his rental car.

“They had that concert on and I got lost and I just sat on the side of the road looking at the mountains for like 30 minutes,” Day recalled. “It felt like no matter what I did, I was just turning the wrong way every single time.”

Later, during an extended discussion about feeling lost and as Day put it, “being humbled,” he added: “I don’t know how to explain it but it was stress, disappointment, frustration all boiled up. You’ve done it before, and you know how good you can be but you’re playing so poorly. You go from being the best in the world to you can’t bust an egg with a hammer.”

Rickie Fowler can relate. He never quite reached the top of the mountain, but he was a perennial top-10 player in the world, who suddenly couldn’t crack an egg either.

Through 36 holes at the WM Phoenix Open, they are lurking on the first page of the leaderboard. Day held the first-round lead with a bogey-free 65 while Fowler did his damage on Friday, posting a 5-under 66. They are both chasing defending WM Phoenix Open champion Scottie Scheffler, who carded 64 to set the pace at 10-under 132 and can regain No. 1 in the world with a win, and World No. 3 Jon Rahm, who trailed by two strokes and has his own scenarios to becoming No. 1 at the end of the week.

Day eventually used Google Maps and found his way home. But it serves as a larger metaphor for the state of his game.

“I was struggling with my body, struggling mentally, struggling with my mom passing (from cancer in March), struggling with a lot of things,” he said. “I think finally over the last few months I feel like things are finally settled down where I can actually focus on golf and playing golf and really just trying to do the best job I can.”

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Day and Fowler both could’ve taken the easy way out and joined LIV Golf, but instead they have doubled down on hard work to regain past form and are hot on the comeback trail. Fowler, the winner of the 2015 Players Championship, fell to No. 160 in the world late last year. He started working with instructor Butch Harmon again and tied for second at the Zozo Championship in October. He enters the week at No. 100 in Official World Golf Ranking.

“No one stays at the top. You never stay at your best. You’re always going to have to deal with struggles and tough times,” Fowler said. “So it’s just part of being out here and part of the sport.”

After a T-3 at the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open a year ago, Day didn’t record another top-10 finish in an individual event and barely made the FedEx Cup playoffs. He’s shown progress this season, recording six top-25 finishes in eight starts and twice has been in the top 10, lifting him back inside the top 100 in the world at No. 91 as of this week. “It took a little while to unravel the knot. Because you know, he has to manage his body correctly,” said CBS’s lead analyst Trevor Immelman. “But I think he’s there.”

Day’s struggles with injuries, particularly to his back have been well documented. He’s spent more than a year working with instructor Chris Como adjusting his swing to reduce the stress on his back.

“I know what it is like to play with really bad back pain. It would be nice to be able to be like a Tom Brady in regards to his longevity and work my way out of being injured with a bad back to being healthy and competitive in my 40s,” said the 35-year-old Day, who labeled himself obsessed with trying to shallow his swing and get comfortable with different release patterns to the point that he’ll phone Como at all hours of the night.

“I’ll call him 1 o’clock in the morning just because I have an idea,” Day said.

The 12-time Tour winner is winless since the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship, and he longs for those sleepless Saturday nights when he’s in contention.

“I miss that,” he said. “I’ve been sleeping quite nicely over the last two years.”

He may be tired after playing 26 holes on Friday, putting the finishing touches on an opening-round 65 and following it up with a sturdy even-par 71 in which the putter cooled off. It’s been a long road to where he is now. He knows it won’t be a smooth trip back to the top of the mountain, but Day is enjoying the journey and has a destination in his sights.

“My goal is to try to get back to No. 1,” he said. “You have to have that belief in you to be able to try and at least have that as a goal. If it doesn’t pan out, then it doesn’t pan out.”

Time will tell if Day and Fowler have found their way.

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Watch: Highlights from Friday’s second round of WM Phoenix Open, including Maverick McNealy’s putt into the water

Friday was a busy day at the WM Phoenix Open.

Friday was a busy day at the WM Phoenix Open. Not only did the world’s best players climb the leaderboard with some low rounds, but Tiger Woods briefly took over golf Twitter when he announced his intention to play in next week’s Genesis Invitational, an event hosted by his foundation.

