Phoenix Open updates: Round 1 play to resume at 4 p.m. after long weather delay

The WM Phoenix Open begins on Thursday as the "People's Open," AKA the "Greenest Show on Grass," begins with round one at TPC Scottsdale, where the tournament has been played since 1987. The event goes through Sunday, ending just before the 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 three-peat winners of this tournament. Here's a look at the activities on Thursday in north Scottsdale.

Friday updates: Check out the latest live action from the Phoenix Open

Phoenix Open Round 1 to resume at 4 p.m.

WM Phoenix Open officials have announced that Round 1 will resume at 4 p.m. after a nearly 3 1/2-hour weather delay.

There are 57 golfers in the field who did not start their round before play was suspended. With sunset arriving at 6:06 p.m. there will be plenty of golfers who will not come close to finishing the first round.

More golf: Rain creates parking nightmare at drenched WM Phoenix Open

Glover WDs because he was going to miss tee time

Lucas Glover had never missed a tee time in his PGA Tour career.

That changed Thursday morning.

Glover withdrew before his 8:26 a.m. tee time at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. As Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported, it was a simple misunderstanding.

“I just mid-read my text messages (that listed my tee time),” Glover told Golf Channel. “I’m kicking myself but laughing at myself at the same time.”

A PGA Tour official called Glover, who was in his hotel room, letting him know there was a minute until his tee time. That’s when he withdrew.

Ryo Hisatsune was the first alternate and got into the field with Glover withdrawing. The six-time PGA Tour winner finished T-58 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week.

—Cameron Jourdan, Golfweek

Round 1 suspended due to unplayable conditions

At exactly 12:32 p.m. Thursday, the PGA Tour announced that Round 1 of the WM Phoenix Open has been suspended due to unplayable conditions at TPC Scottsdale.

The rain that began to fall about an hour earlier forced a stoppage in play, with Sahith Theegala currently leading at 5-under par through 14 holes played. Puddles were forming on the greens.

While all of the morning groups were able to tee off on time, their back nine holes are being affected by the suspension. At least 14 threesomes of golfers had yet to tee off for Round 1 when play was halted.

A weather update from tournament officials at 1:45 p.m. continued the suspension until at least 2:15 p.m. However, the practice facilities were re-opened, a good sign that there is some hope for more golf later in the day.

Also, golfer Carl Yuan, who is in the first grouping of players to tee off Thursday from the first hole, was forced to withdraw due to neck injury, the Tour announced on social media.

—Jose M. Romero

16th hole: Superheroes, hockey players, long waits

As one might imagine, the infamous 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open was already abuzz when the first grouping of golfers walked into the stadium structure Thursday morning.

There was a group of young men dressed in Spider-Man costumes complete with masks, another group dressed as caddies in white jumpsuits, a collection of men in USA hockey jerseys with hockey helmets, and another group dressed in red Canada hockey jerseys.

They all joined a mixed-gender group of folks in bright orange hats in chanting "We are the People's Open!"

The golfers came through, three by three, plus their caddies and the entourages of sign holders and officials, and shots on the green close to the hole drew cheers, while shots off the green or into bunkers at 16 were booed.

Shortly after 11 a.m., there were rain sprinkles, and 15 minutes later, the rain fell a little harder. But outside of the 16th hole, there weren't many places to find shelter, as the line up some stairs to get into the WM Phoenix Open pro shop was long, and the line to get into the 16th hole when space opened up even longer.

"By my estimation, one hour and 32 minutes," a man told the group he was with in line.

In a courtyard of food stands and vendors, a man tried his best to twirl a hula hoop around his hips, without much success. Crowds of fans continue to pour through the entrance gates to TPC Scottsdale, the weather seemingly not much of a deterrent.

—Jose M. Romero

WM Phoenix Open Round 1 is underway

With the rains holding off to start Thursday morning, the WM Phoenix Open began with round one on time at TPC Scottsdale. Among the early wave of golfers, Aaron Baddeley, who started from the 10th tee, birdied his first two holes to take an early lead out of the gate.

That's the good news.

The not-so-good news is that the grass fields used as parking lots for the open remain closed on site, so those expecting to park there, including pass holders, are being directed again to satellite parking locations, which have free shuttle service to the course. Find those options at the tournament's website.

The shuttles to TPC Scottsdale were running frequently just after sunup Thursday as motorists began to figure out how to find the parking lots. The dropoff points for the shuttles are a lengthy walk down Bell Road to the entrance to the course, but fans didn't seem too upset about the additional steps needed to get in.

One problem was the traffic backup at Hayden Road for those trying to get to the grass pass holder lots. After several minutes in traffic, drivers reached the police checkpoint only to be told those lots were closed, then were redirected to a satellite lot.

More golf: How to watch WM Phoenix Open: TV times, tournament schedule

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Open updates: Round 1 play resumes at 4 p.m. after weather delay