“We always talk about bigger and better,” 2025 tournament chairman Matt Mooney said. “We’ve just said ‘not bigger, just better’ this year.”
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SCOTTSDALE,Ariz.—Thewarm-upactsarecomplete.Nowit’sshowtime.
The2025WMPhoenixOpentournamentofficiallystartsThursdaymorningat7:20a.m.localtime(9:20a.m.ET)whenthefirstgroupsteeoffonthe1stand10thhole.
Alltheplanning,alltheorganizationandallthechangesmadeasaresultofasloppy2024experienceswillnowbeputtothetest.
WhathappenedattheWMPhoenixOpenin2024?Firstofall,theweatherwasawful.Heavyrainsoakedthecourseandcoldweathermadethingsmiserable.Eventually,thegrassyhillsides,normallyagreatspotforfanstositandwatchgolf,becameunusable.Thatforcedeveryoneontothesidewalksandthatmadeitdifficulttogetanywhere.
Thepartythengotoutofhand.Fanswereslidingdownthosesoakedgrassyhillsides.Someonaccident,manyintentionally.AtonepointduringthethirdroundonSaturday,beersaleswerecutoff.
Afanpoundstwobeersandchugsthembeforegettingarrestednearthe17thholeduri