His last PGA Tour start came at the 150th Open at St. Andrews.

Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion in the desert, owns the lead after day two at 10 under. Two shots behind world No. 2 is Jon Rahm while Jason Day and Xander Schauffele are four back.

Watch highlights of the second round at TPC Scottsdale below.

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Scottie Scheffler leads, Jon Rahm and Adam Hadwin two shots back after two days at 2023 WM Phoenix Open

It’s shaping up as a battle between two of the best players in the world at TPC Scottsdale.

SCOTTSDALE,  Ariz. — Conducting the final act of his Friday masterpiece, Jon Rahm stood in a bunker beneath the ninth green. From his predicament, Rahm was short-sided, needing to float a shot with just enough touch to give himself a makeable par putt. Eight feet would have been good. Five feet would have been great. Instead, Rahm rolled the ball to 15 inches. When he tapped in, he raised his putter to a hollering crowd, drawing the type of cheers that come when you enter the weekend at 8 under.

Conducting the final act of his Friday masterpiece, Scottie Scheffler looked down over that same green, two groups and 30 minutes later. From his perch on the right side of the fairway, he had 160 yards to the hole. No problem. Scheffler stopped his ball on a dime, three feet short of the hole. From there, his seventh birdie of a bogey-free day was a formality. His weekend will be begin at 10 under.

Such was the story of Friday afternoon at TPC Scottsdale.

For 18 holes, Rahm did everything he could to separate himself from the WM Phoenix Open’s expected contenders. Afterward, he openly admitted, “I played really good.”

2023 WM Phoenix Open
Jon Rahm reacts as the gallery roars after making his birdie putt on the 16th hole during the second round of the 2023 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic)

And he did. But Scheffler was better. During one stretch in the middle of his round, Rahm played nine holes at 6 under. It should have been enough to build some cushion. Instead, there Scheffler was, making four straight birdies.

“We have 18 of the top 20 players in the world (in the field),” Rahm said. “You can expect a few of us to be doing that.”

So now, entering the weekend, Scheffler (10 under) leads with Rahm and Adam Hadwin (8 under) two back on the leaderboard. Their betting odds are +175 and +300 to win. Only Xander Schauffele is closer than +1400.

Hadwin joined the fun late in the day Friday after making birdies on three of his first 10 holes. He’ll resume his second round on the 11th hole Saturday morning.

A repeat of last year, when the then-unknown Sahith Theegala came out of obscurity to take the 54-hole lead, seems improbable. Yes, Scheffler emerged in the end for this first PGA Tour win, but he did so amid a crowded and murky leaderboard. Saturday should be set up with World Nos. 2 and 3 in the final pairing. It doesn’t get much better than that.

“That would be a lot of fun,” Scheffler said. “It looks like right now we’re 1 and 2 but we’ll see how things shake out.”

That it happens to be between two of the best players in the world is no accident. The Phoenix Open is one of 17 designated events in the PGA Tour’s new schedule. The top 20 players on Tour must play in all but one of those events.

So for 17 weeks, the top players will descend on one place. They’ll produce stretches like midday Friday, when Rahm (the world No. 3) birdied holes 2 and 3 right as Scheffler (the world No. 2) stuck a pair of irons to six feet for birdies on holes 1 and 2. In the tightest section of TPC Scottsdale’s front nine, the crowd roars were almost close enough to be confused for one another.

Whichever golfer lifts the trophy come Sunday night, it won’t be a Tour win relegated to the recesses of memory. This one, because of this competition, will mean something.

On Friday, the talk of Rahm’s news conference was the battle for the crown of world’s best player. For his part, Rahm said, “I don’t get too much into that discussion.”

But even he acknowledged that, this year, that label could mean more.

“If somebody, hopefully me, gets a chance to get that No. 1 and keep it throughout this whole year, with all these big elevated events, where we’re going to have the most amount of points for this many events in a row it will be … one to be really proud of,” Rahm said. “Just because we never had this many fields this strong that we’re going to have in a row. So if somebody can get up there and keep it it’s because they have played really good golf and they truly are a well-deserved No. 1.”

That’s because of events like these. Because of weekends like this one. Because of battles like Scheffler vs. Rahm.

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