The 2024 Phoenix Open was a lot like a house party where someone called the cops.

A cocktail of bad weather and booze led to mayhem at TPC Scottsdale a year ago, causing officials to take the unprecedented step of closing the gates and — gasp! — cutting off alcohol sales.

To prevent a repeat performance, organizers implemented a series of changes for this year’s event to rein in the revelry — well, as much as they can at the biggest bash on the PGA Tour.

“It’s a unique test because not only are you battling the golf course, but there can be a pretty hectic crowd out there,” said world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, a two-time winner at the Phoenix Open. “It’s something we don’t see as much throughout the year, but it’s really fun to come here and experience it.”

The Phoenix Open has long been the loudest, rowdiest event in golf. Up to 200,000 fans show up to TPC Scottsdale each day, ready to party — and maybe watch a little golf.

“The Greatest Show on Grass” always teeters on the edge of decorum and may have crossed the debauchery line in last year’s third round. Heavy rain led to multiple delays and turned non-playing areas of the course into a soggy mess as things got extra rowdy on a marathon Saturday.

The tension boiled over at times, with Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson yelling at unruly fans. To slow the tumultuous tide, tournament officials stopped letting fans inside in the afternoon because the course overcrowded and they cut off alcohol sales at certain sites.

The wild ride forced officials to make a few changes for this year’s tourney.

In addition to a stronger law enforcement presence, a new entrance will alleviate some of the muddy clogging that happened at the main gate last year. There also will no longer be any-day tickets so officials can track sales and prevent overcrowding.

“They have tightened things up, but you don’t want to take away from what the tournament is,” said Gary Woodland, the 2018 Phoenix Open champion. “This tournament is crazy and we want it to be some good craziness.”

The U.S. Open became the first major to publish a direct pathway for LIV Golf players, announcing a new exemption category that awards one spot to the leading player from among the top three at LIV’s halfway point this year.

The next exemption category will include one spot this year from the May 19 standings in LIV. Starting with the 2026 U.S. Open, the USGA will take the leading player in the final 2025 individual standings, along with the leading player from the May 18, 2026, list.

In each case, the exemption goes to the leading player not already exempt, and the player must be among the top three in the standings.

The other majors have not turned away players from the LIV Golf League. The Masters has invited Joaquin Niemann each of the last two years, though Augusta National based that on his international play.

The PGA Championship has invited LIV players based on their world ranking, and for 2024 at Valhalla it invited Talor Gooch, who had won three times on LIV the previous year.

For this year’s U.S. Open, an exemption from qualifying will be given “the top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top three” of the LIV individual standings as of May 19.

MLB

First baseman Pete Alonso is staying with the New York Mets, agreeing to a $54 million, two-year contract, multiple sources reported. The deal was subject to a successful physical.

Alonso will get a $10 million signing bonus and can opt out after the 2025 season to become a free agent again.

Alonso hit 226 homers over six seasons with the New York Mets and became a four-time All-Star, but his strikeouts steadily increased to a career high 172 last year while his OPS has dropped to a career-low .788.

SOCCER

The National Women’s Soccer League will establish a $5 million fund for players as part of a settlement that stemmed from allegations of emotional and sexual misconduct that rocked the league in 2021. Attorneys general from Washington, D.C., Illinois and New York announced the settlement with the league.

The funds will go to players who experienced abuse. The settlement also requires the league to maintain safeguards put into place following a pair of investigations released in late 2022 that found widespread misconduct that impacted multiple teams, coaches and players.

SKIING

Lindsey Vonn is feeling sick with “a cold or the flu” on the eve of her first event at the world championships in her return to ski racing at 40. The American, a two-time world champ and the holder of eight total medals at worlds, is scheduled to race in the super-G today in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.