- For a number of golf fans and music fans in the Phoenix area, the start of the year also means a chance to see their favorite stars in action as part of the WM Phoenix Open.

The open, which is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, is considered by some to be the start of the golf season.

Here's what to know about the annual event, its history, and what's new for 2025.

When did we start having the WM Phoenix Open?

The event, per the website, had an initial run from 1932 to 1935.

Figures released by tournament officials show that the purse, or the total amount of money offered as prizes for the tournament, was $2,500 for the 1932 edition. Calculation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI Inflation Calculator show that it would be the equivalent of about $55,175 in December 2024.

The initial tournament, according to the tournament's website, came to an end in 1935 due to a lack of local support, but it made a comeback in 1939, and has remained ever since.

Per the tournament's website, the event took place at either the Phoenix Country Club or the Arizona Country Club , depending on the year, until 1987. That year, the event took place at TPC Scottsdale , where it has remained ever since.

Why is it called an ‘open’?

A 2021 article published by the magazine Golf Monthly describes the origins of the term "open," as used in names for golf tournaments like the WM Phoenix Open.

According to the article, the term is commonly used across a number of tournaments, and the meaning is self-explanatory, in that the event is "open" to all golfers, in contrast to events that have restrictions.

Despite the "open" moniker, the article notes that most opens have minimum entry requirements that players must meet, or qualifying events that they will need to attend prior to the open.

For the WM Phoenix Open, a competition was held for three qualifying spots in the open.

How many people attend the tournament each year?

Officials say the open no longer records daily or weekly attendance statistics.

However, historical figures can still provide a look into how much the tournament has grown over the years.

Figures provided by organizers show that in 2018, the last year statistics were available, 719,179 people attended the tournament.

That compares to a total attendance of 257,000 in 1987, the first year the open was played at TPC Scottsdale.

What else is the WM Phoenix Open known for?

Besides golf, the WM Phoenix Open is also known for its entertainment options.

Perhaps one of the best known venues at the golf tournament site is the Bird's Nest. The open's website describes the Bird's Nest as a 21-and-over event that features music and partying.

Past performers at the Bird's Nest, according to officials, include The Chainsmokers in 2019 and 2023, Snoop Dogg in 2019, Dierks Bentley in 2020, and Machine Gun Kelly in 2023.

In recent years, the open has also been known for its commitment to environmental issues. Per a statement in 2024, water conservation measures were enacted, in addition to a program of recycling, composting, donation, reuse and fuel creation that results in no residual byproduct arising from the event.

Are there problems associated with the WM Phoenix Open?

In recent years, we have covered a number of incidents that happened at the WM Phoenix Open.

In 2018, we reported on a streaking incident at the open . The person involved, identified as Adam Stalmach, reportedly streaked across the course at the 17th hole.

Stalmach told us, following the incident, that he made a last-minute drunken decision on the matter, and that he does not regret it.

"I blame it on the alcohol," said Stalmach at the time. "Do I regret it? No. Would I do it again? No."

In 2023, there was another streaking incident at the open, when a man named Sean Patrick McConnell reportedly jumped from the general admissions bleachers at the WM Phoenix Open's 16th hole and went onto the course. From there, he ran through a player access tunnel to the 17th hole.

McConnell could be seen on camera running half naked on the turf, with the words "19TH HOLE" written on his back. Police said McConnell, who also went by the name ‘Mac Savage,’ was never naked during the incident.

"As I was running, everyone just got it going crazy right away, so the feeling of the whole crowd just cheering you on, it is so exhilarating," said McConnell, in an interview he did with us following the incident .

He was accused of trespassing, disorderly conduct, and failure to obey a lawful order from law enforcement.

2024's edition of the open also had its share of troubles. According to our report at the time , entry to the open had to be paused for some time one day due to what Scottsdale Police deemed as "larger than usual crowds," resulting in fans taking to social media to air their grievances.

Are there any changes for 2025?