As the WM Phoenix Open prepares to swing into action, Mother Nature is queuing up a storm that might just steal the show. The biggest weather event this winter is forecasted to roll into Arizona starting Tuesday, potentially turning golf courses into water hazards. The PGA Tour's meteorological team, brought in to oversee the event's safety, has a watchful eye on the storm, with particular concern for spectator safety.
According to a report by FOX 10 Phoenix, those at the WM Phoenix Open are bracing for rain that could rival a water trap at the 18th hole. An invasive atmospheric river is set to ship in tropical moisture over Arizona, making for a soggy series of game days. If lightning joins the party – and let's hope it doesn't – Kyle Koval with DTN Weather, the PGA Tour's on-site cloudburst chasers, will be making the call to evacuate. "First and foremost, public safety, spectator safety. Lightning is a huge threat for us when we’re outdoors," Koval told FOX 10 Phoenix.
The tournament could see an echo of the challenges from last week's Pebble Beach PGA event, which was trimmed down thanks to weather more suited to ducks than drivers. The weather team's track record precedes them, and the pressure is on to keep the spectators out of harm's way while giving the players a fair shot at the fairway. Koval himself seems to thrive under this pressure, saying, "You know you’re going to be wrong at times. You know there’s going to be people that give you flak for being wrong, but you know what, it’s the nature of the game. We’re not in an easy position, but that’s what makes it fun at the same time."
This tempest isn't just a drizzle and a breeze. As per a report from FOX 10 Phoenix, winds may rattle up to 35 mph in Phoenix, and a whopping 50 mph over eastern Arizona. Meanwhile, Flagstaff could get buried in 8-12 inches of snow, with ski parks potentially boasting 1-2 feet. Yankee weather indeed, and a crying need for studded tires on those golf carts. Rainfall in Phoenix proper could reach up to 1 inch — a pond's worth in the desert. The heaviest downpours are projected between Tuesday afternoon and the wee hours of Wednesday, precisely when the golfing world will be staring down birdies and bogeys at TPC Scottsdale.
Chances are the precipitation will come and go like a bad putt through Saturday, which means onlookers at the Phoenix Open might want to pack a slicker along with the sunscreen. And for those trying to see their favorite golfers tee off without dodging raindrops, Sunday seems to be the day to roam those lush greens ticket in hand. That's the forecast; the only question remaining is whether the players or the storm will have the final say.
