SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Super Bowl didn’t stop Rams and Bengals fans from getting their golf fix on Sunday at the “Greenest Show on Grass.”
The big game, which kicks off at about 4:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. ET), has aligned with the final day of the WM Phoenix Open since 1997 and provides fans of the Bengals and Rams with the challenge of balancing the two events. For years, golf fans here have made their allegiance clear as the crowd dropoff has been as dramatic as an estimated 200,000-plus for Saturday’s third round to closer to 90,000 or so on Super Bowl Sunday.
Bengals fan Eddy Kennemer lives in the Phoenix area but said he’ll be leaving the tournament around noon Sunday, to watch the team his dad taught him to love.
“For my dad who’s been a Bengals fan his entire life, it almost brings him to tears,” Kennemer said of the Bengals making it all the way.
The Rams will play for the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four seasons after adding several marquee players like Matther Stafford, Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2021 campaign.
“It’s been great to see them get rewarded when they pushed all their chips into the middle,” said Phoenix resident Alex Fox, who has supported the Rams since he was 10. Fox and his son watched the golfers warm up on the practice range before heading for the 16th hole on Sunday.
“It’s an awesome event,” Fox said of the Phoenix Open. “We came out here for the morning to catch some golf and then go home to watch the Super Bowl.”
Fans sporting Joe Burrow and Stafford jerseys could be seen following the first groups teeing off for Sunday’s final round.
Carl Coatney of Lebanon, Ohio, received tickets to the Phoenix Open as a birthday gift from his wife, not expecting the historic Bengals playoff run to interrupt his vacation
“It’s been amazing,” Coatney said. “Everybody always has expectations being a Bengals fan, but it doesn’t always work out that way.”
Cincinnati fans have rallied around second-year quarterback Joe Burrow, who has thrown for 842 yards during the Bengals’ three playoff wins and led the team to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989.
“Drafting Joe was a big deal,” Coatney said. “He’s a leader, and he’s given everyone hope.”
Josiah Newfang, a die-hard San Francisco 49ers fan, is flipping his allegiance to the Rams to honor his late grandfather
“My grandfather was a huge Rams fan,” Newfang said. “He’s going to be watching this game from Heaven, and I’m going to be rooting and cheering with him.”
As for score predictions? It was clear who these fans thought would be victorious after the clock hits 0:00 tonight.
“Bengals. 38-36. Who Dey?” Kennemer said.
“Joe Cool keeps it close till the third quarter, Rams pull away, and we start the party early,” Newfang said.
Andrew Polk and Sean Rhomberg are graduate students at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.