Has The WM Open Jumped The Shark? Nah

This event is billed and marketed by the tour as “The People’s Open”. Things get wild and the tour, sponsors, and players have all really embraced the event in the years past. 

We know that the fans are not there to learn about the joys of recycling. 

But this year something felt different. Has the WM Open gotten out of hand?

People Seemed Extra Turned Up

Funny enough, someone put together a highlight reel of this years shenanigans, set to Meek Mill, as any good highlight reel should be.

It certainly makes it easier to examine to debauchery.

Some Players Were Pissed

When you market this event the way you do, you have to expect people to rise to the occasion. Things are going to get rowdy. 

Players should expect a wide range of fan interactions.

So, that’s why it was Jarring to see Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson get into it with the fans the way they did. 

According to fans on the ground, the issues started at the tee, where “ZJ was being a dick to some fans”. Then, he hit a bad shot and someone said “I guess being an asshole doesn’t help” and then Zach Johnson went off.

The Billy Horschel video is self explanatory.

Make a choice about what you want this event to be and get the players on the same page. 

Fans Have Been Left In The Dust 

The broadcasts have been littered with commercials and have deteriorated over time. My Golf Spy wrote a great piece on it this morning.

All we hear about every week is the money the top players deserve. 

Max Homa recently acknowledged this himself, when discussing the SSG investment.

The WM Open is one of the most fun events for golf fans. 

It is a once a year type thing. If the behavior was happening every single weekend, I would be much more inclined to call it a problem. But to me, the WM Open has it’s place. All the craziness happens in one weekend.

It’s more of a problem that the fan has been left in the dust, and the one week that is supposed to be “about the fans” turns into a bunch of players whining about people being noisy while they try to work.

THIS IS WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR BILLY!

It’s The PGAT’s Line To Draw

You reap what you sow. If you don’t want a party, don’t market it as one, or have parameters in place to be able to reel things in.

There are things that the event and the tour can do to keep the rowdiness in check.

It’s been well recorded already that alcohol sales were suspended on Saturday.

People who run on the course can and should be arrested.

People who destroy course property can and should be arrested.

The WM Open Ain’t Going Anywhere

Love it or hate it. The WM Open brings in major revenue.

Hundreds of millions have been raised for charity through the event.

There’s been hundreds of millions in direct economic impact to the Scottsdale area.

Plus, they sell a boatload of beer and engage hundreds of thousands of fans.

You may see some changes to make things a little less rowdy, but the WM Open has not jumped the shark and it is here to stay.