Matt Kuchar hat tip to crowd

The WM Phoenix Open is known for its raucous atmosphere and is the best attended golf event in the world. The tournament routinely draws crowds over 150,000-200,000 on any given day.

The 2024 WM Phoenix Open is Feb. 8-11, 2024, keeping its tradition of finishing on Super Bowl Sunday. 

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TPC Scottsdale & The Coliseum

TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course hosts the tournament, a Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed track that features numerous grandstands and stadium bleachers surrounding the holes. It is arguably the most fan-friendly course and event on the PGA Tour. However, the focal point of much of the madness is at hole 16, widely accepted as the loudest hole in golf.

Earning the nickname “the Coliseum”, the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is a straightforward 162-yard par-3. By any objective standard, it is one of the easiest holes on the PGA Tour. However, the hole is surrounded on three sides by grandstands that hold 20,000 fans. Fans line up for hours before the gates open at 7:00 AM for a chance at one of the 4,000 open seats available to fans with a grounds pass. In fact, fans literally sprint to the stands from the gate in order to get one of these seats.

The Coliseum gallery has earned a reputation for being a drunken frat party, and in many ways this description is pretty accurate. Many of the fans are Arizona State students who spend the entire day drinking. Complaints of drunken behavior are common, as is loud chanting that is unseen elsewhere in golf. In many ways, the atmosphere feels more like a music festival, complete with costumed fans.

The experience is very polarizing among professionals, but regardless the PGA Tour shows no signs of changing the atmosphere. Many have spoken out against the heckling that occurs on this and other holes, notably Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. Famously, Justin Leonard flipped off the fans at the Coliseum after being heckled for a poor shot.

However, in the case of a great shot such as Tiger Woods’ 1997 ace or Jarrod Lyle’s 2011 ace, the gallery erupts in the kind of cheer that a golfer can’t experience anywhere else in the world.

Lyle, who unfortunately passed away in August 2018 from leukemia, is now honored at the 16th hole with a plaque. His golf bag and trademark yellow bucket hat will also be displayed on the hole, showing the magic that the Coliseum can generate.

There’s also some very weird traditions that occur at the hole, such as the now-banned caddie races. While officially banned, it is still relatively common to see caddies sprinting from the tee box to the green for the crowd’s amusement.

Likewise, many golfers hand out gifts to the crowd. Such gifts can range from frisbees and autographed memorabilia to foam curly fries, cans of Guinness or even golf balls wrapped in $10 bills. It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience, not only in golf but in all sport.

Waste Management Phoenix Open Cut Line

The top 65 players and those tied for 65th or better through 36 holes make the cut to the weekend. 

Here's how the WM Phoenix Open cut line has trended in recent years.

YearCutPlayers to Make Cut
2025-277
2024-273
2023E66
2022-267
2021-366
2020-167
2019-173
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Phoenix Open History & Past Champions

