A burglary, a streaker and Borat; a look at some of the WM Phoenix Open’s craziest moments

It’s not just the pro golfers and celebrities who draw record-setting numbers of fans to the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament.

“The People’s Open,” which has been hosted at TPC Scottsdale since the ’80s, usually boasts a rowdy, alcohol-soaked atmosphere — with the exception of the masked, limited-attendance 2021 tournament — making the PGA Tour event perfect for people-watching.

Over the decades, Tiger Woods and some mischievous spectators have been responsible for some of the most memorable moments in Phoenix Open history. Then there was the “crowd pleaser” portable toilet in 2015 that was anything but.

Take a look back at some of these Phoenix Open highlights — or lowlights.

2021: Borat impersonator gets booted

Security closes in on a spectator after Jordan Spieth made his birdie putt on the 17th green during round three of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Feb. 6, 2021. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

People donning costumes at the Phoenix Open is not a new concept. In fact, people-watching is one of the best parts of the weeklong golf tournament.

But with attendance limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, there were doubts about how rowdy the fan atmosphere would become at TPC Scottsdale.

One man dressed as Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat character put those concerns to rest. Wearing a button-down with a tie, a tan suit jacket, shorts, and aviators, the man — later identified as Daniel Horan of Seattle — fell backward when his lawn chair broke, catching Jordan Spieth’s attention as he readied for his next shot.

After causing a disturbance at the 17th hole and reportedly attempting to go under a rope, Horan was spirited away by security and banned from coming back to the event that year.

2020: Golf pays tribute to Kobe Bryant

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. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK

Less than a week after Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers died in a helicopter crash, the NBA legend’s presence was felt throughout the Phoenix Open.

Justin Thomas, Tony Finau and Max Homa were among the players who wore Kobe Bryant memorabilia on the course.

As former Arizona Republic reporter Katherine Fitzgerald recounted on February 2, 2020:

“There was the flag in yellow and purple, with 24 on one side and 8 on the other. Players walked between those same numbers painted on the grass. And the actual cup itself was cut 24 paces onto the green and 8 from the left. Any time a golfer thought about his approach, it was shaped by Kobe Bryant.”

2019: Archie Bradley is burglarized

Charles Bradley caddies for his son Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley during the Annexus Pro-Am on Jan. 30 at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Rob Schumacher/The Republic

Former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley was having a pretty good day.

With dad Charles as his caddy, Bradley finished fourth in the pro-am, beating out Patrick Peterson and Michael Phelps, among other celebrities and sports stars. Then his golf bag disappeared.

Turns out someone had snuck away with Bradley’s clubs. By the next day, it was posted on the online marketplace OfferUp — and the photo clearly showed the pitcher’s name embroidered on the PXG bag.

2018: Streaker steals the show

Arguably the biggest story out of last year’s Open was when a 24-year-old man stripped down and let it all hang out on the 17th hole. The crowd cheered, snapped photos and tweeted clips of the booze-soaked endeavor that sent the man into the paddy wagon.

“My last words before running out were, ‘I just wanna give the crowd something to cheer about,'” wrote the streaker, who lost his job after being charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

2015: Sewage is no 'crowd pleaser'

Raw sewage pooled up on the sidewalk near the fan zone at the TPC Scottsdale during Saturday’s third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Photo by azcentral sports

“There was a waste management problem at the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” one of the most memorable event leads plainly states. Backed-up raw sewage pooled steps away from the TPC Scottsdale clubhouse as fans hopped over puddles and pinched their noses.

The pungent problem originated from the ironically-named Crowd Pleaser portable toilets. The area was wiped up within a few hours.

2011: Frost cancels first day of competition

Though not colder than Siberia, Mars and Hell, Phoenix’s chilly January mornings can make you want to wriggle into an electric blanket and pray for 120-degree summer days. The 2011 tournament was no exception: a cloak of darkness, pesky frost and frozen greens caused several delays. Golfers wore (gasp) layers of clothes in the brisk open air. That year, the competition ended with only 13,033 spectators in the stands.

2001: Orange chucked onto the green

An orange lies close to the 10th green after it was thrown from the gallery while Tiger Woods was about to putt during the first round of golf at the TPC in Scottsdale on Jan. 25, 2001. Emmanuel Lozano/The Arizona Republic

Tiger Woods, who returned to the Open in 2015, took a 13-year hiatus from the event after a teenager threw an orange onto the green while the PGA star was putting. Upon his return, he remarked that organizers had done “a fantastic job over the years making sure things are a lot more safe.”

You don’t have to be Emily Post to know that chucked citrus was uncalled for. However, it’s recommended that attendees familiarize themselves with the fan code of conduct — which namely includes respecting tournament players, caddies, officials and other fans.

1999: Tiger Woods and that boulder

Twenty years ago, Tiger Woods was given an assist by the gallery at the 13th hole after his ball ended up behind a boulder. He asked officials if it qualified as a “loose impediment,” which are typically things like pebbles, leaves and branches. And it did qualify, so long as it could, in fact, be removed.

He enlisted a several fans to hoist the boulder out of his way before knocking the ball into the hole for a birdie. At least now you can quote Donkey in “Shrek” by exclaiming, “I like that boulder. That is a nice boulder,” whenever you pass this marker.

Timeless: The 16th hole

Chesson Hadley tees off on the 16th hole during the Kadima.Ventures Pro-Am at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale, Monday, January 28, 2019. Tom Tingle/The Republic

Tens of thousands of fans encircle the iconic 16th hole settling wagers, teeming with excitement and, of course, clamoring for camera time. Only nine PGA Tour golfers have scored a hole-in-one at the arena-like spot and are commemorated in a statue. The challenge, accompanied with a party atmosphere, makes this one of the most unpredictable spots in all of TPC Scottsdale.

Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com or at 602-444-4968. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.

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