- One report says 30 people fainted due to alcohol consumption
- Videos from fans showed fights breaking out between other customers.
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For the first time in the tournament’s history, WM Phoenix Open organizers closed the beer taps and banned customers from entering due to the large crowd.
At 2:00 pm on Saturday, organizers closed the doors of TPC Scottsdale and stopped alcohol sales at most locations along the tour due to the raucous party atmosphere.
This was despite terrible weather conditions by Arizona standards: with rain and temperatures in the 40s in the morning, leading to the sun breaking through the clouds, and temperatures in the mid-50s.
“Due to a larger than usual crowd, the WM Phoenix Open entry gates are temporarily closed and shuttle service to the event is suspended,” the tournament said on social media.
Alcohol sales were stopped and fans were refused entry into the third round of the Phoenix Open.
The crowds caused the doors to be closed to attendees for the first time in the event’s history.
A party atmosphere has become common at the Phoenix Open, which bills itself as “The People’s Open” and “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
But the atmosphere became dangerous when fighting broke out and people reportedly began to faint due to alcohol consumption.
According Barry Markson, KTAR radio host30 people passed out at the event, leading organizers to decide to stop the flow of alcohol.
The tournament is known for its atmosphere, with the epicenter being the frat-party atmosphere on the par-3 16th hole, where fans ignore calls for quiet (and where golfers, for once, welcome the noise).
A serious match foul occurred yesterday on that same hole when a woman fell and suffered non-life-threatening injuries requiring hospitalization.
In the second round on Friday, several videos of drunk fans appeared on social media.
One saw an adult man being carried out the front door on the shoulders of another man.
Elsewhere on the ground, fans began sliding down a muddy hill before police halted proceedings on Friday.
A police officer watches fans on the 16th green during Saturday’s action at the Phoenix Open.
Some of the customers were caught on video fighting without security personnel being around to stop them.
But on Saturday the debauchery continued. The images showed more fans, in various states of dress and undress, sliding down those same hills as the crowd cheered them on.
Fan videos also appeared to show people getting violent, with at least one fight caught on camera.
Security were outnumbered and only arrived late after other spectators removed the two men who were fighting each other.