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Protestors invade PGA Tour final round at Travelers Championship

Climate change protestors invaded the final round of the PGA Tour event on Sunday.

The Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., had to be briefly delayed by the group that ran out from the crowd on the 18th green.

The drama began on the 18th hole, with Tom Kim trailing Scottie Scheffler by a stroke and needing a birdie — and Scheffler par — to force a playoff. Kim hit what had to be one of the best approach shots of his life from 131 yards out — the third bounce on the green landed an inch to the right of the cup, and settled 10 feet away.

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As Scheffler was lining up his first putt five protestors stormed the 18th green from all angles. They were quickly apprehended by local police and pinned to the green before being taken away, but not before leaving white and red colored residue on the green.

Kim made his birdie putt to force the playoff, but tournament officials determined to move the pin position for the playoff, taking it closer to the front edge of the green and away from the most significant damage.

“The security guards were tackling people and people were getting arrested, like it’s just, it’s really hard to see nowadays,” Kim said. “… It kind of felt like it took my mind off of the moment and just kind of realized what was happening and obviously even though those people did something bad, you still don’t want them to get hurt … the police are trying to protect the players and stuff, I get it, but you still don’t want people to get hurt and I think it just kind of personally just took my mind away from golf a little bit and worried about something else.”

Extinction Rebellion took credit for the protest, citing a lightning strike that injured two fans during Saturday’s round at Travelers as an example of “increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather conditions.”

“We are all watching the climate catastrophe unfold at warp speed. Our relatively mild disruption of the Travelers Championship calls attention to nature’s much more severe and long-lasting disruptions,” said Miles Grant, a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, in a statement.

Required reading

• The lesson of Scottie Scheffler from the man who taught him
• U.S. golf roster is set for Paris Olympics

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Hugh Kellenberger is the senior managing editor of The Athletic's golf group. A native of North Carolina, Kellenberger previously served as sports editor and columnist for the Jackson (Mississippi) Clarion Ledger. He first covered Ole Miss for the paper, and in the past has covered Indiana for the Bloomington Herald-Times and the ACC for the Rocky Mount Telegram. Follow Hugh on Twitter @ KellenbergerCBB

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Scottie Scheffler wins Travelers Championship in a playoff as protesters storm 18th green

Scottie scheffler, after a rough week at the u.s. open, has now won six times on the pga tour this season.

He had to survive a playoff and a wave of protesters at the 18th green at TPC River Highlands, but Scottie Scheffler put his brutal week at Pinehurst No. 2 behind him in the best way possible.

Scheffler beat Tom Kim in a one-hole playoff on Sunday afternoon to win the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. He posted a final-round 66, which dropped him to 22-under on the week, and then he quickly closed out Kim with a short par putt in the playoff to officially grab the win.

Scheffler is now the first player in PGA Tour history to grab six wins in a single season before July since Arnold Palmer did so in 1962.

Scottie Scheffler with another tournament title! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/teP1qqELfA — Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) June 23, 2024

Protesters storm 18th green

Before the playoff even started, however, protesters stormed the 18th green in what was a very chaotic scene.

At least five people ran out around and onto the 18th green in a protest as the final group was walking up. The demonstrators, which later revealed themselves to be climate change activists called "Extinction Rebellion NYC" protesting the "worldwide danger of climate breakdown," started spraying smoke and powder everywhere.

No damage was actually done to the course, and security arrested and removed the group quickly. Red and white powder, however, remained on the putting surface as Scheffler and Kim finished the hole.

Protesters cause a delay at the 18th hole of the Travelers Championship final round. (via @SchefflerLegion ) pic.twitter.com/5cm6dOEzs2 — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 23, 2024

#BREAKING Climate Activists Spray Smoke as they STORM THE GREEN at the 18th Hole of the PGA Tour as SCOTTIE SCHEFFLERS was finishing his game. pic.twitter.com/zfHJn68gQd — Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) June 23, 2024

"I mean, I was scared for my life," said Akshay Bhatia, who was playing in the final group with Scheffler and Kim. "I didn't even really know what was happening. All of a sudden, four, five people come running on the green ... I was in shock and my heart rate was high. It got low and then once that kind of happened I was just freaked out, I just tried to get over where everyone was. It was hard to do it, I think it was just weird."

Scheffler entered Sunday a shot back of Kim, who survived a long rain delay on Saturday and fired a 5-under 65 to take the 54-hole lead.

Scheffler started the final round slow, and joined a four-way tie for the lead at one point on the back nine, but he finally pulled ahead of everyone down the stretch. Scheffler carded three straight birdies, and just barely missed an eagle look at the short par-4 15th, to jump ahead of the pack.

Kim had plenty of looks to match Scheffler at the top in the final three holes, but he stumbled putting multiple times — including at the 16th green when he left a great birdie putt short and bent over immediately out of frustration. Kim sent his birdie putt at the 17th flying past the hole, too, which allowed Scheffler to head to the final hole with his one-shot lead after a textbook par of his own.

Finally, though, Kim had his moment. Kim, after Scheffler’s approach at the 18th landed in the fringe off the green, nearly dunked his shot from the middle of the fairway. That set up a final birdie, which eventually forced the playoff.

NEARLY JARS IT! Trailing by one, Tom Kim will have 10 feet for birdie at the last. pic.twitter.com/RJWO0Qd7uS — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 23, 2024

Kim and Scheffler played the 18th hole again as scheduled for the playoff after the disruption, though tournament officials moved the cup to a new spot on the green as a result of the protest.

Even though Kim made it interesting, Scheffler made quick work of the playoff. He stuck his approach within a few feet of the cup while Kim, who hit a great drive, landed his second shot in the greenside bunker. He was unable to get it up and down for par. That sealed the deal for Scheffler, who easily walked away with his par for the win.

Scottie throws it in close, and Tom Kim finds the bunker on the first playoff hole. pic.twitter.com/HT0CJj5TgE — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 23, 2024

The win is just the latest in what’s been a truly dominant season for the top-ranked golfer in the world. He’s now won 12 times in his career on the PGA Tour, half of which have come in 2024. He hasn’t missed the cut anywhere since 2022, and he has just two finishes outside of the top-10 in 15 starts this season.

"It's pretty special. It's been a great season, I've been fortunate to come away with some wins and it's been a lot of fun," Scheffler said on CBS while holding his newborn son, Bennett. "Tom, Tom played his heart out today. He's a great player, a great champion. It was fun battling with him today."

Scheffler’s victory this week came after an uncharacteristic stumble at the U.S. Open last week at Pinehurst. Scheffler finished 8-over in North Carolina and T41 at the third major championship of the season in what was his worst finish since October 2022.

Kim has won three times in his career, most recently at the Shriners Children's Open last year. His runner-up outing on Sunday was his best finish this season, and his second top-10 run in his last four starts.

More PGA Tour news

• Monday Leaderboard: Scottie Scheffler resumes his reign of terror with another victory
• Cameron Young drops historic round of 59 to charge into contention at Travelers Championship
• Tiger Woods' son Charlie wins USGA qualifier to play in U.S. Junior Amateur championship

Tom Hoge, who fired a career-low 62 on Sunday, finished in third with Sungjae Im at 20-under for the week. Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia tied for fifth at 18-under.

Scheffler is now expected to take a break until the British Open next month, which is set to start on July 18 at Royal Troon.

Scottie Scheffler wins sixth PGA Tour title of the year after intruders disrupt play

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Scottie Scheffler beat Tom Kim on the first playoff hole to win the Travelers Championship on Sunday — waiting out a disruption by intruders who sprayed powder on the 18th green for his sixth win of the year.

That’s the most in one PGA Tour season since Tiger Woods won six in 2009.

And Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player, still has two months to go.

It was Scheffler’s fourth victory of the year in the PGA Tour’s $20-million limited-field, no-cut signature events, earning him a payday of $3.6 million. He also won the Masters and The Players Championship.

Scheffler closed with a five-under-par 65 for a four-day total of 22-under 258 at the TPC River Highlands. After the disruption on the 18th, which delayed play for about five minutes when police tackled the intruders, Scheffler left a 26-foot putt from the fringe on the edge of the cup and tapped in for par. Kim then made a 10-foot birdie putt to match Scheffler at 22 under.

The six people were protesting climate change. They came out of the crowd while the leaders were lining up their putts on the final hole of regulation. The protesters sprayed white and red powder, leaving stains on the green. At least one of the group was wearing a white T-shirt that said, “NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET.”

