The WM Phoenix Open is the loudest, most-attended golf tournament on the PGA Tour. Over 700,000 fans fill TPC Scottsdale across the week, turning the 16th hole into the most famous par-3 in professional golf. If you're making the trip for 2026, the right home base changes everything.
Tournament Week 2026: What to Know Before You Go
The 2026 WM Phoenix Open runs January 27 through February 2 at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course. Practice rounds begin Monday and Tuesday, with the official Pro-Am on Wednesday. The competitive rounds run Thursday through Sunday, with Sunday's final round finishing in the late afternoon Arizona sun.
Tickets sell out months in advance. General admission grounds passes are your best option for flexibility — they give you access to every hole, the famous 16th hole stadium, and the Bird's Nest concert venue that runs nightly during tournament week. Buy early at wmphoenixopen.com.
Parking near the course on tournament days is a logistical nightmare. The city operates remote lots with shuttles, but you're looking at 45–60 minutes of transportation time each way. That's where Zen Den's location changes the math entirely.
Why Zen Den's Location Is a Tournament Week Superpower
Zen Den is less than a mile from the TPC Scottsdale entrance on Hayden Road. During tournament week, that proximity is worth more than any amenity. You walk to the course in the morning, skip the shuttle line, and walk back whenever you want — no rideshare surge pricing, no waiting in the Uber queue with 10,000 other fans.
This is a 2-bedroom, 2-bath luxury condo that sleeps four comfortably. Split the cost between two couples and you're looking at roughly $250/person per night for a luxury home base steps from the action. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess charges upwards of $700/night during tournament week — for a standard hotel room.
The Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons are five minutes away, so morning coffee, pre-tournament breakfast, and post-round dinner are all right there. You won't need a car for anything tournament-related all week.
The 16th Hole: What the Hype Is Actually About
If you've never been to the WM Phoenix Open, the 16th hole will be unlike anything you've seen at a golf tournament. It's a 163-yard par-3 completely surrounded by a stadium holding 20,000 fans. The noise when a player holes out is genuinely deafening. The hole has its own DJ, its own bars, and its own energy that bears no resemblance to traditional golf watching.
The rest of the course is worth your time too. Holes 15 and 17 have excellent natural viewing mounds. The 18th green grandstands fill up by midday on weekend rounds. Walking the full course on Thursday or Friday, before the weekend crowds arrive, gives you the best combination of access and atmosphere.
Dress for the desert. January in Scottsdale means morning temperatures in the low 50s°F and afternoon highs around 70°F. Layers are your friend — you'll be glad for a jacket at the 7am tee times and glad to shed it by noon.
Decompress at the Resort Pool After the Tournament
After eight hours on your feet at TPC, walking back to a resort-style pool and spa is the right ending to a tournament day. Zen Den guests have access to the full community amenities — heated pool, spa, and lounge areas. In January, the evenings are cool and the pool is heated, which makes it genuinely usable.
The condo's Moroccan-inspired interior — warm textiles, curated décor, and a full kitchen — feels like a deliberate contrast to the loud, sun-baked energy of the tournament. Cook dinner, open a bottle, and watch the tournament highlights from the couch. That's a Phoenix Open trip done right.
Staying near Scottsdale, AZ?
Zen Den Scottsdale is your perfect base — 2 bedrooms, stunning views, and room for the whole crew. Book direct and skip the Airbnb fees.
Check Availability →