Phoenix Open

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox golf tournament The Phoenix Open (branded as the WM Phoenix Open for sponsorship reasons)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held in 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. For the next six editions, it was known as the FBR Open. Waste Management, Inc. began its sponsorship in 2010.

The event's relaxed atmosphere, raucous by professional golf standards, 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

The Phoenix Open began Template:Time 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 less enthusiastic about running the event than 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 Template:Nowrap both in its earlier incarnations and after Goldwater resuscitated it. Beginning in 1955, the Arizona Country Club (also in Phoenix) Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Time 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 Template:Convert 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.

File:Phoenix Open logo (2010-2020).png

Logo from 2010 to 2020

Popularity

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 on Saturday, February 6, and a tournament week attendance record of 618,365 fans.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The most popular location for spectators is the par-3 16th hole, nicknamed "The Coliseum." Template:Nowrap One of the shortest holes on tour at Template:Convert, 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 straightforward 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),<ref name=wrecace>Template:Cite news</ref> Jarrod Lyle (2011), and Sam Ryder (2022) have each aced the hole on Saturday, creating raucous celebrations at the hole.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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 Template:Convert from the tee box to the green, citing injury concerns.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} </ref>

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 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 organizing the tournament. The Thunderbirds use portions of the proceeds to fund Special Olympics activities in Phoenix.

Conflicts with the Super Bowl

Since 1973,<ref name=crbnpw>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1996, it was played Wednesday through Saturday, as Super Bowl XXX was held at Sun Devil Stadium in nearby Tempe.<ref name=mgoutaw>Template:Cite news</ref> 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 occurs 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.

In 2015, Super Bowl XLIX was held in Glendale at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2015 and broadcast by NBC; the network would use sister network Golf Channel (which broadcasts early-round coverage for PGA Tour events) to provide cross-promotional tie-ins for the Super Bowl.<ref name="mcn-bigeventplan">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Highlights

• 1949: Ben Hogan loses in a playoff; driving home with his wife; he is involved in a near-fatal accident.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 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, then in the final round, Carlos Ortiz would have a hole in one at the same hole.
• 2025: Thomas Detry becomes the first Belgian PGA Tour winner.