The hole location on the 18th was moved for the playoff to avoid the parts of the green affected by the intruders. Scheffler hit his approach to within 11 feet while Kim found a plugged lie in a greenside bunker. Scheffler two-putted for par and the victory.

“When something like that happens, you don’t really know what’s happening, So it can kind of rattle you a little bit,” Scheffler said.

“That can be a stressful situation, and you would hate for the tournament to end on something weird happening because of a situation like that,” he said. “Tom and I both tried to calm each other down so we could give it our best shot there on 18.”

Coming off a tie for 41st in the U.S. Open — by far his worst finish of the year — Scheffler trailed Kim by three strokes after the first round, by two after the second round and by one heading to the tee on Sunday.

Scheffler took a one-stroke lead over Kim with three straight birdies on Nos. 13-15 — he had putts for eagle on two of them. While Tom Hoge signed for a 62 to finish at 20 under, and Sungjae Im joined him there, Scheffler and Kim matched pars over the next two holes to set up the surprising finish.

Patrick Cantlay, Tony Finau, Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia tied for fifth at 18 under. Bhatia was also in the final group that was disrupted by the protest.

“I was scared for my life,” Bhatia said. “I didn’t even really know what was happening. ... But thankfully the cops were there and kept us safe, because that’s, you know, that’s just weird stuff.”

Scheffler and Kim share a June 21 birthday — Scheffler is six years older — and they celebrated with New Haven pizza before the tournament about 30 miles north. The birthday buddies and Dallas-area residents played together in the final group on Sunday, chatting and joking together.

“As much as I love him, I would have loved to take that away from him,” Kim said of Scheffler claiming the winner’s trophy. “But I’m happy for him, and after I tapped out, after he tapped out, he said some really nice words and it meant a lot to me.”

But only one of them could hold the trophy at the end.

And just like it’s been so often of late, it was Scheffler.

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Protesters face multiple charges after delaying Travelers

Six climate protesters storm the 18th green while the tournament leaders were lining up their putts for the final hole of regulation at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship. (0:32)

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CROMWELL, Conn. -- Six climate protesters stormed the 18th green while the tournament leaders were lining up their putts for the final hole of regulation at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship on Sunday, delaying the finish for about five minutes.

The protesters came from all directions around the green and waved smoke bombs that left white and red residue on the putting surface before Scottie Scheffler , Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia finished their rounds. Some of the protesters were wearing white T-shirts with the words "NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET" in black lettering on the front.

Cromwell police said each protester was charged with first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree criminal trespass and breach of peace. They were released after posting $5,000 bonds, and they are scheduled to appear in court July 1.

"I was scared for my life," Bhatia said after finishing in a tie for fifth. "I didn't even really know what was happening.

"But thankfully, the cops were there and kept us safe, because that's, you know, that's just weird stuff."

The crowd surrounding the 18th green heckled the protesters by yelling profanities and cheered the police who intervened.

The PGA Tour issued a statement thanking the Cromwell Police Department "for their quick and decisive action" and noting that there was no damage to the 18th green. Scheffler also praised the officers.

"From my point of view, they got it taken care of pretty dang fast, and so we were very grateful for that," said Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player who later beat Kim in a sudden-death playoff for his sixth victory of the year.

"When something like that happens, you don't really know what's happening, so it can kind of rattle you a little bit. That can be a stressful situation, and you would hate for the tournament to end on something weird happening because of a situation like that. I felt like Tom and I both tried to calm each other down so we could give it our best shot there on 18."

Extinction Rebellion, an activist group with a history of disrupting events around the world, claimed responsibility for the protest. In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, the group blamed climate change for Saturday's electrical storm that injured two people at a home near the golf course at TPC River Highlands.

"This was of course due to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather conditions," the statement read. "Golf, more than other events, is heavily reliant on good weather. Golf fans should therefore understand better than most the need for strong, immediate climate action."

After the protesters were tackled by police and taken off, Scheffler left a potential 26-foot clincher from the fringe on the right edge of the cup then tapped in for par. Kim, who trailed by 1 stroke heading into the final hole, sank a 10-foot birdie putt to tie Scheffler and send the tournament to a playoff.

Kim said the protest took his mind off the pressure.

"It kind of slowed things down," he said. "It took the meaning of the putt away for a second. Because for the past 17½ holes, all you're thinking about is golf, and suddenly, when that happens, your mind goes into a complete -- like, you're almost not even playing golf anymore. I thought it was a dream for a second."

After the players putted out in regulation, workers with leaf blowers came out to clean off the remaining powder, and the hole location was moved for the playoff, which began on No. 18. Scheffler beat Kim with a par on the first hole of sudden death.

"They left a lot of marks on the greens, which is not right for us players -- especially when two guys are trying to win a golf tournament," Kim said. "But I'm very grateful for the tour and the tour security for handling that really well and making us players feel a lot safer."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Watch CBS News

Scottie Scheffler wins PGA Tour event after 6 climate protesters run onto 18th green and spray powder

Updated on: June 23, 2024 / 8:58 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Six people protesting climate change stormed the 18th green while the leaders were lining up their putts on the final hole of regulation at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship on Sunday, delaying the finish for about five minutes.

The protesters sprayed white and red powder, leaving stains on the grass before Scottie Scheffler , Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia finished their rounds. At least one member of the group was wearing a white T-shirt with the words "NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET" in black lettering on the front.

Scottie Scheffler won the championship in a playoff, waiting out a disruption for his sixth victory of the year. That's the most wins in one PGA Tour season since Tiger Woods had six in 2009. And Scheffler, the world's top-ranked player, still has two months to go.

"I was scared for my life," Bhatia said about the protesters after finishing in a tie for fifth — four strokes behind Scheffler, who earned his sixth victory of the year. "I didn't even really know what was happening. ... But thankfully the cops were there and kept us safe, because that's, you know, that's just weird stuff."

After the protesters were tackled by police and taken off, Scheffler left a potential 26-foot clincher from the fringe on the right edge of the cup, then tapped in for par. Kim, who trailed by one stroke heading into the final hole, sank a 10-foot birdie putt to tie Scheffler and send the tournament to a sudden-death playoff.

Kim said the protest took his mind off the pressure.

"It kind of slowed things down," he said. "It took the meaning of the putt away for a second. Because for the past 17 and a half holes all you're thinking about is golf, and suddenly when that happens your mind goes into a complete — like, you're almost not even playing golf anymore. I thought it was a dream for a second."

The crowd surrounding the 18th green heckled the protesters by yelling profanities and cheered the police who intervened.

The Cromwell Police Department Sunday evening confirmed six protesters, ranging from age 25 to 55, were arrested. All were charged with criminal mischief, criminal trespass and breach of peace. "The reason for their protesting will not be released, as the department does not want to give their cause any more attention than what has already been received," police said. 

After the players putted out in regulation, workers with leaf blowers came out to clean off the remaining powder, and the hole location was moved for the playoff, which began on No. 18. Scheffler beat Kim with a par on the first playoff hole.

"They left a lot of marks on the greens, which is not right for us players — especially when two guys are trying to win a golf tournament," Kim said. "But I'm very grateful for the tour and the tour security for handling that really well and making us players feel a lot safer."

Scheffler's victory came a few weeks after prosecutors dropped criminal charges against him on May 29, less than two weeks after he was arrested outside the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scheffler was initially charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from officers directing traffic when he was arrested outside Louisville's Valhalla Golf Club, which was hosting the tournament.

Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell told a judge his office couldn't move forward with the charges against the world's top golfer based on the  evidence  and he moved to dismiss the case.

After the charges were dropped, Scheffler  said on social media  that he didn't hold any ill will toward the detective who arrested him.

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Six climate protesters run onto 18th green and spray powder, delaying finish of PGA Tour event

Protesters run onto the course as Scottie Scheffler, right, walks away on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A protester runs onto the course as Scottie Scheffler, right, watches on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

One of several protesters is led away after they ran onto the course on at the 18th hole as Akshay Bhatia, second from right, and Scottie Scheffler, right, watch during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A protester is taken into custody after he ran onto the course as Scottie Scheffler, right, walks away on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Workers clean up the 18th green after protesters ran onto it during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Protesters are led away after they ran onto the course on at the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Protesters are taken into custody after they ran onto the course as Akshay Bhatia, left, walks away on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Protesters are led away after they ran onto the course as Scottie Scheffler, center, looks on at the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Protesters are taken into custody after they ran onto the course on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Golfers Tom Kim, left, of South Korea, Scottie Scheffler, center, and Akshay Bhatia, right, talk to an official after protesters ran onto the 18th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A protester is taken into custody after they ran onto the course as Tom Kim, center, of South Korea, watches on the 18th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Scottie Scheffler hold sup his trophy after winning the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

• Copy Link copied

CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Six climate protesters stormed the 18th green while the leaders were lining up their putts for the final hole of regulation at the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship on Sunday, spraying smoke and powder and delaying the finish for about five minutes.

