When it comes to the professional Tour event calendar, there are some tournaments which have a certain X-factor that sets them apart. Be that the exclusivity of Augusta, the rich history of The Open, or the electric WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, in Arizona. Immortalised by its unrivalled party atmosphere, the Waste Management Phoenix Open is a firm favourite on the PGA Tour for diehard golf fans, and casual spectators alike. With this in mind, we are excited to announce that for 2024 we will be offering an SGH Experience to the WM Phoenix Open. Want to find out why? Well, let us tell you more.

The infamous 16th

A long-time cherished spectacle, dubbed ‘the greatest show on grass’ or ‘The People’s Open’, it’s profile has only gone from strength to strength, with recent mainstream coverage including Joel Dahmen and Harry Higgs’ exploits on the famed 16th hole setting the tone for his fly on the wall feature as part of the Netflix documentary, ‘Full Swing’. As well as this, many will remember a certain young Tiger Woods stepping up to the tee on the 16th in January 1997. Back then, however, there was no stadium-esque spectator infrastructure that we are all familiar with today. One thing has remained constant however, the vociferous roar and electric atmosphere guaranteed for aces on professional golf’s most raucous hole.

Good times guaranteed: Bumper purse introduced in 2023

With some 700,000 spectators said to visit the zero-waste WM Phoenix Open, the numbers don’t lie; this is an important event to many for plenty of different reasons. The PGA Tour has also acknowledged this, with the WM Phoenix Open being one of four events to recently be awarded an elevated $20 million purse. It seems clear that the Tour know they have an unmissable spectacle stateside, and by elevating the purse, it guarantees that the very best on the Tour will play there for years to come, building a behemoth of sports entertainment in the process. An organic by-product of the legacy of Woods’ ace all those years before and something that is rarely seen to develop in today’s modern game - making it a unique proposition and no-brainer for any sports promoter.

A happy coincidence, or sporting serendipity?

Each year, the WM Phoenix Open falls on the same weekend as the Superbowl Final which presents fans with a varied and prolonged sporting spectacle on each Superbowl Sunday. “There is great synergy between the two, given that the Super Bowl and the WM Phoenix Open are both bucket-list events,” says Joel Schuchmann, the PGA Tour’s VP of Communications. “Barring a playoff, the final putt should drop on Sunday roughly 30 minutes prior to kick-off, so fans at home or parties have a dream slate of sport to enjoy.”

Why you should join us

The combination of Tiger’s ace with the crowd's raucous and affectionate reception provided a rare and organic moment of sporting alchemy. With the PGA Tour raising the purse and the 700,000 weekend attendees, it would be remiss of us to declare the WM Phoenix Open a hidden gem. This is clearly so much more, one that is adored by players, golf fanatics and casual fans wanting to soak up one of sport’s truly phenomenal spectacles with fun at its very core. What’s more, we’ve got lots more for our guests to enjoy when they join us in Arizona. This includes two rounds of golf at a couple of Scottsdale’s finest courses, three catered evenings, with two to enjoy at your own leisure along with accommodation and breakfast at our guest hotel for the week.

Want to join us? Get in touch — team@sgh.events