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| Waste Management Phoenix Open | |
|---|---|
| Name | Phoenix Open |
| Location | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Established | 1932 |
| Course | TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) |
| Par | 71 |
| Yardage | 7385 |
| Tour | PGA Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Month | February |
| Aggregate | 259 (1999) |
| To-par | −29 (1999) |
| Current champion | (varies) |
Waste Management Phoenix Open
The Phoenix Open is a prominent PGA Tour professional golf tournament held annually in Scottsdale, Arizona at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Founded in 1932, the event has grown into one of the most attended and commercially significant tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar, noted for its unique spectator environment, celebrity attendees, and extensive corporate partnerships. The tournament serves as both a competitive stop for elite players and a major fundraising platform for regional charitable organizations and foundations.
The tournament traces origins to the Phoenix Open events of the early 20th century and became an official stop on the PGA Tour schedule in the mid-20th century. Over decades the event has seen winners who are major champions and future World Golf Hall of Fame inductees, with champions including Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. Corporate sponsorship evolved through partnerships with regional and national companies, culminating in title sponsorship by a leading waste management firm which expanded the event’s branding and philanthropic reach. The move to the modern Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale in 1987 redefined the tournament’s spectator experience and media profile.
The Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale was designed with input from Tom Weiskopf and opened to host PGA Tour competition, featuring a signature 16th hole amphitheater that seats tens of thousands. The course layout emphasizes strategically placed bunkers, water hazards, and undulating greens, challenging players such as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm who have contended in recent editions. The venue complex includes practice facilities used by touring professionals, corporate hospitality suites frequented by executives from firms like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, and media hubs for networks including NBC Sports, ESPN, and Golf Channel. Local landmarks near the site include Scottsdale Stadium and proximity to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The tournament follows standard PGA Tour stroke play format over 72 holes with a 36-hole cut, attracting a diverse field composed of FedEx Cup point leaders, past champions of the event, major championship winners, and sponsor exemptions. Eligibility criteria often include top finishers from the previous season’s FedEx Cup standings, recent tournament winners, and top-ranked players from the Official World Golf Ranking such as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Viktor Hovland. The event’s Monday qualifiers historically provided pathways for club professionals and rising talents, while special invitations have featured celebrities and international stars from tours like the European Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organization.
Memorable moments include playoff victories, record low rounds, and dramatic final-round comebacks by players like Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. The tournament aggregate scoring record was set in 1999 and remains a benchmark for scoring prowess akin to records set at The Memorial Tournament and The Players Championship. The raucous atmosphere at the 16th hole produced iconic images and viral moments involving competitors and crowds, comparable in cultural impact to fan sections at The Masters Tournament and U.S. Open (golf). Several winners used the victory as a springboard to triumphs at The Open Championship, PGA Championship, and other major championships.
The event is routinely the highest-attended stop on the PGA Tour each year, with single-week attendance figures rivaling major professional sporting events such as Super Bowl host cities and NASCAR races. Economic impact studies commissioned by regional bodies like the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and local chambers of commerce estimate significant boosts to hospitality sectors, generating hotel bookings, restaurant revenue, and tourism tied to the tournament week. Corporate hospitality and sponsorship agreements with firms including American Airlines, Fry's Food Stores, and national broadcasters contribute to local tax receipts and seasonal employment.
The tournament’s charitable arm distributes proceeds to local and national nonprofit partners, supporting causes championed by organizations such as Phoenix Children's Hospital, regional youth sports programs, and environmental initiatives. Grantmaking and volunteer programs align with philanthropic entities like United Way affiliates and community foundations, funding healthcare, education, and recreational facilities in Maricopa County. The event’s legacy includes supporting junior golf through partnerships with the First Tee program and donating to scholarship funds for aspiring athletes.
Broadcasting rights have been held by major sports networks including NBC Sports and ESPN, with round-by-round coverage augmented by the Golf Channel and digital platforms offering live streaming and highlights. Media attention often focuses on star competitors from the Official World Golf Ranking top 50, celebrity appearances, and the unique spectator culture at the Stadium Course’s 16th hole. Social media engagement on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and emerging streaming services amplifies highlights, while print outlets such as the Arizona Republic and national publications like Golf Digest and Sports Illustrated provide in-depth reporting and feature stories.
Category:PGA Tour events Category:Golf in Arizona