Miles Bennett
The WM Phoenix Open, known as The Greatest Show on Grass, is a professional golf tournament held annually in early February at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona. It is the best-attended golf tournament in the world, drawing over 500,000 spectators each year. The event is known for its relaxed and lively atmosphere, with the par-3 16th hole, nicknamed The Coliseum, being a particular highlight for fans. The WM Phoenix Open is also notable for its commitment to sustainability and waste management, aiming to produce zero waste and diverting 100% of tournament waste from landfills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | WM Phoenix Open |
| Other Names | Waste Management Phoenix Open, The People's Open, The Greatest Show on Grass, The Greenest Show on Grass |
| Location | TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States |
| Attendance | 500,000-700,000 |
| Year | Annually in early February |
| Sponsors | Waste Management, Inc., Thunderbirds Charities |
| Waste Policy | Zero Waste |
| Charitable Donations | Over $226 million |
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What You'll Learn
- The WM Phoenix Open is the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world
- The event has raised over $226 million for charities
- The tournament is held annually in early February
- The WM Phoenix Open is considered the Greenest Show on Grass
- The event is committed to producing zero waste and raising awareness within the community
The WM Phoenix Open is the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world
The WM Phoenix Open is an annual golf tournament held in early February at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the best-attended golf tournament in the world, with more than 500,000 to 700,000 fans in attendance each year. The tournament is known for its relaxed and lively atmosphere, attracting both golfers and non-golfers alike. It has earned the nickname "The Greatest Show on Grass" and is considered one of the most popular events on the PGA Tour calendar.
The WM Phoenix Open is also known for its commitment to sustainability and waste management. For 12 consecutive years, the tournament has proudly held the title of the world's largest zero-waste sporting event. This means that none of the tournament's waste ends up in landfills. Instead, all materials are either recycled or diverted to alternative options, ensuring a minimal environmental impact.
The event's sustainability initiatives extend beyond waste management. The WM Phoenix Open also focuses on balancing water usage and reducing its greenhouse gas footprint. Additionally, the tournament raises awareness within the community and contributes to long-term initiatives that have a positive impact beyond the golf course.
The WM Phoenix Open's commitment to zero waste is an integral part of its identity. It aims to educate fans and viewers at home about the importance of recycling and inspire them to adopt more sustainable practices in their daily lives. This includes learning how to recycle correctly and finding new ways to give hard-to-recycle plastics a second life.
The success of the WM Phoenix Open in waste management has been recognized by the PGA TOUR, winning the "Best Title Sponsor Integration Award" for diverting 100% of tournament waste from landfills. This achievement sets a precedent for other sporting events and demonstrates that large-scale events can be both exciting and environmentally conscious.
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The event has raised over $226 million for charities
The WM Phoenix Open, known as "The Greatest Show on Grass", is an annual golf tournament held in early February at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is considered the best-attended golf tournament in the world, attracting more than 500,000 to 700,000 fans each year.
The event has a rich history, dating back to its early beginnings as the Arizona Open in 1932. Over the years, it has undergone several name changes, including the Phoenix Open and the FBR Open, before Waste Management, Inc. began its sponsorship in 2010, leading to its current branding as the WM Phoenix Open.
The WM Phoenix Open is not just renowned for its golfing action but also for its charitable impact. The event has raised an impressive amount for charities, with Thunderbirds Charities, the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds, playing a crucial role in distributing the funds.
To date, the WM Phoenix Open, with the support of Thunderbirds Charities, has raised an astonishing total of over $226 million for Arizona non-profit organizations. This includes a record-breaking year in 2025, where the tournament generated $18.1 million for local charities, marking the highest single-year total in its history.
The funds raised have made a significant difference in the community, supporting organizations that assist children and families, helping people in need, and improving the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix area. The Thunderbirds have also actively contributed to organizing the tournament and using portions of the proceeds to fund Special Olympics activities in Phoenix.
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The tournament is held annually in early February
The WM Phoenix Open is held annually in early February. Known as "The Greatest Show on Grass", the tournament is the best-attended golf event in the world, attracting over 700,000 fans in total, with a five-day attendance of around half a million. The WM Phoenix Open is also one of the first events on the PGA TOUR calendar, making it a great way to kick off the year for golf enthusiasts.
The tournament takes place at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. The event has a long history, dating back to 1932, although it was discontinued after the 1935 tournament. It was revived in 1939, and since 1987, it has been held at its current location, the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale.
