Scottsdale’s signature golf event of the year, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, rolls out this week starting with practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday’s highlight is the Annexus Pro-Am featuring actor Mark Wahlberg, former pro- baseball and football player Bo Jackson, and our very own local Olympian, Michael Phelps.
Thursday brings all the players out before the field is cut and then the PGA Tournament is in full swing with the crescendo on “green-out” Saturday. It will be standing room only and everyone is encouraged to wear green in support of the eco-friendly Waste Management meme.
With over 600,000+ attendees expected to turn out to watch names like Thomas, Fowler, Spieth, Matsuyama, Michelson, “Bubba” Watson, Kuchar, Reed, J.B. Holmes, Koepka, it’s recommended that you arrive early if you want a seat.
The iconic rowdy 16th hole, one of the most famous holes in golf’s history, will have an additional 500 general admission bleacher seats this year along with more VIP sky boxes to make room for more than 16,000 participants who watch the Greatest Show on Grass from a single hole.
They've saved the best for the last, with a sleek new beer garden at the 18th hole just yards away from the Birds Nest tent that holds over 9,000 people for the evening entertainment.
While it may appear sacrilegious, thousands of local residents show up nightly for the concerts and skip the golf. It’s no surprise that the Birds Nest, known for its end-of-tournament after party, has culminated into a veritable music fest with two headliners a night with big-names like Toby Keith, Blink-182, Flo-Rida and Kaskade.
Attendance on the course wanes on Sunday due to direct competition with Super Bowl LI, however, this might be the best opportunity for die-hard fans to get some up-close-and-personal time with the golfers.
The PGA tournament runs January 30 through February 5 with general adult admission $40 at the gate.
