The WM Phoenix Open begins on Thursday as the “People's Open,” also known as the “Greenest Show on Grass,” begins with the first round at TPC Scottsdale, where the tournament has been held since 1987. The event runs through Sunday, ending shortly before the WM Phoenix Open. Super Bowl 58 kicks off in Las Vegas between the San Francisco 49ers and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Speaking of the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler has won the past two Phoenix Opens and is back to try to join Arnold Palmer as the only three-peat winners in this tournament. Here's a look at Thursday's activities in North Scottsdale.
Glover WDs because he would have missed his tee time
Lucas Glover has never missed a time during his PGA Tour career.
That changed Thursday morning.
Glover withdrew before the 8:26 a.m. tee time at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. As Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard reported, it was just a simple misunderstanding.
“She just read my text messages (which listed my playing time),” Glover told Golf Channel. “I'm kicking myself but laughing at myself at the same time.”
A PGA Tour official called Glover, who was in his hotel room, and told him there was one minute until playing time. That's when he pulled out.
Ryo Hisatsune was the first substitute and entered the field with Glover withdrawing. The six-time PGA Tour winner finished T-58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week.
—Cameron Jordan, Gulfwick
The first round was suspended due to unplayable circumstances
At 12:32 p.m. Thursday, the PGA Tour announced that the first round of the WM Phoenix Open has been suspended due to unplayable conditions at TPC Scottsdale.
Rainfall about an hour ago halted play, with Sahith Theegala currently leading at 5 under par through 14 holes. Puddles were forming on the greens.
While all of the morning groups were able to start on time, their back nine holes were affected by the suspension. At least 14 threesomes of golfers had not yet qualified for the first round when play was halted.
A weather update from tournament officials at 1:45 p.m. led to the suspension continuing until at least 2:15 p.m. However, practice facilities have reopened, which is a good sign that there is some hope for more golf later in the day.
The tour also announced on social media that golfer Karl Yuan, who is in the first group of players to tee off on the first hole on Thursday, had to withdraw due to a neck injury.
– Jose M. Romero
16th hole: Superheroes, hockey players, the long wait
As one can imagine, the infamous 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open was already on fire when the first group of golfers entered the course structure Thursday morning.
There was a group of young men dressed in Spider-Man costumes complete with masks, another group dressed as caddies in white suits, a group of men wearing American hockey jerseys with hockey helmets, and another group wearing red Canadian hockey jerseys.
They all joined a mixed group of people wearing bright orange hats chanting “We the people are open!”
The golfers came out, three by three, plus the caddies and their entourage of banner bearers and officials, and shots onto the green near the hole drew cheers, while shots from the green or into the bunkers at 16 were booed.
Just after 11 a.m., the rain came, and 15 minutes later, it came down a little harder. But outside the 16th hole, there weren't many places to find shelter, as the line up some stairs to get to the WM Phoenix Open pro shop was long, and the line to get to the 16th hole when the space opened was even longer. .
One man told the group he was in line with, “By my estimate, one hour and 32 minutes.”
In a courtyard filled with food stalls and vendors, a man tried his best to get a collar around his hip, with little success. Crowds of fans continue to stream through the entrance gates to TPC Scottsdale, and the weather appears to be no major obstacle.
– Jose M. Romero
WM Phoenix Open Round 1 is underway
With a rain delay Thursday morning, the WM Phoenix Open got underway with the first round on time at TPC Scottsdale. Among the first wave of golfers, Aaron Baddeley, starting from the 10th tee, birdied his first two holes to take an early lead out of the gate.
This is the good news.
The not-so-good news is that the grassy fields used as open parking remain closed on-site, so those expecting to park there, including ticket holders, are directed back to the satellite parking sites, which offer a free shuttle to the classroom . Find these options on the tournament website.
Shuttles to TPC Scottsdale were running frequently just after sunrise Thursday as motorists began to figure out how to find parking. Drop-off points for the shuttles are a long walk down Bell Road to the stadium entrance, but fans didn't seem too bothered by the extra steps needed to get in.
One issue was traffic backing up on Hayden Road for those trying to get to the grass lane bearers' quarters. After several minutes of traffic, drivers arrived at a police checkpoint to be told those spaces were closed, and then were redirected to a satellite parking lot.
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