Waste Management Phoenix Open

Waste Management Phoenix Open. It is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held annually in early February at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. Known for its massive, energetic galleries, the event is famously nicknamed "The Greatest Show on Grass" and is one of the best-attended sporting events in the world. The tournament is organized by the civic group The Thunderbirds and has been sponsored by Waste Management, Inc. since 2010, integrating significant sustainability initiatives.

History

The event's origins trace back to 1932 when it was first played at the Phoenix Country Club. After a hiatus during World War II, it resumed in 1944 and became a staple on the professional circuit. The tournament joined the modern PGA Tour schedule in the late 1960s, gaining prominence through iconic champions like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. A pivotal moment in its history was the 1987 move to the newly constructed TPC Scottsdale, specifically its Stadium Course, which was designed to accommodate large crowds. The partnership with The Thunderbirds has been central to its growth, and the title sponsorship by Waste Management, Inc. marked a new era focused on environmental stewardship.

Tournament format

The competition is a 72-hole stroke play event with a standard cut after 36 holes. The field typically consists of 132 players, with exemptions granted to top finishers from the previous season, recent tournament winners, and through sponsor invitations. A three-hole aggregate playoff format is used in the event of a tie after regulation, a change from the former sudden-death format. As part of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup schedule, the winner earns 500 points towards the season-long competition. The event also features a popular pro-am competition earlier in the week, involving celebrities and amateur golfers.

Course and venue

The tournament is exclusively played on the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, a design collaboration between Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. The par-71, 7,261-yard layout is renowned for its risk-reward design, with the short par-4 17th and the iconic par-3 16th hole being the most famous. The 16th is completely enclosed by grandstands, creating a coliseum-like atmosphere unique in professional golf. The facility, owned by the PGA Tour, underwent a significant renovation in 2014 led by Tom Weiskopf to modernize the course. The venue is located in the Sonoran Desert and provides dramatic views of the McDowell Mountains.

Notable moments and records

The tournament is famed for historic moments, including Tiger Woods's ace at the 16th hole in 1997, which ignited the hole's stadium reputation. Andrew Magee scored the only par-4 hole-in-one in PGA Tour history at the 2001 event. Phil Mickelson has won the event three times, with his 2013 victory being a dramatic playoff win. The largest recorded crowd for a single day exceeded 200,000 spectators, often centered around the 16th hole. Low scoring records include Mark Calcavecchia's 28-under par winning total in 2001, and Phil Mickelson holding the course record with a second-round 60 in 2005.

Economic and environmental impact

The event generates an estimated economic impact of over $400 million for the Phoenix metropolitan area, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. As a "Zero Waste Challenge" event led by Waste Management, Inc., it has diverted over 100% of tournament waste from landfills since 2013 through aggressive recycling, composting, and donation programs. The tournament's Greenest Show on Grass initiative includes extensive water recovery, renewable energy use, and carbon offset programs. Charitable fundraising by The Thunderbirds historically exceeds $10 million annually, benefiting local Arizona charities like Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.

Winners

The tournament has a storied list of champions, with multiple winners including Arnold Palmer (1961, 1962, 1963), Phil Mickelson (1996, 2005, 2013), and Hideki Matsuyama (2016, 2017). Other notable champions are Jack Nicklaus (1964), Ben Hogan (1947), Byron Nelson (1939), and recent winners like Scottie Scheffler (2023) and Nick Taylor (2024). Gary Woodland's 2018 victory was particularly emotional, coming after a family tragedy. International winners have hailed from Japan, Canada, Australia, and Spain, reflecting the global nature of the PGA Tour. Category:Golf tournaments in Arizona Category:PGA Tour events Category:Sport in Phoenix, Arizona