Records

File:Waste Management Phoenix Open by Gage Skidmore.jpg

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 Template:Convert par-5 15th hole in 1990. Andrew Magee scored the second on the Template:Convert par-4 17th hole in 2001, and was the first-ever ace on a par-4 in PGA Tour history.<ref name="Kelley">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Purse ($)	Winner's share ($)
WM Phoenix Open
2025	Template:Flagicon Thomas Detry	260	−24	7 strokes	Template:Flagicon Daniel Berger Template:Flagicon Michael Kim	9,200,000	1,656,000
2024	Template:Flagicon Nick Taylor	263	−21	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Charley Hoffman	8,800,000	1,584,000
2023	Template:Flagicon Scottie Scheffler (2)	265	−19	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Nick Taylor	20,000,000	3,600,000
2022	Template:Flagicon Scottie Scheffler	268	−16	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Patrick Cantlay	8,200,000	1,476,000
Waste Management Phoenix Open
2021	Template:Flagicon Brooks Koepka (2)	265	−19	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Lee Kyoung-hoon Template:Flagicon Xander Schauffele	7,300,000	1,314,000
2020	Template:Flagicon Webb Simpson	267	−17	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Tony Finau	7,300,000	1,314,000
2019	Template:Flagicon Rickie Fowler	267	−17	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Branden Grace	7,100,000	1,278,000
2018	Template:Flagicon Gary Woodland	266	−18	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Chez Reavie	6,900,000	1,242,000
2017	Template:Flagicon Hideki Matsuyama (2)	267	−17	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Webb Simpson	6,700,000	1,206,000
2016	Template:Flagicon Hideki Matsuyama	270	−14	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Rickie Fowler	6,500,000	1,170,000
2015	Template:Flagicon Brooks Koepka	269	−15	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Hideki Matsuyama Template:Flagicon Ryan Palmer Template:Flagicon Bubba Watson	6,300,000	1,134,000
2014	Template:Flagicon Kevin Stadler	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Graham DeLaet Template:Flagicon Bubba Watson	6,200,000	1,116,000
2013	Template:Flagicon Phil Mickelson (3)	256	−28	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Brandt Snedeker	6,200,000	1,116,000
2012	Template:Flagicon Kyle Stanley	269	−15	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Ben Crane	6,100,000	1,098,000
2011	Template:Flagicon Mark Wilson	266	−18	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Jason Dufner	6,100,000	1,098,000
2010	Template:Flagicon Hunter Mahan	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Rickie Fowler	6,000,000	1,080,000
FBR Open
2009	Template:Flagicon Kenny Perry	270	−14	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Charley Hoffman	6,000,000	1,080,000
2008	Template:Flagicon J. B. Holmes (2)	270	−14	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Phil Mickelson	6,000,000	1,080,000
2007	Template:Flagicon Aaron Baddeley	263	−21	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon John Rollins	6,000,000	1,080,000
2006	Template:Flagicon J. B. Holmes	263	−21	7 strokes	Template:Flagicon J. J. Henry Template:Flagicon Steve Lowery Template:Flagicon Ryan Palmer Template:Flagicon Scott Verplank Template:Flagicon Camilo Villegas	5,200,000	936,000
2005	Template:Flagicon Phil Mickelson (2)	267	−17	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Scott McCarron Template:Flagicon Kevin Na	5,200,000	936,000
2004	Template:Flagicon Jonathan Kaye	266	−18	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Chris DiMarco	5,200,000	936,000
Phoenix Open
2003	Template:Flagicon Vijay Singh (2)	261	−23	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon John Huston	4,000,000	720,000
2002	Template:Flagicon Chris DiMarco	267	−17	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Kenny Perry Template:Flagicon Kaname Yokoo	4,000,000	720,000
2001	Template:Flagicon Mark Calcavecchia (3)	256	−28	8 strokes	Template:Flagicon Rocco Mediate	4,000,000	720,000
2000	Template:Flagicon Tom Lehman	270	−14	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Robert Allenby Template:Flagicon Rocco Mediate	3,200,000	576,000
1999	Template:Flagicon Rocco Mediate	273	−11	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Justin Leonard	3,000,000	540,000
1998	Template:Flagicon Jesper Parnevik	269	−15	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Tommy Armour III Template:Flagicon Brent Geiberger Template:Flagicon Steve Pate Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	2,500,000	450,000
1997	Template:Flagicon Steve Jones	258	−26	11 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jesper Parnevik	1,500,000	270,000
1996	Template:Flagicon Phil Mickelson	269	−15	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Justin Leonard	1,300,000	234,000
1995	Template:Flagicon Vijay Singh	269	−15	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Billy Mayfair	1,300,000	234,000
1994	Template:Flagicon Bill Glasson	268	−16	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bob Estes	1,200,000	216,000
1993	Template:Flagicon Lee Janzen	273	−11	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Andrew Magee	1,000,000	180,000
1992	Template:Flagicon Mark Calcavecchia (2)	264	−20	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Duffy Waldorf	1,000,000	180,000
1991	Template:Flagicon Nolan Henke	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Gil Morgan Template:Flagicon Curtis Strange Template:Flagicon Tom Watson	1,000,000	180,000
1990	Template:Flagicon Tommy Armour III	267	−17	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jim Thorpe	900,000	162,000
1989	Template:Flagicon Mark Calcavecchia	263	−21	7 strokes	Template:Flagicon Chip Beck	700,000	126,000
1988	Template:Flagicon Sandy Lyle	269	−15	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Fred Couples	650,000	117,000
1987	Template:Flagicon Paul Azinger	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Hal Sutton	600,000	108,000
1986	Template:Flagicon Hal Sutton	267	−17	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Calvin Peete Template:Flagicon Tony Sills	500,000	90,000
1985	Template:Flagicon Calvin Peete	270	−14	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Morris Hatalsky Template:Flagicon Doug Tewell	450,000	81,000
1984	Template:Flagicon Tom Purtzer	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Corey Pavin	400,000	72,000
1983	Template:Flagicon Bob Gilder (2)	271	−13	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Rex Caldwell Template:Flagicon Johnny Miller Template:Flagicon Mark O'Meara	350,000	63,000
