Opinion: Has the WM Phoenix Open lost its way?

The Waste Management Phoenix Open, or the People's Open as it has come to be known, is renowned for its electric atmosphere and wildly entertaining 16th 'party hole'.

A famously raucous week, the WM has grown bigger and louder year after year, with golf fans flocking from around the world to indulge in the wildest week in the calendar. 

With 2024's edition closing late on Sunday evening, with Nick Taylor's playoff victory over Charley Hoffman, many pundits, players and fans were left asking the same question following ugly scenes throughout the week: has the tournament lost its way?

While drunk fans are part and parcel of what makes the WM Open such a fun and entertaining event, it's fair to say it all got slightly out of hand last week, with numerous fights breaking out, several people injuring themselves, and a seemingly constant stream of heckling and booing aimed at players.

The line between drunk fun and all-out chaos is a fine one. After treading the line carefully for several years, it appears the WM finally crossed the border into an experience more reminiscent of an NFL tailgate party than a golf tournament. 

#WATCH: Zach Johnson has had enough of the gallery at the WMPO - ‘SHUT UP’ pic.twitter.com/dJHJ5Kjax6

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 11, 2024

While players have embraced the party atmosphere at the WM for years, with booing and cheering part of the experience, especially on the Par-3 16th hole, it appeared to have all gotten a bit much this year, with Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson and Billy Horschel all having to confront fans at various points throughout the week.

Related: Billy Horschel unloads on golf fan after hearing comments at WM Phoenix Open

On Saturday, both the volume and drunkenness of fans caused the organisers to close the gates and halt alcohol sales, which in turn led to furious chants of "We want beer" to be screamed from the stands. 

With fighting, public urination, and other drunken behaviour marring the occasion, many have felt that it might be time for a bit of a cultural reset for the event.

While players have leaned into the party vibe for years, this year felt slightly different, with many appearing upset with what was happening in the crowds. 

PGA Tour player Ben An even went so far as to claim that the event had gotten 'totally out of control', tweeting the following on Sunday.

While the well-being of fans is paramount for the event's continued success, the player's concerns will potentially cause the tournament organisers the biggest headache. 

If players feel that the tournament has gotten out of hand, there is a chance they may skip it next year, which could be a big spanner in the works for both organisers and the PGA Tour. 

Without the best players, the tournament will cease to exist, and if the weekend's reactions are anything to go by, there will be several PGA Tour stars reconsidering whether or not they will turn up in 2025. 

While we don't want to jump on the fun police bandwagon, it seems clear that something will need to be done moving forward to prevent the ugly scenes witnessed last week from becoming the norm. 

If the tournament can't find a balance between fun and chaos, its future could be in peril, which would be a huge loss for the PGA Tour and the game of golf. 

Few events have managed to bottle up the same electric atmosphere the WM produces, and it would be a disaster if its biggest selling point ended up becoming its undoing.

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