WMO a scaled down version of itself this year!

There is no doubt watching a PGA Tour event is different than it has been with little or no fans allowed on the course.

The noise level is way down, depriving us of the famed “Tiger roars,’ that permeate Tour stops. The silence also allows for hearing golfers unlike ever before, sometimes entertaining, while other times it is much to the chagrin of the golfers.

This week’s stop – the Waste Management Open in Scottsdale – will, without a doubt, be the most changed tournament we see on TV all year.

The WMO has become the biggest party in all of sports having drawn more than 200,000 in one day and 700,000-plus over the course of a week. The 16th hole alone draws 20,000 a day into the “arena” that surrounds the par 3.

Those are obscene numbers for golf.

Having been – and survived – a week at the WMO it is impossible to a describe it accurately until you attend the tournament.

If I had to put into words what the WMO is like, it would be – Mardi Gras, meets the Super Bowl, which meets any NASCAR race at Talladega. And that still does not do it justice!

If the party during the day of golf wasn’t enough, throw in the nightly parties in the Crow’s Nest – a huge, tented area that features a concert every night.

What has become “The People’s Open” was named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR four times in the past six years (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) to acknowledge the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf.

Now, that atmosphere is gone – for this year – thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When word came down that they will allow only 4,500 people a day into the tournament this year, it was laughable thinking how little of a vibe will be there this week.

The players have been feeling it since they have arrived. The stands are not as big as usual and the noise level, in a relative way, is non-existent.

“It’s weird, before you even get on the course,” said Justin Thomas, a regular at the event. “I noticed (Tuesday) just literally pulling into the golf course and not seeing the huge grandstand and everything kind of going down 18 and behind the green. But that’s kind of the case it’s been for a lot of tournaments this year. This one is obviously severely different.”

Jon Rahm, a popular player every year by virtue of his Arizona State lineage, also weighed in on the atmosphere. Then again, 4,500 spectators are better than none, which is what many stops have seen since the pandemic.

“After having nobody for so long on the golf course, 5,000 feels like a lot,” said Rahm. “I’m going to tell you that right now – you can feel their presence. They’re making themselves felt. They’re a little bit more active. They want to be part of it because they’ve missed it, as well, not being able to be a part of anything for so long. So, the atmosphere, even though much more smaller, is still going to be pretty fun.”

On the 16th hole, Rahm would often wear an Arizona State football jersey, bring the 20,000 fans around the hole to their feet.

“I must say, the crowd we miss — usually about 50 or so off the tee to the left, in that area,” said Rahm of the 16th hole. “I think it’s people from Minnesota. They’re always dressed in Viking gear, and they do their research on players because they have chants about me, my caddie, friends, things we’ve done in the past, college teammates. Just fun things from your life that they know. They start chanting things about my hometown, soccer team in the past. That group of individuals, whoever they are, they’ll be missed. That’s probably one of the most memorable things. It’s pretty cool.”

The craziness of the tournament has kept some players away in the past, but now some are venturing to the tournament as it is toned down.

“It’s definitely a part of it,” said Rory McIlroy as to the craziness keeping him away. “I think this year with less fans here it was certainly — I think certainly a more attractive option in terms of like introducing myself to the tournament. It was my first time playing, get a feel for how the course is, and if I like it — and I love the course — then I would be more willing to come back. I do love the golf course. I think it suits me really well. Yeah, I mean, as I said at the start, I think I need to play at least one and get the real experience.”

By Dennis Miller