The protesters waved smoke bombs that left white and red residue on the putting surface before Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia finished their rounds. Some wore white T-shirts with the words “NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET” in black lettering on the front.

“I was scared for my life,” Bhatia said. “I didn’t even really know what was happening. ... But thankfully the cops were there and kept us safe, because that’s, you know, that’s just weird stuff.”

The PGA Tour issued a statement thanking the Cromwell Police Department “for their quick and decisive action” and noting that there was no damage to the 18th green that affected either the end of regulation or the playoff hole.

Scheffler, who was arrested during a traffic stop at the PGA Championship , also praised the officers.

“From my point of view, they got it taken care of pretty dang fast, and so we were very grateful for that,” said Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, who beat Kim on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff for his sixth victory of the year.

“When something like that happens, you don’t really know what’s happening, so it can kind of rattle you a little bit,” Scheffler said. “That can be a stressful situation, and you would hate for the tournament to end on something weird happening because of a situation like that. I felt like Tom and I both tried to calm each other down so we could give it our best shot there on 18.”

Extinction Rebellion, an activist group with a history of disrupting events around the world, claimed responsibility for the protest. In a statement emailed to The Associated Press, the group blamed climate change for an electrical storm that injured two people at a home near the course on Saturday.

“This was of course due to increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather conditions,” the statement said. “Golf, more than other events, is heavily reliant on good weather. Golf fans should therefore understand better than most the need for strong, immediate climate action.”

After the protesters were tackled by police and taken off, Scheffler left a potential 26-foot clincher from the fringe on the right edge of the cup, then tapped in for par. Kim, who trailed by one stroke heading into the final hole, sank a 10-foot birdie putt to tie Scheffler and force the playoff.

Kim said the protest took his mind off the pressure.

“It kind of slowed things down,” he said. “It took the meaning of the putt away for a second. Because for the past 17 and a half holes all you’re thinking about is golf, and suddenly when that happens your mind goes into a complete — like, you’re almost not even playing golf anymore. I thought it was a dream for a second.”

The crowd surrounding the 18th green heckled the protesters by yelling profanities and cheered the police who intervened. After the players putted out in regulation, workers with leaf blowers came out to clean off the remaining powder.

The hole location was moved for the playoff, which was also on No. 18. Scheffler parred the first hole of sudden death to win.

“They left a lot of marks on the greens, which is not right for us players — especially when two guys are trying to win a golf tournament,” Kim said. “But I’m very grateful for the tour and the tour security for handling that really well and making us players feel a lot safer.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

What's it like to play WM Phoenix Open's iconic 16th hole? This PGA Tour pro explains

Augusta National has No. 12. Pebble Beach has No. 7. TPC Sawgrass has the 17th.

All par 3s. All iconic. All a part of the lore of the game.

For several years now, the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale — normally an innocuous challenge — has been one of the bucket-list places for pro golfers and fans alike. And there's really nothing like it anywhere else in the game.

It was long known as the party hole at the Stadium Course, but a hole-in-one there by Tiger Woods in 1997 really ignited its fame. That year, fans surrounded the hole, and the thought of a triple-decked grandstand hadn't yet materialized.

These days, it's known as 'The Coliseum': A mini-stadium packed with close to 18,000 fans, all seemingly breathing down the necks of the golfers who partake in the challenge.

What does it feel like to walk through the tunnel? How do you handle all the noise? What about the name-calling or the singing or chanting? Is it really cool for fans to boo you when you miss the green?

James Hahn, an 11-year veteran on the PGA Tour with two career victories, has played the tournament 11 times and made the cut eight times, which means he has had 38 cracks at making an ace on the 16th hole.

During a recent media event, Hahn let Golfweek tag along for the four closing holes, Nos. 15 through 18. It's the most exciting stretch on the Sundays of the WM Phoenix Open. Hahn provided some insight into the craziness that is the 16th hole.

Hahn insists that during the tournament, he doesn't peek ahead to the 16th. Not even when he's playing the preceding hole, the par-5 15th, which is generally golfers' last chance to make an eagle.

But once you putt out and walk across the short bridge off 15 green, your brain gets into 16 mode.

Then comes the walk through the tunnel into the arena.

"Right about here, you're just trying to get your emotions in check," Hahn said, about halfway through the players' only tunnel.

"Your heart starts beating, you hear the crowd, you hear the music, you hear everything that's going on.

"And then right here (with the 16th hole hole-in-one monument front and center) is your last chance to gather yourself before you enter the stadium hole."

Then comes those first few steps out of the tunnel onto the other side.

"Right about now," he said, craning his neck to look up towards the three-tiered stadium, "is when all the fans start seeing your group come up. They start cheering, they start yelling, they start chanting. Some guys are happy you're there, some guys are not. Some guys start heckling you."

There's no doubt, even after having played here for a decade, there's simply nothing like this rush.

"The nerves always hit on this one. The nerves will always hit," Hahn said, noting that "a lot of guys enjoy this type of experience and I absolutely love it."

The fans at 16, estimated to number north of 18,000, ring the arena stacked three levels high. Most of these are pricey tickets, sold as part of a weekly suite package, except for a few hundred spots in a general admission section down the left side at ground level. These are the precious few seats that you've seen video of people racing to get in the pre-dawn hours.

"I don't know what they call themselves, but there's a group of people, they do research on the players, on every player in the field, and they'll bring up ex-girlfriends or ex-wives or anything that you've done in the past and they'll use it to kind of heckle you when it's your turn to hit," Hahn said.

"I remember my rookie year I came out here and they were chanting 'Asian Brad Pitt' and yeah, that's a good guy to compare myself to, right?"

As much fun as it is for players and fans alike, there's not much time before players need to zone back in.

"That was funny, but you gotta start focusing back on hitting this golf shot," he said.

The scorecard says the 16th hole is 162 yards from the back tee, but during Saturday's third round, the Tour likes to move the tee way up to try to induce some improved hole-in-one chances.

What's new at the 2024 Phoenix Open? A look at changes to the fan experience

"It's only about 160 yards, depending on pin location. Could be a 9-iron, could be a pitching wedge, depending on how I feel. I've hit as low as a sand wedge when the tee box is moved up," Hahn explained. "The adrenaline gets you, but you're counting on that adrenaline to hit an extra six to eight yards."

Every golfer is different and some just want to keep their head down and hit. Others want to soak it all in.

"Usually when I hit, I'll do one of these (lifts arms upwards to prompt the crowd to make noise) to get the crowd going because it's easier to hit when there's a lot of white noise compared to it being pretty silent and then having that one guy yell 'Noonan!' on your backswing,'" he said.

"We've all had that happen on this hole. It's part of the experience, so I'd rather just have a lot of yelling and screaming than having it really quiet."

In other words, a steady hum of noise is much preferred to silence interrupted by a sudden burst.

"I wish every golf tournament had a hole like this," Hahn said.

During the 2013 WM Phoenix Open, Hahn drained a 30-foot putt for birdie on the 16th hole, dropped his putter and did the dance from Gangnam Style, a music video so huge 11 years ago that the video for that song was the first YouTube video to garner a billion views.

Needless to say, Hahn won the crowd over.

"There is so much at stake when you're about to hit that all you're trying to do is hit it on the green and hopefully it's a good shot where you're close enough to make birdie. The last thing you wanna do is make a big number on this hole and get booed."

But booing golfers isn't cool, right, when they miss the green with their tee shots? Isn't that uncalled for?

"No," he said emphatically. "I love it."

You're saying it's appropriate for the setting?

"Absolutely. I love it. We're a sport. Basketball players get booed, baseball get booed. We're golfers. I got thick skin. I'm not worried about a couple of people booing."

Since the Phoenix Open was first played at TPC Scottsdale in 1987, there have been roughly 14,500 tee shots on the 16th hole and only 11 holes-in-one.

Hahn does not have one of those 11 but was asked whether he'd rather ace this hole than any other hole in the world, and he actually answered the question before it was fully asked.

"This one," he said.

"Or the seventh at Pebble?" continued the question.

"This one."

What about the 12th at Augusta?

"This hole."

Why is that?

