Waste Management Phoenix Open cleans up with four “Best Of” awards at PGA TOUR Tournament Meetings
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., December 9, 2013 / 3BLMedia/ — The Waste Management Phoenix Open was honored by the PGA TOUR with four awards at the TOUR’s Tournament Meetings on Thursday, December 5, at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The Scottsdale, Ariz., based event earned awards for “Best Title Sponsor Integration,” “Best Special Event,” “Best Promotional Idea” and “Most Engaged Community” for the 2013 event at TPC Scottsdale.
“On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I am pleased to congratulate the Waste Management Phoenix Open for being named the best among its peers on TOUR,” said PGA TOUR EVP and Chief of Operations Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee should be proud of the special recognition the event has earned for its efforts.”
The Waste Management Phoenix Open earned “Best Title Sponsor Integration” by utilizing Waste Management’s expertise to completely power the event by renewable sources – solar, wind and biomass. In addition, 100 percent of all tournament waste was diverted to recycling, composting and waste-to-energy endeavors. All trash cans on the premises were replaced with 5,795 recycling and compost bins. It was in conjunction with these environmental undertakings that the event also received the “Best Promotional Idea” award.
For the “Most Engaged Community” category, the Waste Management Phoenix Open won with its impressive attendance results. During the third round, the event set a single-day PGA TOUR attendance record of 179,022, with a total of 525,821 for the week. More than 600 members of the media were credentialed to cover the event and Birds’ Nest activities. Additionally, 4,000 volunteers helped make it possible for the Waste Management Phoenix Open to raise $6.2 million for hundreds of area charities.
The tournament’s fourth award, “Best Special Event,” resulted from its Phoenix Suns Charities Shot at Glory. Comprised of celebrities, business leaders, Wounded Warriors and one lucky fan, this closest-to-the-pin contest at TPC Scottsdale’s famed 16th hole awarded more than $100,000 to charities chosen by the competitors.
“We’re thrilled, earning four different awards is really gratifying,” said 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Tom King. “Without our incredible title sponsor in Waste Management and The Thunderbirds, none of this could be possible. The Waste Management Phoenix Open has grown from not just the ‘Greatest Show on Grass,’ but the ‘Greenest Show on Grass’. The sustainability program we’ve been able to put into place has us really pumped up.”
The 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open, won this year by Phil Mickelson, will be held January 27-February 2 at TPC Scottsdale.
About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Web.com Tour, NEC Series-PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China.
The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 945 million households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2012, tournaments across all Tours generated more than $130 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to $1.86 billion.
The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
CONTACT
Joel Schuchmann, PGA TOUR, 904-280-4707, joelschuchmann@pgatourhq.com
