Golf fans in the running of the bulls at the Waste Management Phoenix Open
Golf fans line up before the run to the 16th hole to get a seat during the Waste Management Phoenix Open on February 10, 2024.
2024 WM Phoenix Open to end on Sunday? Will Super Bowl 58 be over before it starts? With several hours lost to rain and frost delays this week, the leaders' third rounds stretched into Sunday. If all goes well, they could be looking at playing up to 30 holes to finish the tournament and prevent the first Monday of 2011 from coming out of TPC Scottsdale. One thing to keep in mind is that Scottie Scheffler, winner of the Open the past two years, has played somewhat quietly this week and is within striking distance of the first Phoenix Open three-peat since Arnold Palmer from 1961-63. Check out Sunday's action in North Scottsdale.
The WM Phoenix Open bills itself as “The People's Open,” but with its raucous fans – Who are most likely to be moreEspecially at Par-3 16th par hole — and a different vibe, the PGA Tour's annual stop in Phoenix won't be for everyone, especially old-school pros.
Zach Johnson may be a new name on that list. The 12-time winner on Tour made 14 appearances at the Phoenix Open in 2005 when it was the FBR Open. He made the cut in 12 starts and has six top-25 finishes and one top-10. In other words, Johnson is no stranger to the TPC Scottsdale scene, which makes the video below even more interesting.
The 47-year-old blasted fans during the third round of the 2024 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, and the confrontation was caught on camera.
“Someone said, I am sick. Shut up,” Johnson told a group of fans before safety entered the tee box on the par-5 15th hole.
Tour WM wants the Phoenix Open to be fun, but all that fun can come at the expense of upsets. It's not clear what led to the contact, and Johnson may have been justified in telling the fan to put it down. But if you can't handle a heckler, the People's Open is no longer for you.
You can also add Billy Horschel to the list. The seven-time winner went to a fan, rightfully so, after someone in the gallery was talking during the player's swing. This video may not be safe for sensitive ears.
With the third and final round yet to be completed, players can play a long Sunday at TPC Scottsdale.
-Adam Woodard, Golfweek
Amidst all the rain and mud and frost of this tournament, two-time defending Phoenix Open champion Scotty Scheffler has been quietly going about his business. Scheffler caught fire on Sunday morning, even as fan favorite Sahid Deekala moved up the leaderboard at 14-under, and at one point was tied for second in Round 3 by one stroke at 13-under. 14.
Before that bogey, Scheffler reeled off five consecutive birdies on holes 9-13, sinking a 17-foot putt on No. 12.
The third round of the WM Phoenix Open resumed at 8:46 a.m. after the expected start time was pushed back several times due to snow.
Nick Taylor, the overnight leader, didn't get off to a hot start, three-putting the 7th green for bogey and falling back to 12-under. She is now paired with Sahid Thigal.
As expected, the rematch at TPC Scottsdale, which had hopefully been scheduled for 7:30 a.m., was pushed back several times. The latest estimate for when the game will start is 8:45 am
When play resumed the leaderboard showed Nick Taylor leading the way through six holes of the third round at 13 under, followed by Sahit Thikala a shot back through six holes. Behind them, 15 golfers sneak within five shots of Taylor's pace.
