As the grass is mowed on the hills of TPC Scottsdale in anticipation of the WM Phoenix Open, we have been called, once again, to reinvent our coverage of the vaunted PGA Tour tournament. PHOENIX and the Phoenix Open go way back. From fashion to form, we have analyzed – and advised upon – every aspect of “The Greatest Show on Grass” from our first February issue in 1967 to the 2024 WMPO Field Guide. We took a trip through the archives and uncovered some of our most iconic winter issues covering all things golf – especially that little tournament in Scottsdale – in the Valley.
Photography by Angelina Aragon
February 1967
Our first issue covering the Open (then held at Phoenix Country Club) showcases six Thunderbirds’ wives sporting Italian brands like Amalfi and Gino Paoli. The ladies elegantly model ’60s styles and set the standard for women attending the event.
February 1982
Dressed to the “nines,” two golfers – or perhaps editorial models posing as golfers – embody early ’80s fashions in this style profile. Vintage Champion polyester golf pants and a Parker wool sweater are worn to “par”-ty at the Camelback Golf Club.
January 1985
Our retrospective on the Open includes a retrospective on the Open? Super meta. The package includes a story about pranks Barry Goldwater, referred to as the “Father of the Phoenix Open,” and his team would play on the golfers. “We did that for two years before the PGA made us stop,” he said.
February 2001
Humorous commentary and genuine analysis of the game reflect the balance of fun and authenticity PHOENIX strives for in our Open coverage. To wit: Mark Twain references in a piece about the role of a caddie on the green. “It was Mark Twain, so they say, whose sole exposure to golf resulted in one of the more succinct commentaries in the history of sport,” we wrote. “Twain, clearly no fan, said he regarded the game as nothing more than a way to spoil a good walk.”
WMPO 2019
Our first dedicated field guide: everything a WMPO spectator would ever (and we mean ever) want to know about the event. From food and drink recommendations to historical tidbits, PHOENIX has continued this tradition of producing comprehensive booklets every year since 2019.
