Latest Golf News

COMMITMENT TO PGA TOUR’S WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN NOW THROUGH 2030.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – Celebrating its 10th year as title sponsor of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Waste Management has signed an early renewal that will continue its commitment to the tournament for another decade, through 2030.

The new agreement, which also covers Waste Management’s marketing relationship with the PGA TOUR as the Official Environmental Waste Services Provider, was announced today by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and Waste Management President and CEO Jim Fish at TPC Scottsdale, site of this week’s 84th Waste Management Phoenix Open. It replaces a 10-year deal that started with the 2016 tournament.

“We love this event and atmosphere, how it strengthens our brand and most importantly, the platform it provides Waste Management to lead by example in showcasing zero waste environmental solutions and inspiring fans to make a positive difference for our planet,” Fish said. “Together with The Thunderbirds, we are very proud of what we’ve accomplished for the benefit of the community and the environment over the last 10 years. We look forward to making an even greater impact in the decade to come.”

Over the past 10 years, Waste Management has used the tournament as a platform to educate and implement various environmental and sustainability initiatives, most notably, the Zero Waste Challenge. Since the Challenge was introduced in 2013, Waste Management has diverted 100 percent of tournament waste to its next best use through recycling, composting, donation, reuse and creating energy. This is particularly impressive for what is easily the highest attended golf tournament on TOUR with well over a half-million fans each year.

In the opening round of the 2019 Farmers Insurance Open, Jon Rahm jumped out early and then finished strong with four birdies on his last five holes on his way to carding a 10-under 62, one-stroke clear of the field heading into Friday.

Chicago Cubs World Series Champion and three-time All-Star Anthony Rizzo; NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Golden Tate are among the latest celebrities from the sports and entertainment world who will be playing in the Annexus Pro-Am at the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by the Ak-Chin Indian Community on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

Additionally, Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, two-time Super Bowl Champion Richard Dent, Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano, Arizona Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo, World Long Drive Champion Troy Mullins and country music star Chris Lane have also been added to the star-studded field.

Tee times for the Annexus Pro-Am will range from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Exact tee times for participants will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 29 on www.wmphoenixopen.com, along with a complete list of celebrities and PGA TOUR players in the field.

The list of athletes and celebrities who have previously committed include Michael Phelps, Patrick Peterson, Archie Bradley, Justin Verlander, Greg Maddux, Jake Owen and Emmitt Smith.

Since then there have been five more 59s and one 58 shot on the PGA Tour — including two of them shot by 2018 Ryder Cup USA Captain Jim Furyk.

In honor of the anniversary of Duval’s milestone, we take a look at each 59 and 58 shot in Tour history.

First, the only 58 shot on the PGA Tour:

Read More

Peachtree Corners, Ga. – Tina Tombs of The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club and Alex Fisher of the J.W. Marriott Wildfire Golf Club have been named to U.S. Kids Golf’s annual list of Master Kids Coaches. The Award recognizes the world’s most outstanding youth golf instructors, and Tombs is part of a select group that earned Top 50 accolades three times, earning the Master Kids Coach Award.

Since 2004, U.S. Kids Golf has honored the best youth golf teachers with the Top 50 Kids Teacher Award. Applicants complete an online survey and winners are chosen based on their contributions to youth golf, including: experience and time devoted teaching young golfers; innovation, creativity, and fun in their programs; communication; parental involvement; use of a well-organized instruction program and an overall effort to grow the game.

In 2008, U.S. Kids Golf introduced the Master Kids Coach Award which honors those who have been awarded the Top 50 Kids Coach Award three times. Tombs joins the elite list of 167 Master Kids Coaches along with 11 others who are being recognized this year.

“The teachers and coaches who win this award play an important part in our corporate mission to make the game of golf for kids,” said Dan Van Horn, President and CEO of U.S. Kids Golf. “Our goal in recognizing these youth golf coaches is to both recognize their accomplishments and also to help parents find  quality golf instruction for their kids.”

Waste Management Honored With First “Water Stewardship Influencer Award” Presented By Green Sports Alliance & Bonneville Environmental Foundation

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Jan. 18, 2019 — Waste Management was recently honored with the “Water Stewardship Influencer Award” presented by Green Sports Alliance and Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) for the company’s awareness and conservation efforts at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The award was presented at the ASU Sports and Sustainability Symposium held at Arizona State University on January 17. BEF teamed with the Green Sports Alliance to honor organizations that are not only exhibiting excellence in water conservation and restoration, but also leveraging their position to bring others along with them to directly grow a movement around environmental water stewardship.

