Here's What Went Down at the Waste Management Phoenix Open
How Oakley, Malbon and Cobra took over the week with exciting activations.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open, or “The People’s Open” as it’s also known, brings together every corner of the golf industry in a way that’s unique to Arizona. Basically, it’s one big weekend of golf and partying. Whether watching through a screen or up close and personal the tournament has a way of grabbing people’s attention and refusing to let go. This year the Phoenix Open made headlines for both the right and wrong reasons. Just to name a few incidents, someone broke onto the course and made sand angels in a bunker, and elsewhere hecklers got underneath the skin of Zach Johnson.
But what do you expect at an event that draws upwards of 700,000 fans? For perspective, that’s over 400,000 more than even the most attended major championships. The chaos eventually led to the cut off of alcohol sales on Saturday afternoon, an unprecedented act for the tournament. But in the end the WM Phoenix Open finished with a flourish as Nick Taylor’s overtime heroics sealed a memorable victory.
But aside from the competition, offsite events in Scottsdale surrounding the tournament have grown more popular each and every year. In anticipation of the tournament, the golf community pulls out all of the stops during the week, arguably making everything surrounding the Phoenix Open just as fun as the tournament itself.
Including product collaborations from brands like Timeless and Manor, and parties and tournaments from the likes Malbon and Oakley, the atmosphere brought out the love and camaraderie that makes up the golf industry. These are a few of Hypegolf’s favorite moments from the weekend.
Oakley Desert Duel
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Oakley brought together a group of players and athletes to take on Phoenix Open week through the lens of the brand’s all new Sphaera lineup. Before the tournament began, Oakley hosted an exclusive round called the Desert Duel for friends and family of the brand like pro golfers Alexa Melton and Paris Hilinski, and snowboarder Rob Roethler. Featured onsite at the golf day, Oakley shared a demo of its new Sphaera and BiSphaera highlighting how the frames were designed by athletes with the highest performing contenders in mind.
Despite the rain, Hypegolf teamed up with the Metalwood Studio crew and Oakley athlete Joe Fahn and shot 4-under on a 9 hole stretch. The next day, the group took on Waste Management while watching the tournament from the upper deck of the famous 16th hole, the nucleus of all the action at TPC Scottsdale. Oakley’s refuel house included IV drips and B-12 shots that kept the group moving throughout the entire weekend.
Timeless x Manor
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Timeless and Manor came together to produce a collection that combined the minds of Manor, Timeless, Students, Malbon, Quiet Golf and Barnaby’s. The collaboration included a full-range of soft goods and accessories embellished with custom designs and language that pointed to the Phoenix Open through the collective group’s distinguished point of view.
To celebrate the collection, the group hosted a party at The Vault Thursday night of the tournament, including food, music and a simulator offering a Rolex for any hole-in-one made during the night. Not to mention, The Vault’s fleet of exotic cars is something special to behold – we counted 10 Porsches alone.
Malbon’s Night Course Event
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Malbon hosted its first-ever desert invitational the following day, bringing its close knit and fun-loving community together for a night of golf, food and drinks. The night brought out the likes of golf content creators Sara Camarena, Ashlee Driver, Tessa Sumagui, Igor Hanel and many more.
Before the free for all tournament, Malbon Women hosted a clinic at the course led by Hannah Leiner and Gabi Powel. Later, the brand hosted a free format round of golf under the lights that allowed players to team up as they wished and approach the round in a laid back manner where enjoyment was more important than score.
Cobra DARKSPEED Launch Party
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When it comes to equipment, the talk of the town is that Cobra’s all new DARKSPEED lineup is becoming the go-to choice for both professionals and amateurs this year. The brand hosted its official launch event a few days before the tournament where Cobra ambassadors Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland and Justin Suh gave a presentation on the new technology, breaking down how both the driver lineup and iron sets are delivering faster, more consistent ball speeds than ever before.
Later on we linked up with long drive athlete Jacob Golliday, who’s excited to see where the technology takes his long-drive game this year. Cobra has always been a respected name in the driver category, and closely following the evolution of the brand, this feels like the best version of their product in many years. Design-wise, it’s easily one of the best looking clubs out there too.
