06-02-2025
Fans enjoying weather, experience at Phoenix Open in Scottsdale
At the 2024 Phoenix Open, Jerry Crawford, 56, of Mesa, was dealing with freezing rain. On Thursday, his biggest problem was deciding whether or not to wear a long-sleeved shirt. He was glad he went with the short sleeves.
'This year, so far, so good,' Crawford said Thursday, sitting at the Bay Club overlooking the 17th hole.
His table didn't have a view of the course, but he wasn't seeing golf by choice.
Last year, when he attended the Pro-Am day, there was no golf. 'We were here a half-day and didn't see one shot,' he said.
The 2024 Phoenix Open was marked by chaos. Organizers on that Friday and Saturday stopped admitting ticket holders. Alcohol sales were stopped.
Rain-soaked grounds were muddy and sidewalks were congested. With little golf for attendees to watch, but ample beer to drink, police made a record number of arrests.
On this Thursday, the first day of competition, the congestion seemed confined to the freeway leading up to the course.
Organizers don't release attendance figures. But despite what appeared to be a busy day, there didn't appear to be much in the way of congestion.
Although organizers widened sidewalks and added an additional entrance to ease the congestion of last year, there was also an assist by the weather.
The day was filled with bright sunshine and temperatures that grew from slightly chilly in the morning to slightly warm by the afternoon.
Attendees were still consuming copious amounts of alcohol, walking around Thursday morning with aluminum cans of beer and seltzer or green cups with cocktails.
By 11:15 a.m., bars at the clubhouses overlooking the 16th hole were being restocked with cases of sparkling wine.
Melissa Montaño, 45, of Laveen, was starting with a Topo Chico. 'I don't want hard liquor here,' she said. 'It's too warm.'
Montaño was a veteran of the tournament. She said it was important to hydrate and wear comfortable shoes to endure the long day. 'And make sure you don't drink and drive,' she said.
In the stands of the 16th hole, a vendor had sold all of the beer in his tub, but pointed to a resupply coming down the stairs. Someone asked the vendor his name and chants of 'Ramon' broke out in the crowd.
Among those chanting was Shawn Hughes of Ontario. He was celebrating his 40th birthday at the open. He was in line at 4 a.m. and was among the first to run onto the grounds once the gates opened at 7 a.m.
He snagged a spot in the stands along the 16th hole, saving spots for five friends, all of whom were wearing polos decorated with the Canadian maple leaf.
About 11:30 a.m., Hughes said it was all worth it. '1,000%,' he said. 'It's the community. I've met so many good people.'
It was his first time at the tournament and said he got emotional running to the 16th hole. 'It's all part of the event,' he said
A sign encouraged fans who didn't want to wait in line to enter the 16th hole gallery to try the Desert Oasis by Hole 7.
That's where Tim Iverson, 47, and Brett Sobotka, 51, both of Omaha, Nebraska, were. Scent from smokers set up by Little Miss BBQ wafted among picnic tables.
Iverson and Sobotka decided this atmosphere was better than a long wait to get into Hole 16.
'It's kind of run its course for us,' Iverson said. 'It's for younger people.'
It should be noted that Iverson was wearing garish red, white and blue pants and a shirt decorated with tiny New York license plates with the word, 'Assman,' a reference to an episode of the 1990s television show, 'Seinfeld.'
Iverson and Sobotaka have come to the open for the last decade, escaping Omaha, which was hit by a winter ice storm this week.
Last year, Iverson said he slipped and fell in the mud while leaving, staining a brand-new white sweatshirt.
It was so cold and rainy that his son failed to capture the moment on photo or video.
Leslie Steinberg, 43, of Scottsdale, also soldiered through every day of the 2024 Phoenix Open, despite the weather. It helped that she had a seat at the club area, with indoor seating.
'It was a prime spot for watching the chaos,' she said. She saw attendees slipping in mud and working their way through crowds. 'It was horrendous.'
There had been no issues this year, Steinberg said.
'But it's still early,' she said. 'We haven't gotten to Saturday yet.'
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fans enjoying weather, experience at Phoenix Open in Scottsdale
