If golf had one week where it ditched its country club manners, cracked a beer, and screamed lyrics from the upper deck, this would be it. The 2026 WM Phoenix Open (Feb. 2–8 at TPC Scottsdale) isn’t just another PGA Tour stop—it’s a full-blown sports festival that just so happens to feature the best golfers on Earth. And this year, it lines up perfectly with Super Bowl LX later that same Sunday night.
Golf in the desert by day. Football in prime time by night. Chaos in between. No notes.
Nicknamed “The Greatest Show on Grass” and “The People’s Open,” the WMPO has long lived in its own lane, a place where tradition politely steps aside and lets the vibes do the talking. In 2026, with a loaded field, peak Super Bowl energy, and Scottsdale operating like the sports capital of the universe for a week, it’s shaping up to be appointment viewing—and attending.
Welcome to the Loudest Tournament in Golf
TPC Scottsdale doesn’t whisper. It roars.
The WM Phoenix Open routinely draws 500,000 to 700,000 fans over the week, a number that makes most tournaments look like invite-only book clubs. The crowd is younger, louder, and way less interested in “inside the ropes” etiquette. This is golf with a pulse—and a bass line.
At the center of it all sits the 16th hole, the famous par-3 Coliseum. Stadium seating wraps the green like a Roman arena, and the crowd treats every tee shot like a judgment. Stick it close? You’re getting a standing ovation. Miss the green? Enjoy the boos. It’s the only place on Tour where a hole-in-one feels like a playoff buzzer-beater and a shank feels like getting ratioed on live TV.
For photographers, it’s a gold mine. For players, it’s a mental stress test. For fans? It’s church.
A Field Built for Fireworks
The early commitments alone tell you this isn’t going to be a quiet week.
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 and two-time WMPO champion, is already locked in. This is the place where he grabbed his first-ever PGA Tour win in 2022, and since then, he’s turned Scottsdale into his personal desert lab. His ball-striking fits this course like muscle memory, and the idea of Scheffler going for a three-peat has real momentum—not just hype.
Then there’s Brooks Koepka, a two-time winner here and fresh off his much-discussed return to the PGA Tour. If there’s a venue built for Brooks’ “embrace the villain, thrive in chaos” personality, it’s this one. The WMPO crowd doesn’t politely clap for reputations—they respond to edge, swagger, and shot-making under pressure. Koepka checks all three boxes.
Beyond the headliners, this tournament always brings a mix of established stars and early-season grinders chasing FedExCup points in the desert sun. The course rewards aggression, and historically, it doesn’t shy away from leaderboards that feel more like all-star games than random pairings.
The Game Flow: Controlled Chaos All Week
The WM Phoenix Open doesn’t build tension slowly—it hits you immediately.
Early rounds feel like a music festival with tee times. Thursday and Friday are loud, crowded, and unapologetically unhinged, with fans sprinting between holes and grandstands filling up before noon. Saturday is peak madness, when the energy spikes and the 16th becomes a full-on spectacle.
Then comes Sunday, the underrated secret weapon of the week.
Because the final round wraps up well before the Super Bowl kickoff (around 6:30 p.m. ET), Sunday is sneakily the most enjoyable day on site. Some fans head out early to prep for football festivities, which means slightly lighter crowds, clearer sightlines, and a chance to actually watch elite golf without shoulder-to-shoulder chaos.
It’s still loud. Still fun. Just a little more breathable.
The Defining Feature: The 16th Hole Is a Personality Test
Every WMPO ultimately comes down to how players handle the Coliseum.
This hole doesn’t care about your résumé. It doesn’t care about your world ranking. It cares whether you can hit a controlled iron shot while thousands of people scream like it’s a playoff overtime.
We’ve seen tournaments swing here—momentum flips, confidence evaporates, and leaders suddenly look human. A tucked pin and swirling desert wind can turn a one-shot lead into a problem real fast. The 16th isn’t just a hole; it’s a vibe check.
If you survive it on Sunday, you usually deserve the trophy.
Stats That Actually Matter (Without Drowning You)
This tournament historically rewards elite iron play and aggressive scoring. Winners tend to dominate par-4s and feast on scoring opportunities rather than grind out survival golf.
Scheffler’s past success here isn’t accidental—it’s built on relentless tee-to-green control. Koepka’s wins came from patience mixed with selective aggression. You don’t win here by playing scared. The course invites birdies, and the crowd demands them.
And while the atmosphere feels chaotic, the champions are usually the ones who keep their heart rate steady while everything around them looks like a spring break highlight reel.
Why This Week Is the Ultimate Super Bowl Warm-Up
Here’s the cheat code: timing.
The WM Phoenix Open ending on Super Bowl Sunday turns the entire week into one long sports pregame. Golf in the morning and afternoon. Football at night. The Phoenix area buzzes with overlapping energy—tailgates, viewing parties, flights full of jerseys and golf polos coexisting peacefully.
It’s the rare sports doubleheader where nothing competes with the other. You don’t have to choose. You just keep the party rolling.
And if you’re traveling? Scottsdale is an easy hub. From places like Plano, it’s a quick flight or drive that drops you into seven days of sun, noise, and elite competition.
Beyond the Ropes: Why the WMPO Is a Bucket-List Event
This tournament isn’t just about golf.
You’ve got Ford Free Days with free admission early in the week, nightly concerts at the Coors Light Birds Nest featuring major country and crossover acts, and a zero-waste sustainability initiative that’s become a model for large-scale sporting events.
Oh, and the charity impact? Over $226 million raised historically. The party has a purpose.
It’s proof that sports can be loud, fun, socially responsible, and still elite at the highest level.
Final Take: Golf’s Loudest Week Isn’t Trying to Be Anything Else
The WM Phoenix Open doesn’t apologize for what it is. It leans into it.
In a sport that often struggles to feel relevant outside its core audience, this tournament kicks down the door and says, “You’re invited. Bring friends.” Add in a stacked field, perfect Super Bowl timing, and a venue built for iconic moments, and 2026 is shaping up to be an all-timer.
Scottie going for three. Koepka chasing another desert crown. The 16th waiting to ruin someone’s Sunday.
Golf as a pregame shouldn’t work this well. And yet, here we are.