"You have all the fans here. You have everyone into it. Everyone wants to see you make a hole-in-one. At Pebble, there's very few fans, limited people that are watching and then Augusta National is very formal, they'll give you a golf clap.

"But here, you make a hole-in-one here, there's beers flying everywhere, and everyone is high-fiving each other and you probably see a couple of guys take their shirts off."

It's difficult to put it into words the entire experience, but Hahn sums it up like this:

"The energy in here is electric. It's addicting. It's so much fun."

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Golf Talk Today: Travelers Championship Round 3 tee times, LIV Golf Nashville ultimate party

The PGA Tour gears up for Round 3 of the Travelers Championship while LIV Golf hosts for the first time in Nashville.

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Welcome to Playing Through’s new morning ritual: Golf Talk Today.

Each morning will feature a Golf Talk Today, in which the crew will discuss various elements of the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and other professional golf tournaments.

It is Saturday at the Travelers Championship , the final PGA Tour Signature Event, and LIV Golf begins its second round in Music City.

Tom Kim leads by two shots over Collin Morikawa, Akshay Bhatia and Scottie Scheffler. It is a birdie fest at TPC River Highlands, so expect moving day to feature a lot of birdies, much like Friday did.

Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre fired off 8-under 62s on Friday to jump up the leaderboard. The Irishman moved up 27 spots, while the Scottish player went up 35 places.

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf do not have cutlines this week. Let’s look at the round 3 tee times for the Travelers Championship and take a look at the LIV Golf leaderboard.

Travelers Championship Round 3 Tee times (ET):

*All players will go off 1st tee*

8:00 a.m. — Eric Cole, Justin Rose

8:10 a.m. — Adam Schenk, Russell Henley

8:20 a.m. — Andrew Putnam, Davis Riley

8:30 a.m. — Adam Scott, Ben Griffin

8:40 a.m. — Jason Day, Max Homa

8:50 a.m. — Chris Kirk, Nick Taylor

9:00 a.m. — Jake Knapp, Peter Malnati

9:10 a.m. — Emiliano Grillo, Chris Gotterup

9:25 a.m. — Billy Horschel, Sepp Straka

9:35 a.m. — Nick Dunlap, Matt Fitzpatrick

9:45 a.m. — Cameron Young, Jordan Spieth

9:55 a.m. — Harris English, Taylor Moore

10:05 a.m. — Stephan Jaeger, Victor Perez

10:15 a.m. — Adam Hadwin, Viktor Hovland

10:25 a.m. — Mackenzie Hughes, J.T. Poston

10:35 a.m. — Lee Hodges, Seamus Power

10:50 a.m. — Lucas Glover, Thomas Detry

11:00 a.m. — Austin Eckroat, Corey Conners

11:10 a.m. — Sahith Theegala, Keegan Bradley

11:20 a.m. — Michael Thorbjornsen, Brian Harman

11:30 a.m. — Matthieu Pavon, Ludvig Åberg

11:40 a.m. — Si Woo Kim, Cam Davis

11:50 a.m. — Webb Simpson, Christiaan Bezuidenhout

12:05 p.m. — Hideki Matsuyama, Will Zalatoris

12:15 p.m. — Sam Burns, Adam Svensson

12:25 p.m. — Kurt Kitayama, Wyndham Clark

12:35 p.m. — Brendon Todd, Tommy Fleetwood

12:45 p.m. — Patrick Rodgers, Denny McCarthy

12:55 p.m. — Taylor Pendrith, Rickie Fowler

1:10 p.m. — Tom Hoge, Patrick Cantlay

1:20 p.m. — Tony Finau, Robert MacIntyre

1:30 p.m. — Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas

1:40 p.m. — Xander Schauffele, Sungjae Im

1:50 p.m. — Akshay Bhatia, Scottie Scheffler

2:00 p.m. — Tom Kim, Collin Morikawa

LIV Golf Nashville Update

The Saudi-backed tour is in Nashville for the first time, and the crowds have flocked to the Grove.

Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC leads the teams after they posted a combined 14-under. The Crushers GC posted the second-best team score at 10-under.

Abraham Ancer posted a bogey-free 64 on Friday to hold a one-shot lead over Tyrrell Hatton, who signed for a 6-under 66.

U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau continues to win over the crowds, except for Brooks Koepka’s son, Crew . DeChambeau shot a 4-under 67 at The Grove and is three shots back. He is tied for fourth with three other players. His fill-in teammate, John Catlin, fired off a 5-under 68. He shot the best among the Crusher GC.

. @b_dechambeau keeps the celebrations going on the party hole #LIVGolf @Crushers_GC pic.twitter.com/4EbmAuCkIn — LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 21, 2024

While DeChambeau may have some fatigue from last week, that did not stop him from entertaining the masses. He put on a show at the party hole, the par-3 15th, and the fans absolutely loved it.

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Proud Dad Moment: Brooks Koepka’s son gives Bryson DeChambeau an incredible slight

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Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

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PGA Tour's Travelers delayed as protesters storm 18th green

CROMWELL, Conn. -- Six people came out of the crowd and stormed the 18th green while the leaders were lining up their putts on the final hole of regulation at the Travelers Championship on Sunday, delaying the finish of the PGA Tour event for about five minutes.

The people came from all directions and sprayed white and red powder -- leaving stains on the grass before Scottie Scheffler , Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia finished their rounds -- before they were apprehended quickly. At least one of the group was wearing a white T-shirt that said, "NO GOLF ON A DEAD PLANET."

The crowd surrounding the 18th green heckled the protesters by yelling profanities and cheered the police who intervened.

After the intruders were tackled by police and taken off, Scheffler left a potential 26-foot clincher from the fringe on the right edge of the cup, then tapped in for par.

Kim, who trailed by one stroke heading into the final hole, sank a 10-foot birdie putt to tie Scheffler and send the tournament to a sudden-death playoff.

"They left a lot of marks on the greens, which is not right for us players -- especially when two guys are trying to win a golf tournament," Kim said. "But I'm very grateful for the tour and the tour security for handling that really well and making us players feel a lot safer."

Workers with leaf blowers came out to clean off the remaining paint. The hole location was moved before the playoff, with Scheffler and Kim set to play the 18th hole again.

Scheffler ultimately won it on the first hole of the playoff, his sixth victory of 2024. 

"I was scared for my life," Bhatia said after finishing in a tie for fifth. "I didn't even really know what was happening. ... But thankfully the cops were there and kept us safe, because that's, you know, that's just weird stuff."

Kim said the protest took his mind off the pressure.

"It kind of slowed things down," he said. "It took the meaning of the putt away for a second. Because for the past 17 and a half holes all you're thinking about is golf, and suddenly when that happens your mind goes into a complete -- like, you're almost not even playing golf anymore. I thought it was a dream for a second."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Watch: Relive crazy hole-in-one celebrations on par-3 16th at WM Phoenix Open

The WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is the PGA Tour's annual party in the desert.

The fan-favorite event is known for many things, none bigger, however, than the stadium-like stands surrounding the par-3 16th.

It's madness year in and year out, with fans hoping for the opportunity to throw their beers on the green in celebration of a hole-in-one. The latest to do so was Carlos Ortiz -- who has since moved to LIV Golf -- in 2022.

Relive some of the iconic moments below.

(Mike Sposa (2002), Steve Stricker (1997), Jay Delsing (1991), Brad Bryant (1990), David Edwards (1990) and Hal Sutton (1988) also made holes-in-one at the 16th at the Phoenix Open, but we were unable to find video footage.)

Phoenix Open : Picks to win, odds | Best merch

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Watch: Relive crazy hole-in-one celebrations on par-3 16th at WM Phoenix Open

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My morning with the Breakfast Club at WM Phoenix Open

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Humans don’t enjoy being outside in the cold and rain. There are exceptions, one of which is the lead-in to a notable sporting event.

As a native of western New York, Buffalo Bills tailgates are the first thing that comes to mind – fans think nothing of arriving at 8 a.m. on a crisp December day in freezing temperatures, layering up and cracking a frosty beer with kickoff still hours away.

I thought back to Bills games as I arrived Saturday morning at the WM Phoenix Open, anxious to experience the event’s famed “Breakfast Club.” This year’s iteration came with a twist, as pre-dawn temperatures hovered around 40 F with a cold rain. This was weather for the heartiest of fans. They numbered well into the hundreds.

