The PGA Tour will "try to take the frivolty down a notch" at this month's Waste Management Phoenix Open by "prohibiting players from throwing anything into the stands at the 16th hole," according to Alex Miceli of GOLFWEEK. PGA Tour Exec VP & COO Andy Pazder spoke with tournament hosts The Thunderbirds and players "about the need to quell the level of enthusiasm at the 16th hole to help provide a safe environment for the fans." Both parties "supported Pazder, and made the decision to implement the new policy once they understood the reason for the change." Pazder said, "It was very clear to me that it was a significant safety issue. Trying to provide fans at that tournament with a reasonably safe environment to watch the world’s best players, we wanted to enhance things a little bit further by asking our players not to indiscriminately throw things into the crowd." But he added, "I would anticipate players are still going to walk along the railing and hand out hats or visors or whatever. I’m fine with that" (GOLFWEEK.com, 1/13). The AP's Doug Ferguson noted a notice of the change in policy for the Waste Management Open was posted in the locker room yesterday at Waialae Country Club, home of this week's Sony Open, and someone wrote on the top of the notice, ''ARE YOU KIDDING ME?'' In recent years, Rickie Fowler has "tossed hats into the grandstand and Bubba Watson is becoming famous for the swag he throws into the bleachers." What first "got the tour's attention was Padraig Harrington kicking a football into the stands." Pazder said that he has "talked to Watson, among other players, and didn't receive too much pushback" (AP, 1/13).
BUZZ KILL? GOLFCHANNEL.com's Will Gray noted this "will be the second consecutive year that an entertaining element was removed from the raucous hole, as last year the Tour banned the popular tee-to-green caddie races, citing safety concerns." But security awareness "may be heightened this year at TPC Scottsdale, where
record-breaking crowds are expected" (
GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/13). GOLF.com's Sean Zak wrote with Tiger Woods making his '15 debut and Super Bowl XLIX "a few miles away on the final day of the event, there is only so much the PGA Tour can do from the fans at TPC Scottsdale making it the most raucous event of the season" (
GOLF.com, 1/13). ESPN.com's Michael Collins wrote, "If you
really want to make the 16th hole safe for the fans, stop selling alcohol." Collins: "Here's the truth: The Waste Management Phoenix Open loved the caddie races and loved having players interact with fans on the 16th hole, throwing hats, T-shirts, candy or whatever into the crowd." It is "part of what makes the hole the Greatest Show On Grass." But publicly, the tournament is "forced to tow the PGA Tour line" (
ESPN.com, 1/13).
