WM Phoenix Open updates: Taylor, Novak top leaderboard as play ends Friday
The WM Phoenix Open went off again on Friday with the continuation of Round 1 and and the start of Round 2, which was continuing early Saturday at TPC Scottsdale, where the tournament has been played since 1987. The "People's Open," aka the "Greenest Show on Grass," goes through Sunday, ending just before kickoff of Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas between the San Francisco 49ers and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Speaking of defending champions, Scottie Scheffler has won the past two Phoenix Opens and is back to try to join Arnold Palmer as the only threepeat winners of this tournament. Here's a look at the activities on Friday in north Scottsdale.
Woman hospitalized after fall from grandstands at 16th hole
A woman was taken to a local trauma center after falling from the grandstands at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Friday.
The Scottsdale Fire Department's medic cart and bike paramedics reportedly responded to a fall injury at the 16th hole of the event.
According to the Scottsdale Fire Department, after paramedics arrived, the woman was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
After the conclusion of play on Friday night, the PGA Tour issued a statement regarding the incident, which was then shared by Kira Dixon of the Golf Channel.
“Today at the WM Phoenix Open, a fan sustained non-life-threatening injuries after a fall at the 16th hole,” the statement read. “Scottsdale fire and bike team paramedics reacted quickly at the scene to give the injured fan immediate medical attention and then provided safe transport to a local medical center for further evaluation," Dixon said.
According to the statement, “The WM Phoenix Open works closely with local law enforcement, fire and medical organizations and the PGA Tour to strategically place emergency units throughout tournament grounds to promptly address health and safety situations," Dixon said.
The Scottsdale Fire Department has not released any further information regarding the incident nor has the PGA Tour.
“We will provide additional details if or when appropriate out of respect for medical privacy," the PGA Tour said in its statement on Friday evening.
— Kayla Jackson
Taylor, Novak top leaderboard as darkness falls
Nick Taylor has the best single round of the WM Phoenix Open so far, and Andrew Novak fashioned a second-round 65 to force a two-way tie atop the leaderboard at 12-under as play ended on Friday in the dark.
The horn blew at 6:08 p.m. but a handful of golfers stayed on the course for another 15 minutes or so, finishing their holes and, in some cases, trying to finish their rounds — especially those who will not make the cut and would prefer not to hang around Scottsdale just to make their inevitable exits official.
Ah, the cut. The projected cut line is 1-under par, but with so many golfers having to complete their second rounds, including five who did not start Round 2 are are currently at 1-under, it's hard to predict how it will all shake out.
As of now, the golfers are scheduled to resume play at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. But, as with everything else so far this week, the elements are likely to mess with that plan. The forecast is for early rain on Saturday (maybe even some overnight), with perhaps more coming later. There are 83 players who have to complete the second round, 31 of whom didn't even start that round, then the cut will happen, and then Round 2 will get underway.
Fan club takes over Phoenix Open, but there's a catch
Everywhere you look at TPC Scottsdale on Friday, there's a bizarre sight: A group of a few hundred men, all dressed in white khakis, blue polos and red chef's hats. Each of the polos is Lululemon brand, and each of the hats reads "Let him cook" — the catch phrase of world No. 39 Min Woo Lee. As they followed Lee, they broke out into chants of "Let him cook" and "Min Woo Lee" with each shot from their purported hero.
By the fourth hole of his second round, when Lee tallied an eagle and a birdie in quick succession, the group had earned a following of its own. When other fans asked, their story was that they met online and were die-hard fans of Lee, a 25-year-old Australian who has broken out in recent years.
The real story is a bit less fun: It's all a part of a marketing stint from Lululemon. The athletic wear brand, which recently expanded into golf, sponsors Lee and hosted an event with him at Scottsdale Quarter earlier this week.
— Theo Mackie
Matsuyama’s drive strikes fan in face
Alyssia Hernandez heard the screams of “Fore!” and ducked for cover, but she was too late. During Friday’s second round of the WM Phoenix Open, Hideki Matsuyama’s errant drive blasted through the trees alongside the 11th fairway and directly into her face.
The impact destroyed her glasses and left her with cuts along the bridge of her nose and her right eyebrow.
She knew the TV cameras would follow, so she tried to scoot out of sight, but again, she was too late. Matsuyama ducked under the ropes and waded into the crowd, asking plaintively, “Who did I hit?”