The legend has grown through the years, fueled by social media, with fans often posting scenes from witching hour as anticipation builds for the famed Opening of the Gates – think Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, but with moderately imbibed golf fans (and/or fans of culture) sprinting down a service road that remains straight for several hundred yards, then bends right for a few hundred more before leading to the Colosseum-like par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

The Breakfast Club battles the elements to kickoff Saturday at the WM Phoenix Open

I had heard of fans pulling all-nighters, proceeding directly from the previous night’s Birds Nest concert to attain a spot in line. I couldn’t confirm. I had heard of some wild attire that rivaled the rowdiest of Halloween parties. I confirmed.

For transparency, I took the easy way out. Early week, I speculated about the possibility of pulling an all-nighter to join the earliest arrivers, but I failed to do so; I arrived at 5:30 a.m., with less than two hours until the Opening of the Gates. I had visions of joining the run, but my gout-infused feet (although healthier in recent months) wouldn’t quite allow it. At any rate, it is something to strive for – returning to TPC Scottsdale and completing the run.

Someday I may scribe an account of stampeding alongside the Breakfast Club (the name derived from tournament staff providing 10,000 burritos and water to fans at the 16th hole at 9 a.m. Saturday). For now, here’s an account of my visit to the Breakfast Club in the pre-dawn hours Saturday, as hundreds of fans assembled with the intent of getting the best seats in the house.

I started at the front of the line, the morning rain providing a steady drumbeat on the gravelly road, and I found no shortage of color: five friends dressed as Super Mario from the long-running game franchise (complete with bright red caps), one of which was notably confident in his ability to outrun all contenders in the race to No. 16. (Super Mario is a reliable character as far as video games go, but I remained skeptical based on lack of familiarity. The group also expressed a desire to find Princess Peach.) The friends, who met at nearby Grand Canyon University, launched into a spirited rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which quickly gained steam through the line that featured approximately 10-12 fans in each row, spanning an estimated 200 rows. The tension was palpable as spectators readied to springboard toward 16, still a half-hour or so from gate opening. The energy needed to go somewhere – for now, it went to song and verse.

Fans on the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale at the WM Phoenix Open. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)

The front of the line also included a fan in a wheelchair, Philadelphia native Drew Kabo, who moved to Arizona for college in the early 2000s and has attended the WM since 2007. For the last seven years, he and some 15 friends have arrived at 3:30 a.m., without fail. “Once upon a time, it would’ve been an all-nighter,” he said, “but we were in bed by 10 last night.” Nothing will stop Kabo from attending this event, not even a ruptured Achilles tendon, which occurred during a game of pickup basketball last week. The first thought in his mind: what would happen on Saturday? It’s a long-running tradition among his friend group, who dress for the occasion – this year, hockey jerseys from the popular Mighty Ducks movies. Kabo couldn’t, wouldn’t miss this tradition. “Ducks fly together,” a friend pointed out. The group then began to quack in unison, the decibels rising with each quack.

“I made my appointment with the surgeon for (this coming) Monday,” Kabo added. “No place I’d rather be. This is it.”

As I navigated the line, I observed fans sharing strategies for the upcoming run, as any small edge could lead to a crucial advantage in viewing position.

Electrolytes are key. One beer, one water. Know your distance; a lot of people burn out early on the run. You see a lot of people halfway, gassed, you’ve got to pace yourself. It’s all about the pacing. Don’t get too worried if they get out ahead of you. Stick to your pace. Stick to your game, is what it’s about. Run your race. Don’t let anybody else influence you.

This is serious business, I realized.

As I moved toward the middle of the pack, I heard a “Go Bills” from within the crowd (I donned a Buffalo Bills hat, of course, for the occasion). I ambled toward the patron, Trey Osadchey, and it turned out he grew up in my hometown of Orchard Park, New York, a Buffalo suburb. (Turns out, the WM Phoenix Open is indeed the nerve center of the universe.) Osadchey and a friend were sporting America-themed shirts with eagles as the centerpiece. He was “kind of dragged” to the event by friends last year, not looking forward to the run, but found himself back once again.

“Once you do it, your blood starts flowing and your veins feel electric, and nothing’s better than that,” Osadchey said. “You get to 16, the first strike of the ball is like the best sound of thunder you’ve ever heard. You can’t even believe the atmosphere that goes on; nothing’s stopping you. Nothing’s stopping the players. What can you do? There’s nothing better than that – maybe the Daytona 500, but that’s probably it.

“A lot of Gatorade, a lot of water, and more beers than both of those,” he said of preparation for 16. “Prepping your mind; we went to sleep around 10:00 last night, woke up at 2 … When (my friend) first told me about it, I didn’t really believe what he was saying. I was like, ‘There’s no sporting event in the world that you have to get up there at 2 a.m. to get first in line.’ He’s like, ‘No, we will get there at 2 a.m. and there will be 100 people in front of us.’ I was like, ‘There’s no way.’”

Now he’s hooked.

“It’s probably the best sporting event I’ve ever been to,” Osadchey said.

After saying goodbye to my fellow western New Yorker, I moved further back and found three fans dressed as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Andrew, Cody and Paul – complete with red uniforms and broad-brimmed hat.

The trio, all from Toronto, came prepared with ponchos for good measure. They had been separated from their fellow Mounties, some ahead and some behind (there’s a 5 a.m. positioning run from the initial gate to the final gate). The Mounties aimed to earn good seats to gamely support fellow Canadian Nick Taylor – “he’ll be hearing us out there.” The trip began as a bachelor party with a couple of Mounties and an inmate. Photos were shared and the pilgrimage “spun out of control from there.”

In the final moments before the Opening of the Gates, the Mounties shared a veteran tip: Do the heavier drinking on Thursday night and keep it more tame on Friday. This allows for a spry Saturday morning.

“Hopefully all of the Mounties get to the same spot at the same time,” Cody said.

The gates opened at 7:16 a.m., and the Mounties dashed – along with the Marios and the eagles, some wizards, astronauts, Happy Gilmore and more. Some sprinted, others jogged, and others walked behind. A few minutes later, a second wave of runners emerged, having been kept behind the initial gate (a couple hundred yards behind) until the Opening of the Gates. By now the rain was at a steady drip; my shoes were water-logged and precipitation was dripping down my Buffalo Bills hat. I joined the stragglers in walking from the gates to No. 16; the scene reminded of the minutes shortly after a bar’s closing time, when the lights come on and customers steadily migrate toward the exit. That exit was the 16th hole, where the noise was starting to build to a fever pitch as the resumption of Round 2 was imminent. The buzz emanating from the stadium, though, suggested high levels of crowd energy, not unlike the fourth quarter of a Bills game.

The Stadium Course’s par-3 16th, I realized, is an elixir after all.

I made a lap around the stadium – general-admission seating was approaching capacity, with dozens still in line – before returning to the media center, where my colleague Casey Johnston broke some news: Super Mario had won the race to 16 after all. There was proof in the form of footage that showed him passing a Red Bull-sponsored runner for the lead down the service road’s closing stretch. A triumph of the human spirit, and a premier seat for the marathon day ahead – which would feature the end of Round 2 and most of Round 3. Play would continue until darkness, and the Breakfast Club would morph into the Supper Club.

As I type this, some nine hours after the Opening of the Gates, the morning chill’s lingering effects are still present in my fingers. (I ran into veteran caddie Geno Bonnalie between rounds, and he immediately gave me two hand warmers after a handshake. “Your hands are cold,” he said. They are indeed.)

For those who survived Saturday at 16, pre-dawn to dusk, I salute you.

Kevin Prise is an associate editor for the PGA TOUR. He is on a lifelong quest to break 80 on a course that exceeds 6,000 yards and to see the Buffalo Bills win a Super Bowl. Follow Kevin Prise on Twitter .

Is Bryson DeChambeau playing LIV Golf Nashville 2024? What to know about tickets, format

LIV Golf will make its Tennessee debut this week at The Grove, bringing its party atmosphere, huge cash payouts and past major champions with it to Nashville. 

Last week’s U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is in the field , along with others playing for a $25 million total purse. 

Casual fans might be unfamiliar with LIV, an upstart league formed in 2021 through backing from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. 

LIV is billed as a laid-back version of men’s professional golf with its motto “golf, but louder.” Music blares on the course during play. Players are allowed to wear shorts. The tournaments are shorter — 54 holes, no cut — than those on the PGA Tour and there’s a team competition within the individual competition. 

It will seem like a completely different event to spectators who have attended the PGA Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, which has been held at The Grove for the past three years. 

Here’s what you need to know about LIV Golf Nashville 2024. 

What is LIV Golf’s rivalry with PGA Tour?

LIV was formed in 2021, held its first event in 2022 and has since become a bitter rival of the PGA Tour. 

