The Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale set a weeklong attendance record with 655,434 fans, "besting the previous mark set last year at 618,365," according to Patrick O'Grady of the PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL. The tournament "saw record crowds on Wednesday, when it holds the annual pro-am, and Friday." The tournament also "announced its annual green out raised $100,000 on Saturday" for three nonprofit groups: the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's Change the Course, the Arizona Recycling Coalition and the Arizona chapter of Solid Waste Association of North America (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/5). Record daily crowds for Wednesday's pro-am (77,906) as well as Friday's (169,004) and Saturday's (204,906) rounds "propelled the weekly total to new heights" (AZCENTRAL.com, 2/5).
GREAT ATMOSPHERE: In Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote more than 204,000 people flocked to TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, which was "another record-breaking day" for the event. The 16th hole was "once again the feature attraction" with fans arriving at 5:30am MT to "stake out their turf." The energy "was palpable and irresistible, just like it is every year." The 16th hole is "not only the best stadium experience in the Valley," as it "ranks among the hottest tickets in Arizona." The scene at No. 16 "represents everything that golf is not: raucous, loud, snarky, occasionally disrespectful and very drunk." Bickley: "It's a cross between Coachella and Caddyshack. It’s exactly what the sport needs to resonate with common folk who aren’t stirred by the serenity and nuance of golf." The Thunderbirds, who host the event, have "done an incredible job at toeing the line, channeling the raw energy, smoothing out the rough edges without losing the infectious spirit at No. 16" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/5). GOLFCHANNEL.com's Jason Crook wrote the 16th hole on Saturday was "rocking by the time the first group came through," which was three hours after fans filled the seats around the green. The fans are "smart -- they know their golf, and they’re picky -- they don’t applaud every safe shot to the middle of the green." Crook: "But mostly, they’re just drunk. Really, really drunk" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 2/4).