The WM Phoenix Open is known for its unique atmosphere, which is considered raucous by professional golf standards. The most iconic aspect of the tournament is the famed 16th hole, nicknamed "The Coliseum". This par-3 hole is surrounded by a multi-tier grandstand that can accommodate 20,000 spectators, making it the loudest hole in golf. The 16th hole is a fan favourite, with spectators actively participating in the event by cheering good shots and booing poor ones.
The WM Phoenix Open is also distinguished by its commitment to sustainability and zero waste. For 12 consecutive years, the tournament has achieved the distinction of being the world's largest zero-waste sporting event, ensuring that no waste from the tournament ends up in landfills. This involves implementing various diversion options for materials and educating fans on proper recycling practices. The event also raises awareness within the community and contributes to long-term initiatives beyond the golf course.
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The WM Phoenix Open is considered the Greenest Show on Grass
The WM Phoenix Open is an annual golf tournament held in early February at TPC Scottsdale in the Sonoran Desert. It is part of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and is known as the "Greatest Show on Grass" or the Greenest Show on Grass for its sustainability efforts. The WM Phoenix Open is the largest zero-waste sporting event in the world, diverting 100% of tournament waste from landfills. The event has won the PGA TOUR's "Best Title Sponsor Integration Award" for its waste management practices.
The WM Phoenix Open has committed to producing zero waste and inspiring spectators to rethink what a sporting event can be. Recycling is a cornerstone of this initiative, with a focus on educating fans and viewers on how to recycle correctly. All waste from the 2022 tournament was recycled, composted, converted to energy, or donated. There were no trash cans on the course in 2022, only recycling and compost bins. Solar-powered compactors were also placed across the course to collect recycling and compost materials.
Water restoration is another key component of the WM Phoenix Open's sustainability efforts. Water from kitchens and bars is reused in portable restrooms, and millions of gallons are restored to support AZ Tribal Nations through Water Restoration Certificates. The event has also incorporated water education throughout the tournament to raise awareness. In addition, all electricity purchased for course operations is 100% renewable.
The WM Phoenix Open has distributed millions of dollars in monies raised through the tournament to charities, with a focus on supporting organizations that assist children and families, helping people in need, and improving the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix area. The event also contributes to long-term initiatives that span beyond the course, such as emissions reduction, sustainable materials management, and feeding the hungry through local non-profits.
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The event is committed to producing zero waste and raising awareness within the community
The WM Phoenix Open is the largest Zero-Waste sporting event in the world. The event has committed to producing zero waste and raising awareness within the community for 12 consecutive years. It is also known as "The Greatest Show on Grass" and is considered the Greenest Show on Grass. The event is held at TPC Scottsdale annually in early February and is the best-attended golf tournament in the world, with more than 500,000 to 700,000 fans in attendance.
The WM Phoenix Open has raised more than $165 million for charities in its 85-year history, with Thunderbirds Charities distributing the monies raised to support organisations that assist children and families, help people in need, and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix area. The event has also committed to educating fans and viewers at home about recycling, partnering with retailers to give hard-to-recycle plastics a new life.
The event's sustainability initiatives include diverting 100% of tournament waste from landfills, ensuring that not a single cup, can, sign, or container ends up in landfills. The WM Phoenix Open also focuses on balancing water usage and reducing its greenhouse gas footprint, considering all diversion options for materials and choosing the best option for each stream.
The WM Phoenix Open provides endless opportunities for education and engagement, raising awareness within the community and contributing to long-term initiatives that span far beyond the golf course. It has become a genuine phenomenon in the world of golf and the broader sporting consciousness, known for its relaxed and raucous atmosphere, unique characters, and enthusiastic fans.
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Frequently asked questions
The WM Phoenix Open is an annual golf tournament held in early February at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is considered the best-attended golf tournament in the world, with more than 500,000 fans in attendance each year.
The WM Phoenix Open is known for its unique atmosphere, with spectators becoming central to the event and transforming the famous 16th hole into "The Coliseum". It is also the largest Zero-Waste sporting event in the world, with all waste diverted from landfills.
The Phoenix Open began in 1932 but was discontinued after the 1935 tournament. It was revived in 1939 and has since become one of the most popular events on the PGA Tour calendar.
The tournament was originally known as the Arizona Open and then the Phoenix Open. In 2010, Waste Management, Inc. began its sponsorship, and the event became known as the WM Phoenix Open.