YearWinnerScorePurseWinner's Share
2025Thomas Detry-24$9,200,000$1,656,000
2024Nick Taylor-21$8,800,000$1,584,000
2023Scottie Scheffler (2)−19$20,000,000$3,600,000
2022Scottie Scheffler−16$8,200,000$1,476,000
2021Brooks Koepka (2)−19$7,300,000$1,314,000
2020Webb Simpson−17$7,300,000$1,314,000
2019Rickie Fowler−17$7,100,000$1,278,000
2018Gary Woodland−18$6,900,000$1,242,000
2017Hideki Matsuyama (2)−17$6,700,000$1,206,000
2016Hideki Matsuyama−14$6,500,000$1,170,000
2015Brooks Koepka−15$6,300,000$1,134,000
2014Kevin Stadler−16$6,200,000$1,116,000
2013Phil Mickelson (3)−28$6,200,000$1,116,000
2012Kyle Stanley−15$6,100,000$1,098,000
2011Mark Wilson−18$6,100,000$1,098,000
2010Hunter Mahan−16$6,000,000$1,080,000
2009Kenny Perry−14$6,000,000$1,080,000
2008J. B. Holmes (2)−14$6,000,000$1,080,000
2007Aaron Baddeley−21$6,000,000$1,080,000
2006J. B. Holmes−21$5,200,000936,000
2005Phil Mickelson (2)−17$5,200,000$936,000
2004Jonathan Kaye−18$5,200,000$936,000
2003Vijay Singh (2)−23$4,000,000$720,000
2002Chris DiMarco−17$4,000,000$720,000
2001Mark Calcavecchia (3)−28$4,000,000$720,000
2000Tom Lehman−14$3,200,000$576,000
1999Rocco Mediate−11$3,000,000$540,000
1998Jesper Parnevik−15$2,500,000$450,000
1997Steve Jones−26$1,500,000$270,000
1996Phil Mickelson−15$1,300,000$234,000
1995Vijay Singh−15$1,300,000$234,000
1994Bill Glasson−16$1,200,000$216,000
1993Lee Janzen−11$1,000,000$180,000
1992Mark Calcavecchia (2)−20$1,000,000$180,000
1991Nolan Henke−16$1,000,000$180,000
1990Tommy Armour III−17$900,000$162,000
1989Mark Calcavecchia−21$700,000$126,000
1988Sandy Lyle−15$650,000$117,000
1987Paul Azinger−16$600,000$108,000
1986Hal Sutton−17$500,000$90,000
1985Calvin Peete−14$450,000$81,000
1984Tom Purtzer−16$400,000$72,000
1983Bob Gilder (2)−13$350,000$63,000
1982Lanny Wadkins−21$300,000$54,000
1981David Graham−16$300,000$54,000
1980Jeff Mitchell−12$300,000$54,000
1979Ben Crenshaw−14$250,000$33,750
1978Miller Barber−12$200,000$40,000
1977Jerry Pate−7$200,000$40,000
1976Bob Gilder−16$200,000$40,000
1975Johnny Miller (2)−24$150,000$30,000
1974Johnny Miller−13$150,000$30,000
1973Bruce Crampton−12$150,000$30,000
1972Homero Blancas−11$125,000$25,000
1971Miller Barber−23$125,000$25,000
1970Dale Douglass−13$100,000$20,000
1969Gene Littler (3)−21$100,000$20,000
1968George Knudson−12$100,000$20,000
1967Julius Boros−12$70,000$14,000
1966Dudley Wysong−6$60,000$9,000
1965Rod Funseth−14$65,000$10,500
1964Jack Nicklaus−13$50,000$7,500
1963Arnold Palmer (3)−15$35,000$5,300
1962Arnold Palmer (2)−15$35,000$5,300
1961Arnold Palmer−10$30,000$4,300
1960Jack Fleck−11$22,500$3,150
1959Gene Littler (2)−12$20,000$2,400
1958Ken Venturi−10$15,000$2,000
1957Billy Casper−9$15,000$2,000
1956Cary Middlecoff−8$15,000$2,400
1955Gene Littler−5$15,000$2,400
1954Ed Furgol−12$10,000$2,000
1953Lloyd Mangrum (2)−12$10,000$2,000
1952Lloyd Mangrum−10$10,000$2,000
1951Lew Worsham−12$10,000$2,000
1950Jimmy Demaret (2)−15$10,000$2,000
1949Jimmy Demaret−6$10,000$2,000
1948Bobby Locke−16$10,000$2,000
1947Ben Hogan (2)−14$10,000$2,000
1946Ben Hogan−11$7,500$1,500
1945Byron Nelson (2)−10$5,000$1,000
1944Jug McSpaden−11$5,000$1,000
1941–1943: No tournament--------
1940Ed Oliver−8$3,000$700
1939Byron Nelson−15$3,000$700
1936–1938: No tournament--------
1935Ky Laffoon−3$2,500$500
1934No tournament------
1933Harry Cooper−3$1,500$400
1932Ralph Guldahl−1$2,500$600