Through billions of dollars of funding from the PIF, LIV has signed some of the PGA Tour’s top young players and major winners, such as DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. 

Players who left the PGA Tour for LIV were suspended and no longer receive Official World Golf Ranking Points, excluding some from major championship exemptions. Others are still eligible for majors due to past major finishes or world ranking points they gain from competing in other international events. 

More: Major champion says LIV Golf, PGA Tour arrangement is still 'chaos' and will be difficult to repair

The PGA Tour and the PIF became entangled in litigation. The two sides came together last June for what was deemed a “framework agreement” that would align men’s professional golf, but no official agreement has been reached.

More: A year after LIV Golf-PGA Tour 'framework' shocked the world, here's a timeline of what's happened

Human rights groups, as well as the 9/11 Families United group, have raised flags about the Saudi government’s investment in American sports, pointing to its ties to the 9/11 attacks and human rights violations. 

More: What is LIV Golf Nashville 2024 purse, payout for tournament at The Grove?

Where is LIV Golf playing in Nashville?

The tournament will be held at The Grove , a private, gated golf community located 36 miles southeast of downtown Nashville near Franklin. 

The Grove will play as a par 71 course at 7,297 yards long. For context, Pinehurst No. 2 was a par 70 playing 7,548 yards for last week’s U.S. Open. 

More: How all 12 LIV Golf players fared at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2

Escalante Golf, which owns several courses where LIV events have been played, such as Pumpkin Ridge (Oregon) and The International (Massachusetts), purchased The Grove in October 2023. 

The Grove was once home to the PGA Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation. The Simmons Bank Open has since moved to Vanderbilt Legends Club North Course. 

What is the LIV Golf Nashville 2024 tournament format? 

LIV plays 54-hole tournaments without a cut, hence the name LIV, which is 54 in Roman numerals. 

That differs from the PGA Tour’s 72-hole events that take only the top 70 players after the first two days. 

LIV’s individual competition features 54 players competing for a $20 million purse, with $4 million going to the winner. But there’s a little more to it.

More: What's next for Bryson DeChambeau? He's heading to Nashville for LIV Golf's next event

Those players make up 13 teams of four that compete for a $5 million purse, with $3 million going to the winning team. (Two “wild card” players who do not belong to a team will compete as individuals.)

Each player finishes with a three-round total score to determine the individual winner. The top-24 finishers earn points that go toward determining the individual season champion.

In the team competition, each team accrues a cumulative score over the three rounds. During the first two rounds, only the top three players’ scores on each team count towards their team’s score. In the final round, all four players’ scores count. 

The top eight teams earn points in the season team standings, and the season team championship is decided in the final event of the season using a hybrid format of match and stroke play. 

You can find the full standings here .

How to buy tickets to LIV Golf Nashville 2024 at The Grove

Tickets can be purchased here . Most ticket options for Saturday, including grounds passes, are sold out. 

What fans should know about LIV Golf Nashville at The Grove

Who is playing? LIV players sign contracts to play each of the season's 14 events, so barring injuries, everyone in the league will play. That means major winners DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Brooks Koepka, Louis Oosthuizen, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, Cameron Smith, Henrik Stenson and Bubba Watson will all be in Nashville. Rahm withdrew from the U.S. Open last week due to a toe injury but is scheduled to play and met with media on Wednesday.

When does play begin?: Pairings of three will tee off on each hole for a shotgun start each round. The top three leaders will tee off on the first hole for the second and third rounds. Friday and Saturday’s start times are 12:15 p.m., with a 12:05 p.m. start set for Sunday. 

How to get free tickets: The first 100 fans who donate 12 used golf balls to the HyFlyers drop boxes will receive grounds pass tickets for the day. People can drop off balls from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the LIV Nashville fan entrance in exchange for tickets. The effort is possible through the HyFlyers’ involvement with Bunkers in Baghdad, which collects and ships golf equipment to U.S. troops and veterans.

About the music: Yes, music will be played throughout locations on the course and the course will not be quiet. No, fans are not allowed to yell during players’ backswings. LIV asks them to be respectful while golfers play. 

Party hole: The par-3 15th will have stadium-style seating with live music and drinks. Members of LIV’s loyalty program LIV X are eligible for $100,000 if/when a LIV player makes the first hole-in-one. 

Concerts: Michael Marcagi will perform live at the Fan Village at 5 p.m. Friday. Dan + Shay will perform after Saturday’s round is complete. 

Parking: Parking is free at Renaissance Festival (2135 Newcastle Rd, Arrington, TN 37014) beginning at 9 a.m. all three days, with complimentary shuttles provided to and from the golf course. Rideshare can only drop off/pick up at Page Middle School (6262 Arno Rd. College Grove, TN 37046).

Gates open at 10:00 a.m. all three days.

How to watch LIV Golf Nashville 2024

Stream: LIV golf app (all three rounds), CW app (Friday round), Caffeine (all three rounds)

TV: CW (Saturday and Sunday rounds only)

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at [email protected] and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.

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Go Inside the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Golf's Wildest Weekend

By The Editors of GQ

Photography by Cassidy Araiza

Truly multifunctional golf spikes.

Novelty hats abound—even on the staff.

Mounties? Mounties!

The sprint to the 16th hole begins each morning at dawn.

O captain (Morgan), my captain (Morgan).

This year, beer cans were swapped out for plastic cups—leading to heroic cup snakes like this one.

It's hard work, all that cheering.

The people's open!

Why have one Luigi when you can have six?

Revolution is tough work.

Two pockets, zero problems.

If you say so…

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How Aus PGA party hole measures up to TPC Sawgrass

Veteran Rod Pampling has compared the tee shot at Royal Queensland Golf Club’s party hole to that of the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass… with one significant exception.

Up to 3,000 golf fans a day will be able to experience the electric atmosphere of the Southern Comfort Party Hole at this week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, capacity expanded by 50 per cent compared to last year.

Hospitality suites are close to sold out for both Friday and Saturday while the new grandstand holding 638 reserved seats and space for 1,328 fans in the general admission areas both have limited availability.

It is expected that more than 50,000 drinks will be served, more than 31 hours of music played and over 442 golf shots taken over the course of the four days, raising the energy to levels previously unseen.

At just 125 metres (137 yards), Royal Queensland’s 17th measures the exact same distance of its counterpart at THE PLAYERS Championship on the PGA TOUR, but sits in an island of sand rather than one of water.

“Very similar distance-wise,” said Pampling, who had a best finish of tied for 27th in 11 starts at THE PLAYERS Championship.

“Obviously the wind is a factor, the big difference there is that you can’t miss that green. There’s water.

“It’s the walk of shame to the drop area, which is the difficult part. Being able to distract yourself from the water and just focus on your shot.

“Both very difficult shots but that’s part of it. We want to make things difficult and whoever can pull off the good shot then they’re going to get rewarded for it.

“It’s a great little hole. When you have a wedge in your hand you have high expectations from yourself. It’s more putting pressure on yourself to hit a good shot.”

West Australian Haydn Barron was on debut as a professional when he played Royal Queensland’s 17th for the first time in the 2021 Australian PGA played in January 2022.

Barron, who obtained a DP World Tour card at Q School last week in Spain, was tied for 12th on debut at RQ, thanks in part to a more aggressive approach on 17 on the final day.

“I remember saying to my caddie all week that I was just going for the middle of the green,” Barron recalled.

“On the final day, to the back-right pin, he told me to have a crack and I hit it close and made two to finish off the event.

“That was a wild feeling. There’s estimated to be about 3,000 people a day here in the Southern Comfort Party Hole so really looking forward to getting here and trying to hit one close.”

Pampling had a taste of what to expect when the tournament begins on Thursday by participating in an invitational event at Royal Queensland last Friday.

A winner for the second time on the PGA TOUR Champions this year and a three-time PGA TOUR winner, the 54-year-old is back in Queensland with the belief that he can still match it with stars such as defending champion Cameron Smith and Adam Scott.

“That’s the great thing with the Champions Tour and the great thing with golf, at 54 you can still play competitively against everyone,” said Pampling, who missed last year’s tournament with a knee injury.

“You’re meeting different athletes across the world and they wish they could be competing at that age still.

“It’s not like we’re old men playing the game for the sake of it. We’re out there working hard, working on the game which then, when you come back home, I feel like I can compete out here.

“I know the golf course, which is a huge advantage, so looking forward to a good week.”

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Amy Yang, former Gold Coast high school student, wins Women's PGA Championship for first major

Sport Amy Yang, former Gold Coast high school student, wins Women's PGA Championship for first major

Honorary Australian Amy Yang has choked back tears after running away with the Women's PGA Championship in Washington.

