[Photo: Mike Mulholland]
With his T-7 at the Farmers Insurance Open, Joel Dahmen would have made it into the field for this week’s WM Phoenix Open on merit. But he was already in on a sponsor exemption after writing one of the better letters to the WMPO tournament directors you’ll ever see prior to his impressive week at Torrey Pines.
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During the broadcast of the final round at Torrey, CBS analyst Colt Knost alluded to Dahmen’s letter, which apparently was taped to one of his golf polos as a callback to the time he and Harry Higgs took their shirts off on the par-3 16th at TPC Scottsdale in 2022. Dahmen confirmed this fact on his Instagram story:
“This tournament has always meant more to me than a typical tour stop,” said Dahmen, a Scottsdale resident. “It’s home.”
Dahmen, a fan favourite everywhere he goes thanks to the Netflix “Full Swing” afterglow, is a WMPO legend for life for his 2022 stunt with Higgs. That moment, the bucket hat and his Scottsdale ties make him as recognisable as any tour pro in the field.
“Over the years, I’ve tried to embrace what makes the WM different,” he wrote. “The fans, the atmosphere, and the understanding that personality is part of the product. I like to think I contributed positively to that identity and helped showcase why this tournament stands apart on the schedule.
“And, for clarity,” Dahmen continued, “if granted an exemption in 2026, I can confidently say I plan to keep my shirt on at all times – unless directed otherwise by the Thunderbirds (the tournament host).”
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That’s how it’s done, kids. A little creativity, a little passion. Boom, you’re in.
And now, because of this letter and his strong play in San Diego, Dahmen gets to still use WMPO as a sponsor exemption and now, via his top 10 at Torrey, gains entry into the Cognizant Classic at PGA National in three weeks. Sandwiched in between the WMPO and that tournament are a pair of signature events at Pebble Beach and Riviera, which Dahmen could potentially play himself into with another high finish in Scottsdale. He would need to be inside the AON Swing 5, which features the top five FedEx Cup point earners from the first four events of the season, including this week. As of now, Dahmen is still firmly on the outside looking in:
On Friday, Dahmen told Golf Digest he felt some nerves during the holiday season because he didn’t have a set schedule after losing his tour card in 2025. With another strong week in Scottsdale, he could set himself up for the rest of the year and make serious headway on getting his card back for next year, too. Things change quickly when you just start playing better.