Ben An posted a series of messages on X which highlighted his unhappiness at what occurred during his rounds at TPC Scottsdale.
The lively atmosphere of the WM Phoenix Open sets it apart from any other event on the PGA Tour. From the enthusiastic fans to the love for the sport, and even the amount of drinks consumed, there is truly nothing quite like the tournament held at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
Attendees often show up in costumes that pay homage to their favorite player or something completely unexpected, while others prefer to relax in their regular clothes and enjoy a few beers while witnessing some of the world’s top golfers compete in Arizona. Regardless of what you choose to wear, the unwritten rule seems to be “make as much noise as you possibly can, all the time.” And this is widely accepted as part of the tournament’s charm.
However, according to one player named Byeong Hun An, also known as Ben An, the behavior of the spectators throughout the Stadium Course during the 2024 event was described as a “chaotic mess” and “completely uncontrollable on every hole.”
Since the moment a large number of fans rushed towards the par-3 Stadium Hole on Thursday morning, a troublesome combination of excessive alcohol consumption and inclement weather has caused significant issues for the PGA Tour and its members.
In an effort to ensure the safety of those already present at the Scottsdale property, the entrance gates were temporarily closed on Saturday and all alcohol sales were halted. This decision marked the first time such measures were taken during the event.
While the majority of individuals outside the ropes have been respectful and had a fantastic time, An believes that the party atmosphere has crossed certain boundaries.
There have been reports of altercations among fans, and unfortunately, one person even fell from the stands at the par-3 16th hole. Thankfully, their injuries were deemed non-life-threatening.
During the course, as we approach Sunday, there are still some players who have to complete over 30 holes in order to finish the event without needing the reserve day on Monday. An, who is part of the group that made it to the weekend, is currently among the back markers and has only three holes left to play in his third round, starting with the lively par-3 16th.
Between the actions on Saturday and Sunday, An responded to Claire Rogers’ question from Golf.com about the WM Phoenix Open by saying, “It was chaotic. The atmosphere was out of control on every hole.”
When a fan asked if the behavior of the fans had been worse than usual this year, An replied, “I believe so. I didn’t have to deal with it until the last few holes. It was almost happening on every other hole today.”
An, who was four-under for the tournament heading into the third round, experienced a sudden setback on Saturday, leaving him at one-over and in T70th position with three holes remaining.
An later clarified that although he doesn’t solely blame external factors for his six bogeys, he did find certain comments during his backswing and sudden noises from intoxicated spectators to be distracting. In response to a fan’s question about constant noise, An explained that while the 16th hole is always loud and doesn’t bother him, it’s the occasional inappropriate comments from a small percentage of fans on other holes that throw him off. He mentioned that it’s strange to hear things that he doesn’t normally encounter in other events where the majority of people are quiet and respectful.
While An was disappointed by the behavior of some fans, fellow professional golfer Michael Kim was upset with himself after a poor finish in the second round resulted in an early end to his week. In response to Rogers’ message on X, Kim simply stated, “Not great,” but later elaborated, saying, “It’s because I played poorly and missed the cut. I woke up at 5am to play two holes and ended up with a score of +1. It wasn’t a great performance.”
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