After knocking on the door for more than a decade, the former Gold Coast high school prodigy landed her maiden major championship with a three-stroke triumph over fellow South Korean Ko Jin-young, American world number two Lilia Vu and Japan's Miya Yamashita.

Yang started the final round with a two-shot buffer and stormed to a seven-stroke lead at one point, before settling for a closing even-par 72 at Sahalee Country Club, east of Seattle.

She finished with a seven-under 281 total and the $US1.56 million ($2.35 million) winner's cheque.

Ko (71), Vu (71) and Yamashita (73) shared the runner-up spoils at four-under, one better than Americans Ally Ewing (71) and Lauren Hartlage (74).

Not even a three-putt bogey on the 16th hole and a watery double on 17 could deny Yang after several near misses at the majors.

Yang, who completed her education at Robina State High and won the Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines Resort as a 16-year-old while in year 11, was runner-up at the US Women's Open in both 2012 and 2015.

Twice she held the 54-hole lead in majors, only to fall short.

The 34-year-old also finished fourth on five occasions at the PGA Championship, Women's British Open and Chevron Championship.

Now, at age 34, Yang is the oldest major winner on the LPGA Tour since Angela Stanford won the 2018 Evian Championship at 40.

This was Yang's 75th major start, also the most before a player's first success since Stanford, who was playing her 76th.

"I'm lost for words right now," Yang said after saluting for the first time since winning last year's season-ending Tour Championship.

"So all the hard work our team did together, I'm so grateful for that.

"I always wanted to win a major and I came close several times and I started doubting if I'm ever going to win a major before I retire.

"I've been on tour quite a while and I am so grateful and very, very happy to win a major."

Her reward for finally breaking through is a spot on South Korea's Olympic team for a third time.

Paris Games teammates Hannah Green (71) and Minjee Lee (74) finished as joint top Australians, in a tie for 24th at four-over.

The Perth duo, who will join men's representatives Jason Day and Lee's brother Min Woo in Paris, still have another major — the Evian Championship in France from July 11–14 — before the Olympics.

Green, the world number five boasting two wins already in 2024, will head home for 10 days to recharge.

"It'll be really quick turnover, but it will be good for me mentally," she said.

"Not that I've been struggling in the last few months, but it's always nice to return home.

"Getting the [Olympics] opportunity in Tokyo was an amazing experience, albeit through COVID.

"Even so, I'm super excited for Paris to be alongside Minjee as well, both from Perth and we both played junior golf together.

"So it's really cool for us to both be there. Even her brother is in the team, so I think we have really good vibes for the Olympics."

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Five things on no. 16 at tpc scottsdale: the details, the party and more, share this article.

A party. A par-3. The loudest scene in golf. A chance to cut loose and show a very different side of golf, where pros can interact with fans in ways not seen anywhere else. A chance to elicit wild cheers, or maybe lose a tournament to the sound of boos late in the final round.

Called the Coliseum, No. 16 at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course is many things to different people. What the atmosphere is most of all, especially to those who attend, is unforgettable ­­­– assuming they haven’t been overserved.

Dubbed the People’s Open, the WM Phoenix Open – rebranded this year to condense Waste Management to WM ­– has been played at the Stadium Course since 1987. And it has become for many the can’t-miss event on the PGA Tour calendar.

A group of men dressed like Richard Simmons pose in the birds nest at No. 16 during the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Nicole Neri/The Republic)

And the 16 th is the star of a show that can host more than 200,000 fans in a day. The event no longer offers up statistics on fan attendance since the 2019 event, but on Saturday in 2018, more than 216,000 fans attended the event.

Not to be lost in all the noise and revelry is that the Thunderbirds, the charitable organization that operates the event, has raised more than $160 million and counting for Arizona charities – No. 16 is great and all, but the numbers 1 and 6 look even better when followed by all those zeroes, in this case.

A drone view of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course in 2020 (Golfweek files)

Also worth noting: The Stadium Course, designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish and opened in 1986, ranks No. 5 in Arizona on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play list for public-access layouts. It will play at 7,261 yards with a par of 71. And with those details taken care of, check out several of the more-interesting themes of No. 16 – and what comes after.

Tee times, TV info  |  PGA Tour Live streaming on ESPN+

No. 16, the golf hole

Rory McIlroy plays his tee shot at the 16th hole during Round 1 of the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic)

No. 16 at the Stadium Course is listed as 163 yards on the tournament media guide’s scorecard, but it can be stretched past 170 depending on hole location and tee position.

In 2021 it played to a perfect 3.00 scoring average, giving up 68 birdies, 267 pars, 54 bogeys and seven double bogeys. It ranked as the seventh-hardest hole on the course.

Thanks to the yardage book  provided by StrackaLine  – the maker of detailed yardage books for thousands of courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges the pros face this week, at least as far as the actual golf swings go. Check out the map of No. 16’s as a whole and another for the green below, and take a peek at the rest of the holes on the Stadium Course here .

The StrackaLine yardage book for TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course in Arizona, site of the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open (Courtesy of StrackaLine)

No. 16, the scene

No. 16 is, of course, much more than a golf hole during tournament week. Think of it as a medium-length par 3, a corporate outing, the loudest spectacle in golf and a raging kegger all in one.

Fans gather behind the 16th hole at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic)

The party atmosphere is legendary. Booze, cheers, long lines for the plastic outhouses, players goading on fans and vice-versa: There’s nothing else like it in golf, more concert than staid golf event. As a matter of fact, there was an actual concert on the fairway last week .

Some fans have made it an annual reunion, gathering to cheer and taunt. If a player hits the green, he is applauded. If he misses the green, expect the boos. Stick one close or, even better, in the hole, and the crowd goes nuts. Really nuts.

The golfers also play it up for the fans, often throwing out souvenirs or donning sports jerseys – especially those of Arizona teams. Players with local ties are frequently cheered the loudest. But with all that energy, so rare in golf, comes a price: Players have to be ready to swing when their turn comes.

Tony Finau wears a Kobe Bryant jersey on the 16th hole during the first round of the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic)

Tournament organizers cap the crowd around No. 16 to 17,000 fans, and that’s plenty. Many are in corporate skyboxes built into the three-tier arena that surrounds the hole, and there are 3,750 general-admission bleacher seats. Fans rush to No. 16 as soon as the gates open each morning, and the general admission lines to enter No. 16 can stretch to four hours later in the day, as one fan must leave the arena for another to enter.

Jesse Hale from Canada wears a Big Bird outfit on the 16th hole with his friends dressed in Sesame Street costumes during third-round action at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open. (Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic)

The corporate skyboxes offer a different experience with guaranteed entry for those with the right badges, but admission isn’t exactly cheap. The Skybox 16 Package, for example, costs $55,000 and includes 34 credentials per day, breakfast and lunch each day plus an open bar, 20 general admission tickets per day and an assortment of valet parking passes. All of those skyboxes were sold out for 2022.

No. 16, the aces

The 16 th has been the site of nine holes-in-one over the decades. As a stock broker might tell you, past performance is not a great predictor of future success, but you might want to pay extra attention in Saturday’s third round, as five of those nine aces have come in third rounds.

The 16th tee box is covered by beer cans and cups thrown by fans celebrating a hole-in-one by Tiger Woods at the 1997 Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. (The Arizona Republic)

Worth noting, of course, is Tiger Woods’ ace in 1997. It definitely led to one of the most raucous scenes in PGA Tour history, as detailed by Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio in a story commemorating the 25 th anniversary of that shot heard round the world.

Here are all nine of the aces on 16:

• 1988: Hal Sutton, third round
• 1990: David Edwards, third round
• 1990: Brad Bryant, first round
• 1991: Jay Delsing, third round
• 1997: Tiger Woods, third round
• 1997: Steve Stricker, fourth round
• 2002: Mike Sposa, second round
• 2011: Jarrod Lyle, second round
• 2015: Francisco Molinari, third round

Francesco Molinari waves to the crowd and walks off the tee after holing out at the16th at TPC Scottsdale in 2015. (Golfweek files)

No. 16, worth remembering

No. 16 is also home to one of our favorite stories in recent years. Amy Bockerstette, who has Down syndrome, played the 16th hole with professional Gary Woodland in a 2019 practice round leading up to the tournament.

After Bockerstette, 20, hit her tee shot into a bunker, she confidently said “I got this” and proceeded to blast out to about 10 feet. She drained the putt for a par and went on to become a sensation.

