For the first time in the history of the tournament, organizers at the WM Phoenix Open turned off the beer taps and turned away patrons from entering due to massive crowds.
By 2:00pm on Saturday, organizers shut the gates at TPC Scottsdale and stopped alcohol sales at most locations throughout the course due to the raucous party atmosphere.
This was despite awful weather conditions by Arizona standards – with rain and 40 degree temperatures in the morning leading to sun breaking through clouds and temps in the mid-50s.
«Due to larger than usual crowds, the WM Phoenix Open entrance gates are temporarily closed and shuttle service to the event is on hold,» the tournament said on social media.
Alcohol sales were halted and fans were turned away at the Phoenix Open’s third round
Capacity crowds led the gates being shut to patrons for the first time in the event’s history
A party atmosphere has become common at the Phoenix Open, which touts itself as ‘The People’s Open’ and the ‘Greatest Show on Grass’.
But the atmosphere turned dangerous when fighting broke out and people began reportedly blacking out due to alcohol consumption.
According to KTAR talk radio host Barry Markson, 30 people blacked out at the event which led to the organizers’ decision to stop the flow of booze.
The tournament is known for its atmosphere – with the epicenter of it all being the frat-party environment at the par-3 16th hole where fans ignore calls for quiet (and where golfers, for once, welcome the noise).
Yesterday there was a serious party foul at that same hole when a woman fell and suffered non-life-threatening injuries requiring hospitalization.
Friday’s second round saw multiple videos of drunken fans make their way onto social media.
One saw a fully grown adult man being carried out the front gate over the shoulders of another man.
Elsewhere on the course, fans began sliding down a muddy hill before police put a stop to the procedures on Friday.
A police officer watches fans on the 16th green during Saturday’s action at the Phoenix Open
Some of the patrons were caught on video fighting with security not around to stop them
But by Saturday the debauchery continued. Images showed more fans – in various states of dress and undress – sliding down those same hills as crowds cheered them on.
Videos from fans also appeared to show that people got violent – with at least one fight caught on camera.
Security were outnumbered and only arrived late after other spectators had pulled the two men fighting off each other.
