Last verified: April 2026
The Event
The WM Phoenix Open (formerly the FBR Open and the Phoenix Open) is a PGA Tour event held annually at TPC Scottsdale in late January / early February. The tournament is sometimes called "The People’s Open" and "The Greatest Show on Grass."
Per TPC Scottsdale’s official site, "The WM Phoenix Open is the best-attended golf tournament in the world with more than 700,000 fans in attendance." The last officially released attendance figure was 719,179 for the 7-day 2018 event (per Golf Monthly citing tournament organizers). The tournament stopped publishing attendance statistics before the 2019 event.
The 16th-Hole Stadium
The infamous 16th-hole stadium at TPC Scottsdale is unique in professional golf — a fully enclosed par-3 hole surrounded by a multi-tiered grandstand seating thousands. The crowd is famous for being the loudest in golf, with full-throated cheers (and boos) for every shot. Cannabis is, of course, prohibited inside this stadium — or anywhere else on TPC grounds.
Cannabis at TPC Scottsdale
Cannabis on TPC Scottsdale grounds is prohibited. The tournament’s prohibited-items list includes:
- Cannabis (flower, vapes, edibles, concentrates) — regardless of Arizona’s adult-use law
- Outside food and beverages (with limited exceptions)
- Hard-sided coolers
- Most camera/recording equipment
Bag screening at gates is thorough. Discovery of cannabis would result in confiscation, possible escort off the property, and (if law enforcement is involved) the standard PPD/Scottsdale PD process for misdemeanor or petty offense.
The Surrounding Cannabis Scene
TPC Scottsdale is in north Scottsdale, near multiple Valley dispensaries:
- Trulieve Scottsdale (15190 N. Hayden Rd.)
- Mint Cannabis Scottsdale
- Sol Flower Scottsdale (78th Way)
- Multiple Curaleaf and JARS locations within 10–15 minutes
Most attendees who consume cannabis do so off-site — at their hotel room, vacation rental, or private residence — and arrive at the tournament not actively impaired. Public consumption (sidewalks, parks, course grounds) remains illegal under the Smoke-Free Arizona Act.
Driving and the WM Phoenix Open
The tournament is a major DUI enforcement event for Scottsdale PD. Aggressive checkpoints and saturated patrols are routine, especially during the Friday-Saturday-Sunday peak attendance days. Arizona is an "any detectable amount" THC state for DUI — zero margin for licensed drivers.
If you consume before or during the tournament, do not drive. Use Lyft, Uber, Waymo (autonomous taxis launched in Phoenix in 2024 and 2025), or designated drivers. Some hotels offer event-specific shuttle services.
Heat & Storage
The tournament runs in late January / early February. Phoenix temperatures during this window typically range from the 40s (overnight) to the high 60s and low 70s (daytime). Heat-storage risk for cannabis is minimal compared to summer, but vehicles parked in direct sun all day can still reach 100°F+ interior even in February. Use the dispensary’s insulated bag and don’t leave product in a parked car.
Cannabis-Friendly Lodging in Scottsdale
Most Scottsdale resorts and hotels are smoke-free and cannabis-prohibited. Specifically: the Westin Kierland, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the Phoenician, and the W Scottsdale all prohibit smoking and cannabis use. The Clarendon Hotel in central Phoenix is the only adult-only cannabis-friendly hotel in metro Phoenix per Visit Phoenix — a 25-minute drive from TPC Scottsdale.
Short-term-rental properties (AirBnB, Vrbo) depend on individual host policies; verify before booking. See our Cannabis-Friendly Lodging page.
Other Major Scottsdale Events
WM Phoenix Open weekend often overlaps with:
- Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction (mid-to-late January) at WestWorld of Scottsdale — the world’s largest collector-car auction. Cannabis prohibited on premises.
- Cactus League spring training (often beginning in mid-to-late February) at multiple Valley stadiums. See our Cactus League page.
Hotels and rideshare get extremely busy across these overlapping events. Book early.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org