Phoenix Open weekend yields 109 DUI arrests
The Greatest Show on Turf (and Asphalt): WMPO Weekend by the Numbers
If you live anywhere near Scottsdale and wondered why your Saturday commute felt like navigating a demolition derby, now you know.
The 2026 WM Phoenix Open wrapped up with Chris Gotterup sinking a walk-off birdie to edge Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff, but the real competition was apparently happening on the roads surrounding TPC Scottsdale. According to the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety, a staggering 109 people were arrested for DUI over the weekend, with 23 of those qualifying as extreme DUI, meaning a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher.
That's not a typo. One hundred and nine.
Authorities conducted 1,091 traffic stops between Thursday and Saturday with the help of 136 officers and deputies. They also handed out 113 civil speeding citations and 26 criminal speeding tickets, because apparently watching golfers take their time wasn't enough to inspire patience. Four people got popped for underage drinking, and 41 additional arrests were made for undisclosed reasons.
For those of us who've watched this event evolve from a golf tournament into the Valley's unofficial spring break, the trend line is alarming. Scottsdale PD data from previous years shows calls for service at the event nearly tripling from 440 in 2022 to over 1,000 in 2025, while arrests jumped from zero to 63 in that same span.
Look, we love the People's Open. It's raised over $226 million for Arizona nonprofits through Thunderbirds Charities, and there's nothing else like the 16th hole Coliseum anywhere in sports. But maybe next year, bookmark a rideshare app right next to your ticket confirmation. Your fellow Scottsdale Road commuters and your driving record will thank you.
Sources: AZ Family | Fabulous Arizona | WM Phoenix Open | AZ Governor's Office of Highway Safety