Road to Redemption: WM Phoenix Open Repamps Tourney, reputation – Scottsdale.org

Open from 2024 WM Phoenix is ​​confronted with its fair share of obstacles. From the unfavorable time to overpopulation, the reputation of the tournament has undergone.

However, the chairman of the new tournament Matt Munney has made misery a motivation, as he and Thunderbirds went properly to work on the restoration of the tournament in fame.

Their efforts have updated the tournament, emphasizing the safety, accessibility and creation of an environment that players and fans will enjoy coming open 2025 WM Phoenix.

“We accept the reputation of the tournament very seriously. The reviews we received, fortunately, from last year and for the changes we made were extremely positive, “Muney said.

“We will continue to conduct a world -class golf tournament. We are proud to be the biggest event in the PGA Tour and the reason that it is so successful is that it is such a unique, high-energy atmosphere. So, we are focused on the right tweak, but at the same time we are sure that we do not overcome and change the world -class event, that people really travel from all over the world to check their bucket list. “

Working under the motto of “better, no more”, Thunderbirds used strong partnerships with the city of Scottsdale to achieve this.

By heading the major changes to the infrastructure, there will be a new Greenway Hayden Loop fan entrance, north of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. This will optimize the processes of entry and exit the fans.

To avoid clogging inside the place, the paths have doubled in width. At the same time, several food and drink suppliers have been moved throughout the course to accommodate the new paths.

Muney said the “daily ticket” led to overcrowding. This made it difficult to monitor attendance because fans could “choose the last moment at what day they wanted to attend”.

This year the organizers eliminated the supply. Fans can now only buy digital, one -day tickets from the tournament itself.

“It’s really just a way to make sure we control our crowd every day to the number we want it,” he said. “We are able to have this real -time feedback when the course conditions change or as things change on the golf course so that we know exactly what we have and how to be sure that experience is all we expect to be. “

The last of significant changes is the addition or removal of fans experiences. The home of Taylor Morrison’s lighthouse – on the right side of the hole 12 – is half, providing seating for the green. The desert oasis and the beer garden near Hole Seven will have an improved atmosphere, with Little Miss BBQ accompanied by craft beers.

The total bag of the tournament is $ 9.2 million – as it is not selected as one of the 20 events of the PGA Tour, which denotes a higher bag for tournaments included – an increase of $ 400,000 from last year’s event. The winner’s purse will be $ 1.656 million.

The most early harvest of engaged players are Hideki Matsuyama (5); Billy Horchell (16); Justin Thomas (21); Jordan Spice (71) and 2024. WM Phoenix Open Champion Nick Taylor.

Among the players on the field, the World No. 7 Wyndham Clark is as excited as anyone playing in this year’s WM Phoenix Open. Growing in the area of ​​Scottsdale and staying there at the moment, Clark’s trip to the game in the tournament is “surreal”.

“I’ve always dreamed of being a professional golf and one of the best players in the world,” Clark said. “As a young child, it was my dream and I went to some of these events and watched people before me and say,” I want to do it someday. ” And for now, to live, which is honestly quite surreal. So, I’m very blessed. “

Clark has been published for a year of breakthrough. The US Open 2023 champion has ended the 2024 season with one win-on-on-to-peble beach pro-am-eight top 10 and two second place. He will look to use inertia to break his open barrier to WM Phoenix. From its seven participations in the Clark tournament there is only one top 10 finals – T10 in 2023 – and is constantly placed in the middle of the package.

This year, however, may be a change of change for Clark as he is confident that he is entering this season. He understands the need for precision and distance from the Trinity in the TPC Scottsdale, and if he manages to shoot -4/-5 a day, he firmly feels that he can lift the trophy -the dream of dream.

“Outside of probably the specialties, I would say that WM Phoenix Open is up there, probably the best one or two events I would like to win, just for the fact that I’m home,” Clark said. “There are many people who would watch me who are friends and family and then, on top of that, think about how much fun the holiday will be afterwards and you will get it with all your friends and family.”

With the changes, the beginning of the elite player field and the dedication of the World -class launch tournament, Muni is excited to launch this year’s tournament and live his reputation as Grass’s most green show. “

“At a time when the golf goes through a lot of changes … We have the feeling that we have many answers on how to throw a many generation of event that is attractive to a really wide range of fans and we are really proud of that,” Muney said. “We took the pinching and the changes we made this year very seriously, but we have incredible partners in PGA Tour, Waste Management that they want to see us continue to be innovative and through an event that fans will go to continue to come to To enjoy. “