1982	Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins	263	−21	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jerry Pate	300,000	54,000
1981	Template:Flagicon David Graham	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Lon Hinkle	300,000	54,000
1980	Template:Flagicon Jeff Mitchell	272	−12	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Rik Massengale	300,000	54,000
1979	Template:Flagicon Ben Crenshaw	199Template:Efn	−14	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Jay Haas	250,000	33,750
1978	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber	272	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Jerry Pate Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino	200,000	40,000
1977	Template:Flagicon Jerry Pate	277	−7	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Dave Stockton	200,000	40,000
1976	Template:Flagicon Bob Gilder	268	−16	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Roger Maltbie	200,000	40,000
1975	Template:Flagicon Johnny Miller (2)	260	−24	14 strokes	Template:Flagicon Jerry Heard	150,000	30,000
1974	Template:Flagicon Johnny Miller	271	−13	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins	150,000	30,000
1973	Template:Flagicon Bruce Crampton	268	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Steve Melnyk Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins	150,000	30,000
1972	Template:Flagicon Homero Blancas	273	−11	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Lanny Wadkins	125,000	25,000
Phoenix Open Invitational
1971	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber	261	−23	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Billy Casper Template:Flagicon Dan Sikes	125,000	25,000
1970	Template:Flagicon Dale Douglass	271	−13	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Howie Johnson Template:Flagicon Gene Littler	100,000	20,000
1969	Template:Flagicon Gene Littler (3)	263	−21	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Miller Barber Template:Flagicon Don January Template:Flagicon Billy Maxwell	100,000	20,000
1968	Template:Flagicon George Knudson	272	−12	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Julius Boros Template:Flagicon Sam Carmichael Template:Flagicon Jack Montgomery	100,000	20,000
1967	Template:Flagicon Julius Boros	272	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Ken Still	70,000	14,000
1966	Template:Flagicon Dudley Wysong	278	−6	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Gardner Dickinson	60,000	9,000
1965	Template:Flagicon Rod Funseth	274	−14	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bert Yancey	65,000	10,500
1964	Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus	271	−13	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Bob Brue	50,000	7,500
1963	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer (3)	273	−15	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Gary Player	35,000	5,300
1962	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer (2)	269	−15	12 strokes	Template:Flagicon Billy Casper Template:Flagicon Don Fairfield Template:Flagicon Bob McCallister Template:Flagicon Jack Nicklaus	35,000	5,300
1961	Template:Flagicon Arnold Palmer	270	−10	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Doug Sanders	30,000	4,300
1960	Template:Flagicon Jack Fleck	273	−11	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Bill Collins	22,500	3,150
1959	Template:Flagicon Gene Littler (2)	268	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Art Wall Jr.	20,000	2,400
1958	Template:Flagicon Ken Venturi	274	−10	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Walter Burkemo Template:Flagicon Jay Hebert	15,000	2,000
1957	Template:Flagicon Billy Casper	271	−9	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Cary Middlecoff Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak	15,000	2,000
Phoenix Open
1956	Template:Flagicon Cary Middlecoff	276	−8	3 strokes	Template:Flagicon Mike Souchak	15,000	2,400
1955	Template:Flagicon Gene Littler	275	−5	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Billy Maxwell Template:Flagicon Johnny Palmer	15,000	2,400
1954	Template:Flagicon Ed Furgol	272	−12	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Cary Middlecoff	10,000	2,000
1953	Template:Flagicon Lloyd Mangrum (2)	272	−12	6 strokes	Template:Flagicon Johnny Bulla Template:Flagicon Ted Kroll Template:Flagicon Bo Wininger	10,000	2,000
1952	Template:Flagicon Lloyd Mangrum	274	−10	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon Dutch Harrison	10,000	2,000
1951	Template:Flagicon Lew Worsham	272	−12	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Lawson Little	10,000	2,000
Ben Hogan Open
1950	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Demaret (2)	269	−15	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Sam Snead	10,000	2,000
Phoenix Open
1949	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Demaret	278	−6	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan	10,000	2,000
1948	Template:Flagicon Bobby Locke	268	−16	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Jimmy Demaret	10,000	2,000
1947	Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan (2)	270	−14	7 strokes	Template:Flagicon Lloyd Mangrum Template:Flagicon Ed Oliver	10,000	2,000
1946	Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan	273	−11	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Herman Keiser	7,500	1,500
1945	Template:Flagicon Byron Nelson (2)	274	−10	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Denny Shute	5,000	1,000
1944	Template:Flagicon Jug McSpaden	273	−11	Playoff	Template:Flagicon Byron Nelson	5,000	1,000
1941–1943: No tournament
1940	Template:Flagicon Ed Oliver	205	−8	1 stroke	Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan	3,000	700
1939	Template:Flagicon Byron Nelson	198	−15	12 strokes	Template:Flagicon Ben Hogan	3,000	700
1936–1938: No tournament
1935	Template:Flagicon Ky Laffoon	281	−3	4 strokes	Template:Flagicon Craig Wood	2,500	500
1934	No tournament
Arizona Open
1933	Template:Flagicon Harry Cooper	281	−3	2 strokes	Template:Flagicon Ray Mangrum Template:Flagicon Horton Smith	1,500	400
1932	Template:Flagicon Ralph Guldahl	285	−1	5 strokes	Template:Flagicon John Perelli	2,500	600

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Sources:<ref>2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open Media Guide – Section 14: Top Finishers 1932–2014 – at wmphoenixopen.com</ref><ref>Phoenix Open – Winners Template:Webarchive – at www.pgatour.com</ref><ref>Phoenix Open – Winners – at golfobserver.com</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Coverage on the PGA Tour's official site