'Golf Liberation Zone' Phoenix Open "This Year, 5,000 Spectators Per Day"

The decisive hole of the Phoenix Open, known as the 'Golf Liberation Zone,' Scottsdale TPC Hole 16.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "700,000 → 20,000."

The spectator count for the "golf liberation zone," the PGA Tour Phoenix Open (total prize money $7.3 million), seems to be adjusted. Scott Jenkins, the tournament operations director, announced on the 14th (Korean time) that "attendance will be limited to fewer than 5,000 people per day." He explained, "All galleries will undergo temperature checks and strict quarantine rules will be applied to ensure safety," adding, "Although it is a spacious outdoor area of 776,000㎡ (about 230,000 pyeong), sufficient social distancing will be maintained and masks will be worn."

This tournament is famous worldwide in the golf community for its 'reverse marketing' that uniquely allows drinking and loud cheering. This is why up to 700,000 people gather. Unlike typical golf courses where players cannot even breathe loudly during setup, here spectators can freely drink and shout. The 16th hole (par 3) even has a massive stand that can accommodate up to 30,000 people, resembling the Roman Colosseum gladiator arena. This year, however, it has been directly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PGA Tour was completely suspended after the first round of The Players Championship, known as the "fifth major," in March last year, but resumed in June with the Charles Schwab Challenge, holding events without spectators. At the Houston Open in November, only 2,000 people attended. This year as well, four consecutive tournaments including the Sentry Tournament, Sony Open, American Express, and Farmers Open have no galleries. The Phoenix Open will open on the night of February 4th at Scottsdale Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.