“I was sneaking away, and then he came up and was trying to find me,” Hernandez said.
Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion and two-time winner of the Phoenix Open, signed a glove and even posed for a photograph with Hernandez, at her request.
Hernandez wore her husband’s glasses and was still holding an ice bag when reporters caught up with her minutes after the incident. Hernandez's group had been enjoying the welcome return of sunshine to Friday’s second round when Matsuyama’s drive changed their plans. The couple from Nebraska were headed for the medical tent after speaking to reporters.
While she was in good spirits, even cracking a smile, Hernandez wasn’t sure she would return to the Phoenix Open after her unwelcome moment of fame.
“That’s my first, and maybe my last.”
—King Jemison, special to The Arizona Republic
Taylor blisters TPC Scottsdale with 5th 60 in Phoenix Open history
Nick Taylor basically brought TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course to its knees, completing his first round with an electrifying 11-under par 60.
It's just the fifth time in the history of the WM Phoenix Open a golfer has gone that low. Phil Mickelson famously did it twice.
After his round, Taylor spoke briefly with Golf Channel. He was moving on to Round 2 within about 30 minutes of completing his first 18 holes, and was scheduled to start his second round at 12:58 p.m. Friday.
"I drove it great ... and was hitting my irons nice," Taylor said. "It was a day that you don't want it to end. Luckily I'm going to play another round here so hopefully I can keep that going. But everything was working really well."
Taylor's plan was to grab a bite to eat, then get back on the course. He acknowledged the crowd support and heard the Canadian presence, pointing out that many come south from the country to spend winters in Arizona.
"It's obviously pretty quick turnaround, but you know, when you're playing well you want to be playing. So it's a good thing," Taylor said.
The other golfers to shoot 60 at the Phoenix Open are Phil Mickelson, twice, in 2013 (1st round) and 2005 (2nd round); Mark Calcavecchia, 2001 (2nd round) and Grant Waite, 1996 (4th round).
—Mark Faller and Jose M. Romero
Party returns to WM Phoenix Open after Thursday washout
The grounds at TPC Scottsdale might still be packed with mud, but the jubilant atmosphere has returned to the WM Phoenix Open. Near the 18th green on Friday morning, a group of fans wore red chef's hats reading "Let him cook." Another fan wore a Batman costume. Brightly colored shirts and pants were common sights, as were Chiefs and 49ers gear, with the Super Bowl just around the corner.
All of it looked like a normal Friday at the Phoenix Open — a stark contrast to Thursday, when fans spent much of the afternoon seeking shelter from heavy rain. Even when play eventually resumed in the late afternoon, the grounds were only dotted with a handful of dedicated fans.
Also, Nick Taylor continues to burn up TPC Scottsdale, posting 10 birdies heading into his final hole, No. 9. He's now four shots clear of the field.
—Theo Mackie
A new leader emerges as play resumes at WM Phoenix Open
Even with another weather-related issue causing a 90-minute frost delay, the resumption of the first round at 9:13 a.m. saw some performances that weren’t impacted by the delays.
With 57 golfers beginning play on Friday, Nick Taylor birdied four consecutive times to take a two-stroke lead over Sahith Theegala at 8-under par.
Taylor, one of the many golfers whose Thursday was disrupted by rain, birdied Nos. 18, 1, 2, and 3 in succession as he had started his round on No. 10. Earlier he had birdied 11, 12, 13 and 16.
Taylor continued his hot streak with a birdie at No. 6, and pushed his lead to three strokes.
—Jenna Ortiz
First rain, now frost vexing Phoenix Open
Play was due to resume on Friday at about 7:20 a.m. but has been delayed by the tournament's frequent nemesis ― frost.
The Phoenix Open often experiences frost delays on Thursdays and Fridays, and did so again as overnight temperatures dipped into the 30s. Tournament officials expect to begin play at 8:30 a.m.
The tournament's most recent suspensions due to frost came in 2013, 2016 and last year. In 2011, frozen ground pushed the first round to Friday and led to a Monday finish, the last time that happened at TPC Scottsdale.
Sahith Theegala, who shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday, will lead the field when play resumes. Only half the field completed the opening round.
—Mark Faller
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Open updates: Taylor, Novak top leaderboard as play ends Friday
