Why is the WM Phoenix Open known as “The People’s Open?” Look no further than Joel Dahmen for an explanation.
Dahmen, an everyman on the PGA Tour, engaged with the rowdy packs of fans at TPC Scottsdale’s famed par-3 16th hole in 2022 when he ripped his shirt off in celebration.
This week, he’ll be playing the Phoenix Open on a sponsor exemption — after attaching his letter to tour organizers to a golf polo. “I can confidently say I plan to keep my shirt on at all times — unless directed otherwise,” Dahmen wrote.
As is tradition, the beer-soaked masses will revel in the loudest event on tour on Super Bowl weekend, with Sunday’s final round wrapping up just before Super Bowl LX kicks off.
Dahmen is someone to watch after the 38-year-old tied for seventh at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. But fans will be treated to a visit from World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, along with Viktor Hovland making his first start of the season.
“(The) Ryder Cup is a big deal and gets pretty rowdy, but this is the tournament outside of the Ryder Cup that just feels like complete chaos,” the Norwegian Hovland said, “and I think it’s a cool environment to play in and kind of just embrace the chaos a little bit.
“Especially when you pull off a great shot on 16 or something, because you know that if you don’t, you’re going to get booed and it’s not going to feel very good.”
Scheffler has one win in one start thus far in 2026. He earned a four-stroke victory at The American Express two weeks ago in La Quinta, Calif.
That marked his 20th win on the PGA Tour. Only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus won 20 times before age 30 until Scheffler, 29, came along. The first of those trophies came at TPC Scottsdale in 2022; he won the tournament again the following year.
“I think in order to win tournaments out here on tour, you have to play well at the end,” Scheffler said. “I think this golf course is one of the best ones we see all year in terms of an exciting finish. … There is opportunity, but also a lot of danger. You look at even the second shot on 15. If you hit a really good shot there you can get a really good look for eagle, but if you hit a poor shot, you’re going to be in the water staring bogey in the face.”
The risk-reward par-5 15th precedes the “Coliseum” hole, enclosed by seating on all sides. Then No. 17 is a downhill par-4 measuring just 332 yards, putting birdies and eagles in play.
Xander Schauffele is in the field trying to start a new streak. When he missed the weekend at the Farmers Insurance Open, it ended the longest active made cuts streak on tour at 72. Scheffler (65) now owns that distinction.
The other big name to watch is Brooks Koepka, who’s making his second start back on the PGA Tour after nearly four years with LIV Golf. Last week, he made the cut on the number and tied for 56th while having a poor putting week.
“I enjoy the chaos,” Koepka said Wednesday of a tournament he won in 2015 and 2021. “It’s fun. It can kind of get you in between shots. Gives you something to either kind of laugh at or whatever’s going on, there’s always something to see.”
