There's always something new a brewin' at TPC Scottsdale.
The 2026 WM Phoenix Open is still months away, but the build-out and the build-up are well underway.
About two weeks ago, the construction of the grandstands and the 16th hole arena got started at TPC Scottsdale. Yes, it takes about four months to get it all up. When it's all done, it will be home to about 17,000 fans each day. While tournament officials don't announce official daily attendance figures for the entire event, the Stadium Course can accommodate well into the six figures in terms of the number of fans who come through the gates.
What's new at TPC Scottsdale for the 2026 WM Phoenix Open?
There's always something new a brewin' at TPC Scottsdale. Each year, there's a new tournament chairman and each one has a chance to put his own spin on the event, but the goal is to always keep the player and fan experience top of mind.
With that, fans heading to the 16th hole arena in February are going to see a totally revamped experience.
“Since Tiger Woods hit the hole-in-one in ‘97, you’ve seen the evolution of what ultimately became the three-story structure at 16," said 2026 tournament chairman Jason Eisenberg. "We felt that we had really maxed out what we could do with that structure and so we decided either we can keep it as is or we can recreate the wheel."
And recreate the wheel they have. The 16th hole arena now features:
- Unobstructed views so that every level will have frameless glass railings
- Bigger suites with wider interior bays, higher ceilings and fewer support columns
- Additional LED video banners throughout the venue
- Elevated food and beverage offerings
Known as the Greenest Show on Grass, the WM Phoenix Open prides itself on its recycling and renewable efforts. As such, the 16th hole arena in 2026 will have fewer temporary materials and less scrim. The build-out will also use a 100 percent modular system with a goal of eliminating material waste and minimizing on-site construction.
“The exterior walls look different, the canopy over the top of it will extend from the front all the way to the back with a kind of a swoop design to it so the structure itself will be completely new and completely unique looking and it should be the nicest temporary built structure in all of North America," Eisenberg said. "It'll have an upscale look, it'll be bigger and more open suites, wider bays, more unobstructed views. It'll have less clutter and a better design."
16th hole new features the Pin Hi Club
Daily ticket sales are now a thing at the 16th hole. For years, it was either you needed a wristband to gain access to one of the hundreds of suites or you waited in a line to get into the general-admission section behind the green. Now, fans can buy single-day tickets to any of the tournament rounds plus the Wednesday pro-am. This Pin Hi Club will be ground level and next to the green with its own entrance.
"You will be at eye level with the 16 green, kind of looking back at the general admission stand so you'll have all the action and all the energy," Eisenberg said.
How much are tickets to the 2026 WM Phoenix Open?
For several years now and again in 2026, everyone gets free admission on Monday and Tuesday. Tickets for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday are $90 ($75 + a $15 fee) while Friday and Saturday, the two highest attended days of the week, are $143 ($125 + a $18 fee).
"We have some of the best fans in all of golf and what we're trying to try to do is make sure they can afford to come back here over a year, so we're keeping those general admission tickets priced the same," Eisenberg said.
What did the WM Phoenix Open learn from the 2025 Ryder Cup?
Eisenberg was in attendance at the Ryder Cup last week and while they were there as fans, he and some of his fellow Thunderbirds ‒ the group that puts on the Phoenix Open every year ‒ were also taking mental notes.
"You can’t really go to any event without looking at it through the lens of being tournament director of the Phoenix Open," Eisenberg admitted. “They did a lot of things really well and there's things they could always approve on."
Two years ago, the 2024 WMPO ran into issues of its own, largely due to bad weather. The Thunderbirds rebounded in 2025 after making several key changes, including a secondary entrance that really relieved the heavy crowds at the main entrance. That and some increased security measures and more visible police presence made the experience much better for fans and players alike. And that's the goal again in 2026.
“I think one of the most exciting parts of our tournament is that you know year over year over year we're always trying to make it a first-class experience," Eisenberg said.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: WM Phoenix Open 16th hole new look for 2026 tournament TPC Scottsdale
Category: General Sports