"Amy … you're our hero." How a superstar named Amy teamed up with @GaryWoodland to win the hearts of the 16th hole crowd @WMPhoenixOpen . #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/iRhZbvdjuP — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 30, 2019

Later that year, she told Woodland “You got this” before he went on to win the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Hollywood screenwriters couldn’t make this stuff up. Hearts melted for the inspirational golfer, who played college golf at Paradise Valley Community College and became the first athlete with Down syndrome to compete in a national collegiate athletic championship.

It’s a few moments worth remembering, and Golfweek even named Amy’s dad, Joe, as Father of the Year in 2019.

Following No. 16

As cool as No. 16 is, the 17 th might be even better for those as interested in the golf as in the party. The 332-yard par 4 is within reach off the tee for Tour pros, but a lake just left of the green presents all kinds of headaches.

Danny Lee chips onto the 17th green during the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

While the par-3 16 th is fairly straightforward – a short or mid-iron onto the green, or not – despite the crowds and all the noise, the 17 th presents options. After the commotion on No. 16, players better have a game plan in place before tackling 17, especially on Sunday with the tournament title on the line.

Many players will hit driver, which can bound over the green and into a bunker or even the lake. Other players will try to run up a 3-wood onto the front, avoiding a centerline bunker and the water short left. Others might lay well back and take their chances with a wedge approach shot, but the fans aren’t gathered to watch layups.

The scores are all over the place on 17, which is great fun to watch. The hole played to a 3.737 scoring average in 2021 with eight eagles, 157 birdies, 174 pars, 47 bogeys, eight double bogeys and two triple bogeys. It ranked as the fourth easiest hole on the course.

No. 17 was also the site of the only hole-in-one on a par 4 in PGA Tour history. Andrew Magee did it in the first round in 2001, using driver to knock his ball into the jar and himself into the history book.

Again thanks to StrackaLine, check out the details for No. 17 below.

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How the Phoenix Open Became the Biggest Party in Golf

When Jerry Lewkowitz joined a Phoenix civic group called the Thunderbirds in 1962, Arnold Palmer had just won his second consecutive Phoenix Open. The following year, Palmer won it again, and in ’64, some guy named Jack Nicklaus prevailed.

That was before the enclosed par-3 16th hole, before the raucous party atmosphere, before the Phoenix Open became the wildest scene on the PGA Tour calendar. The tournament was then held at Phoenix Country Club, and there were no grandstands filled with rowdy fans chugging beers, only a few tents and no big name players.

By 1971, when Lewkowitz, now 86, chaired the tournament, Nicklaus and Palmer were two of the biggest sports stars on the planet and the little tournament in the desert, run by the Thunderbirds, was hardly even on their radar. Lewkowitz flew to California to try to convince the game’s headliners to make a stop at their desert event after playing in the Crosby Clambake at Pebble Beach.

Nicklaus was unfazed by the pitch.

“He didn’t hit me with a 9-iron or anything, but Jack said, ‘I’m not coming there. The tour should start in Florida and end in Phoenix,'” Lewkowitz said.

Palmer offered a measured response: “We’ll see.”

But after playing well at Pebble, Palmer’s pilot, doubling as his personal assistant, called Lewkowitz to say Palmer would come to Phoenix.

Palmer wouldn’t need a rental car because he has a deal with Lincoln, and his hotel was also already taken care of. Arnie’s lone request: to play in the pro-am with Dell Webb, Bob Goldwater (the founder of the tournament and less-famous brother of Barry), and Bob Hope.

Lewkowitz panicked. The Thunderbirds had been trying for years to get Hope to come out and were rebuffed each time.

“Jerry, don’t worry about it,” Palmer’s pilot mused. “We’ll take care of it. He’ll be there Wednesday.”

It’s hard to believe now that a tournament that gave $9 million—all of the event’s profit—to charity last season and has become one of the most popular stops on Tour ever had to beg big-name golfers to make the trip.

More people can now fit on the famous 16 th hole than would come to the tournament back in the 1970s. The explosion of the Phoenix Open into the most fan-friendly, fun-filled atmospheres in the sport is a success story that should make many other PGA Tour stops envious. The “people’s major,” as it’s been dubbed, has become the biggest, baddest bash in golf, part by necessity and part by design.

The West Coast swing featured heavy hitters in the golf world: Pebble, Torrey, the myriad courses in Palm Springs. They were the power players of the early season.

But a small group of players liked coming to Phoenix because it had a unique energy. The Thunderbirds, a mainstay in the community dating back to the 1930s, ran the event with the goal to raise as much money as possible. Today, the chairman is swapped out yearly, so the guys running the show are constantly trying to one-up each other.

“Beat last year’s figures, that kind of attitude, has really enhanced the tournament,” Lewkowitz said.

“Some civic groups have the same leadership forever and it gets better,” former chair Mike Kennedy said. “Some do, some don’t. But you basically eliminate the complacency factor the way we do it. The status quo is not typically acceptable.”

Witness the Bird’s Nest, a social event built around the tournament. 

At first it was just a tent over the tennis courts with live music and “energy” (in this case, potentially a code for “booze”). It attracted a certain type of fun-loving tour pro and became a staple of the tournament. This year, country music star Dierks Bentley will perform Thursday night for a sold-out show in front of thousands.

In many ways, the growth of the Phoenix Open mirrors its host city. The tournament moved to TPC Scottsdale in 1987, an area of Phoenix had left mostly undeveloped.

“I said ‘This is absolutely ridiculous no one’s going to come out here.’ Obviously I was wrong about that,” Lewkowitz said.

“We wondered if people would come,” Kennedy says, “but one of the primary objectives was to try to continue the energy beyond the golf. Not only did that happen – it happened immediately – but it’s been the last 10, 12 years that this thing has exploded.”

“Energy beyond the golf.” More code. The party, and not just the Bird’s Nest.

In order to entice players and spectators, the Phoenix Open had to adapt or risk becoming obsolete. A niche market among players as a fun spot to have a couple Rob Roys and play some high-desert golf isn’t a long-term business model. Players and fans still had to want to come. The tournament still had to matter.  

Thanks to one magical Tiger Woods moment in 1997 , the tournament reached a new level.

“The skyboxes around 16, you know what made that? Tiger’s hole in one.” Lewkowtiz says.

“If you look at the video when Tiger Woods hit his hole in one, you’ll see that there are some tents,” Dan Mahoney, 2016 tournament chair, explains, “there’s a lot of people just standing around and it was really more just a spectator hole.”

As that par-3 drew more attention, the Thunderbirds decided to build the skyboxes that have become synonymous with the Phoenix Open. Like other sports, golf has learned that big money comes from luxury boxes for sponsors, advertisers, and corporate heavyweights.

Before the 2016 tournament, the fire marshal told Mahoney and the T-birds that the 16 th hole had reached capacity. Their solution would make a Manhattan resident proud: go up.

They’ve added yet another deck (now three) to create an even grander stadium stage. The hole can easily fit 15,000 spectators and regularly draws capacity crowds, creating one of the most unique and raucous settings in golf.  

It’s the closest thing the PGA Tour has to a student section. 

“People have been calling us the people’s major,” Mahoney says. “We obviously want it to be an acceptable environment for the players and not have them constantly harassed, so we always try to wonder how to balance the frivolity, with the proper respect for the players.

“We have to adhere to our roots as a golf tournament. It is a golf tournament first, not a party first, but there’s no reason that people can’t come out and have fun at a golf tournament.”

The “fun” results in a self-building win-win: more people and pros want to be a part of the event because it’s such a great time. That in turn creates more revenue for the community while also allowing the Thunderbirds to upgrade the tournament to make it bigger and better every year .  

When the Thunderbirds mulled changing the tournament from Super Bowl Sunday, the PGA Tour insisted they were the perfect tournament to go head-to-head with the biggest day in sports. The numbers back them up. Each of the last two Super Bowls in Phoenix have buoyed revenue numbers for the Phoenix Open, and Kennedy was even chair of the 2008 Super Bowl committee before helping the city make a bid to the NFL for the 2015 Super Bowl it eventually won.

Kennedy expects the 2016 tournament to match the 2015 revenue levels, despite usually seeing a decline post-Super Bowl years.

And as far as Kennedy sees it, there’s no ceiling in site for the growth of the wildest party on the PGA Tour.

“We’re nowhere near out of room. The sky’s the limit. The drama is at the end, but for the week and social events, there are still enormous opportunities out there. I don’t think there’s anybody out there who’s saying we’re out of anything.”