The WM Phoenix Open is brimming over with anticipation, boasting a purse of $20 million and a $3.6million first-place prize. Fans are not the only ones clamoring for a spot at TPC Scottsdale.
Will Zalatoris and Adam Scott will not be there, but all other major names on the PGA Tour are expected to be there.
Many others have a burning desire to be in the field. Last-minute scrambling has been taking part all week around Phoenix with eight pre-qualifiers as well as a Monday qualifier.
This is the second year that eight pre-qualifiers were offered. Each one was sold out. To fill the 624 spaces at eight local golf courses, 78 golfers had to pay $250. The competition was fierce.
Bill Ibrahim, of the Southwest Section PGA (which runs all qualifiers), said that “I don’t know if it was you who saw the scores but it wasn’t ridiculous.” “There was a guy that shot a bogey-free 64 but didn’t make it through. It’s insane.”
The PGA Tour is the standard for advancing from the pre-qualifiers. Eight of them determined that only the top two or ties would be allowed to advance.
Berk Harvey of San Jose had the highest score of the week, scoring a 62 on Aguila municipal golf course in Phoenix. To advance, George Markham of Phoenix, and Sudarshan Yoellamaraju from Ontario, Canada shot 63s at Aguila. Jared du Toit, Scottsdale, was the top scorer in his pre-qualifier. He shot a 64 at Western Skies Golf Course near Gilbert. Five players from Glendale’s 500 Club shot a 67 to achieve the highest advancing score.
Over 700 golfers will be competing for the @WMPhoenixOpen final three spots. It’s a numbers sport. It’s a grind. @SWSectionPGA pic.twitter.com/OrSZ9BDvJW
Nick King (@NickKingSports February 1, 2023
26 golfers were able to finish in the top two or tie positions and are now on Monday. Two of those 26 are amateurs: Joe Neuheisel from Scottsdale, the son of former Colorado and Washington football coaches Rick Neuheisel and Leon Acikalin in Phoenix. To qualify for the pre-qualifier, amateurs must have a handicap of 2 and lower.
Ibrahim said that there were currently 118 players in the Monday qualifier as of Friday midday. He added that the field could grow over the coming days. The Monday qualifier won’t be completed until Tuesday due to the high number of golfers. Any delay due to frost would cause delays in timing. Ibrahim, who joined SWSPGA in 2017, said that there has been a playoff each year he was in Arizona to determine the three precious spots.
Some well-known PGA Tour veterans are already on Monday’s list: Byeong Hun An and Kevin Chappell. Robert Garrigus and Will Gordon are also included.
Pat Williams, the tournament chairman for 2023 WM Phoenix Open, stated that “it’s gonna littered with PGA Tour Players.” “There are so many professional players who live in Phoenix so it’s very convenient. The designated status is elevated and players want to play for big money.
However, there could be a more important change in the future that could bring an end these Mondays of madness.
“The PGA Tour has not yet decided what criteria they will use to design these events.” Ibrahim said that there are indications that they will all be some kind of invitational. “If they decide that the elevated events will be invitationals. The open qualifying element will disappear, which would be a shame, as golf is unique in that it allows for open qualifying.
Even a top-20 finish in these events could make a difference for these golfers.
It’s one of the best things about golf. Ibrahim stated that anyone can make it. “If you have the talent, you can definitely compete and try to get in the event. It could potentially change your life.”
In 2023, the WM Phoenix Open will be a designated event. The PGA Tour has not yet announced any designated events for the 2022-23 season. According to Pat Williams (2023 tournament chairman), the WM Phoenix Open expressed interest in being a designated event. However, the Tour will make final decisions.
He stated, “Our hope would be to execute the Tour this year in a manner that will give us the same honor next year.”
