WM Phoenix Open's Unique Appeal: "Drinking and Loud Cheering"

International golf competitions such as the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup have their own unique appeal. Unlike the usual quiet atmosphere of golf courses, fans are allowed to cheer loudly at these events.

There is also a raucous tournament on the PGA Tour. The WM Phoenix Open, which kicks off on February 5 (local time) at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona (par 71, 7,261 yards), is known as the "golf free zone." The total prize money is $9.6 million.

The WM Phoenix Open is the only tournament in the world of golf where drinking and loud cheering are allowed. This is a form of "reverse marketing." Spectators cheer while drinking beer, and if they don't like a player's shot, they might even boo.

The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, the battleground of the WM Phoenix Open, evokes the Roman-era gladiatorial arena, the Colosseum. Provided by the PGA Tour

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This is a tournament where golf etiquette does not need to be observed. Normally, silence is maintained when a fellow player is taking a shot. The WM Phoenix Open is different. Cheers erupt from all directions even as players are setting up their shots. Thanks to this unique approach, the event has attracted up to 700,000 spectators.

The 16th hole (par 3), reminiscent of the Roman-era gladiatorial arena, the Colosseum, is the highlight of the event. A massive three-story stand, capable of holding up to 30,000 people, surrounds the hole. When players step onto the tee box, a giant screen zooms in on their every move, adding to the pressure.

There is no chance the gallery will remain quiet. The crowd roars with a fervor rivaling that of football hooligans. The 16th hole is 163 yards long, and with a 9-iron, players have a good chance at birdie, making it a relatively easy hole. In 2015, Francesco Molinari (Italy) and in 2022, Sam Ryder (USA) both recorded holes-in-one here. On those occasions, the ecstatic crowd threw beer cans and bottles onto the course, and it took more than 20 minutes to clean up the mess.

The tension peaks at the 16th hole, where unexpected shots often occur. Depending on the outcome of the tee shot, cheers and boos alternate. Players prepare gifts for the gallery-a sort of "toll" for passing through. They hand out hats, golf balls, sunglasses, and more.

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