"For the past five years, Waste Management has helped to move the needle for corporate environmental water stewardship in Arizona,” said Todd Reeve, CEO of Bonneville Environmental Foundation. “Leveraging the power and influence of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, they have driven awareness and resources to conserving water, reusing grey water, and restoring freshwater to nature in a state and at a time when it could not be more important. For these reasons and more, we are thrilled to partner with the Green Sports Alliance to honor Waste Management with the first Water Stewardship Influencer Award.”

Waste Management and the tournament hosts, The Thunderbirds, implement water conservation measures to ensure water is used responsibly at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Measures include handwashing stations utilizing hand sanitizer instead of water and grey water is collected in the kitchens across the course as well as the hospitality bars on the 16th hole to be reused in portable toilets to reduce freshwater usage.

Adoring fans call the Waste Management Phoenix Open the “Greatest Show on Grass.” We’re willing to bet it has something to do with the party-like atmosphere on the 16th hole. Surrounded on all sides by stadium seating, the 16th hole draws spectators who are there for a good time as much as they are to see pros like Phil Mickelson and J.B. Holmes duke it out. In honor of the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament, we’re counting down the top five most memorable moments (to date!) on the 16th hole:

1988

Two years after winning the entire tournament, PGA TOUR professional Hal Sutton made the first hole-in-one on the 16th during the third round of the event. At that time, the tournament was known simply as the Phoenix Open.

1995

In a major step toward amplifying the Waste Management Phoenix Open’s party atmosphere, the tournament’s first corporate skyboxes made their appearance along the 16th hole’s southern embankment this year. Today, Skybox tickets on the 16th hole are the most in-demand of the entire golf event.

2009

The “coliseum” takes shape as the 16th hole is completely surrounded by stands, making it the first golf hole of its kind on the PGA TOUR. The grandstands seat between 15,000 and 20,000 spectators, and that’s not counting the corporate skyboxes.

2000

Arizona State University students and golf fans officially tag the 16th hole as “The House that Phil Built” after former Sun Devil and three-time Phoenix Open Champion Phil Mickelson. Mickelson won the tournament in 1996, 2005 and 2013.

1997

Tiger Woods hits the “shot heard ‘round the world” on the 16th hole when he sank an ace. The event exposed the world to the fun and rowdy atmosphere of the Phoenix Open as it was replayed on television over and over (and over – still, to this day!).

Buy one VIP, get one VIP 50 percent off to Saturday’s headline event Presented by Omnia Nightclub to see the No. 1 DJ in the world, Martin Garrix; along with DJ Vice and Justin Mylo. This special seven day FLASH promotion begins Thursday, January 17 at 8 a.m., and will run through Wednesday, January 23. VIP tickets start at $300 – The second ticket, when purchasing two, will cost $150.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

FREE ADMISSION OFFER IS GOOD ON MONDAY, JAN. 28 AND TUESDAY, JAN. 29

Thanks to Ford, the Official Vehicle of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by the Ak-Chin Indian Community, all fans will be admitted FREE of charge on Monday, Jan. 28 and Tuesday, Jan. 29 to the Waste Management Phoenix Open as part of “Ford Free Days” courtesy of your Arizona Ford Dealers.

As part of the renewed partnership, the second-annual closest-to-the-pin contest called “FORD Drive for Your Ride” will be held on the iconic 16^th hole, giving players a chance to win a new Ford Edge ST and to give a new Ford Edge ST to one of ten local non-profit organizations. 

“This marks the fourth consecutive year our event and Ford have teamed up to offer free admission to all of our fans,” said Tournament Chairman Chance Cozby. “Ford has been an outstanding partner. We’re thrilled to offer Ford Free Days once again, but even more so to share a common commitment to our local communities.”

Monday’s schedule includes practice rounds by PGA TOUR players and the Kadima.Ventures Pro-Am, while Tuesday will include practice rounds, the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day, the popular San Tan Ford Special Olympics Open and the PGA TOUR Wives Classic.