WM PHOENIX OPEN SEEKING RECORD NINTH GEO CERTIFICATION

With the 2025 WM Phoenix Open set to begin next week at TPC Scottsdale (Feb 3 – 9), tournament organizers are seeking a record ninth GEO Certification, a holistic international distinction for sustainability in golf awarded and assured by Scotland-based GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation.

To achieve GEO Certified® Tournament status, the WM Phoenix Open must complete a custom-built program for golf tournaments, including: document and evidence submission across a broad range of priority sustainability themes and action areas, a third-party verification carried out by the Council for Responsible Sport (the official verification body for GEO Certified® Tournaments in North America), and a thorough review by GEO Certification Ltd, a subsidiary of GEO Foundation, in addition to agreeing to a range of ‘Continual Improvement Points’ that outline opportunities for the tournament to further sustainability progress.

The 2017 WM Phoenix Open became the first GEO Certified® PGA TOUR event, and the tournament has been awarded GEO certification each year since, for a total of eight times. Since 2013, WM has pursued a zero-waste approach at the tournament by diverting materials from landfills through recycling, composting, donation, reuse and using materials to recover energy and create fuel.

Since the WM Phoenix Open earned its first certification in 2017, a number of other professional golf tournaments have embraced sustainable golf, supported or recognized by the GEO Foundation, including The Open, The TOUR Championship, The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the DOW Championship, Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Omega European Masters and more.

Sustainability highlights for the 2025 WM Phoenix Open tournament are expected to include:

  • 100 percent landfill diversion through recycling, composting, donation, reuse and using materials to recover energy and create fuel.
  • WM and the tournament host, The Thunderbirds, plan to implement water conservation measures, including through the collection of gray water from hospitality bars to be reused in portable toilets.
  • WM and The Thunderbirds will continue to advance the tournament’s dual missions of leadership in sustainability and extraordinary charitable giving through the WM Phoenix Open Working For Tomorrow FundSM. In 2024, the fund’s first year, $419,000 was raised to fund projects that can benefit communities across Arizona, including water restoration projects through the Change the Course campaign, renewable energy initiatives taking place on Tribal Nations land, and projects to address hunger through Waste Not, an Arizona-based non-profit. In 2025, WM and The Thunderbirds are joined by 18 corporate sponsors that plan to support the WM Phoenix Open Working For Tomorrow FundSM.
  • In an effort to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the tournament plans to purchase 100 percent renewable electricity through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from Arizona Public Service. In addition, most WM trucks used to haul tournament materials run on compressed natural gas (CNG), which offers a 90% reduction in NOx emissions compared to those fueled by diesel.
  • WM will once again engage PGA TOUR players with the opportunity to balance their travel footprint.
  • In year three of an initiative to help reduce plastic water bottle use, WM and The Thunderbirds give fans the opportunity to refill their water containers (free of charge) at the WM Green Scene located in the tournament’s Fan Zone.
  • WM plans to work with Bold Reuse at the 2025 tournament to bring reusable cups to certain venues on the 16th and 18th holes, which could potentially help divert up to an estimated 32,000 single-use cups this year. The cups, which the tournament hopes to use year-after-year, are meant to be collected in dedicated reuse containers, washed and reused again.
  • In addition to these environmental measures, the tournament has an enormous impact on the community as well, raising more than $142 million since 2010 for charities.

Outside of the WM Phoenix Open, WM continues to be a leader in driving sustainability in sports. In 2024, WM became the first Official Sustainability Partner for Major League Baseball. Through 2028, WM will have the opportunity to provide WM’s advisory services for all 30 MLB Clubs in the U.S. and Canada and expects to build custom plans designed to improve operations for MLB and its Clubs from a sustainability-related perspective. WM is also a “Sustainability Partner” of the PGA TOUR, working with other professional golf tournaments to pursue sustainability-related goals and helping the PGA TOUR analyze its environmental footprint and develop a phased plan intended to reduce GHG emissions across all its properties – from office buildings to golf tournaments. WM currently supports sustainability programs for four sports leagues, 24 venues, 11 golf tournaments, multiple large events and a variety of non-sports customers.

WM is now in its 16th year as title sponsor of the Phoenix Open. For more information about how WM is helping other tournaments, venues and leagues with comprehensive sustainability programs, review the WM Advisory Services Sports and Entertainment Team deck.

ABOUT THE WM PHOENIX OPEN

The 2025 WM Phoenix Open will take place Feb. 3-9 at TPC Scottsdale. “The People’s Open” has been named Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR five times in acknowledgement of the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf. It also has been recognized as one of the largest zero waste sporting events in the world for 12 consecutive years. The 2025 edition of the WM Phoenix Open will mark the 90th playing of the event. For more information, visit www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.

ABOUT GEO SUSTAINABLE GOLF FOUNDATION

GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation is an international not-for-profit dedicated to helping accelerate sustainability and climate action in and through golf. The organization works collaboratively across the amateur and professional parts of golf to help the sport embrace and address key environmental and social issues, so that it can become widely acclaimed for its role in fostering nature, conserving resources, strengthening communities and taking climate action. GEO provides the OnCourse® programs and solutions for sustainable golf facilities, new developments and tournaments, each of which can lead to the internationally accredited, endorsed and independently verified GEO Certified® label. Find out more at www.sustainable.golf.

ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPION FRANKIE CAPAN III RECEIVES SECOND SPONSOR EXEMPTION FOR 2025 WM PHOENIX OPEN

Tournament Chairman Matt Mooney announced today PGA TOUR rookie and Arizona High School State Champion Frankie Capan III will receive the second of five sponsor exemptions for the 2025 WM Phoenix Open, scheduled for February 3–9 at TPC Scottsdale. The Florida Gulf Coast and Alabama Crimson Tide alum clinched a Top-30 spot on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List to earn his 2025 PGA TOUR card.

“We are beyond excited to welcome Frankie Capan III back to the Valley as a sponsor exemption to the 2025 WM Phoenix Open,” Mooney said.  “Frankie’s journey from winning back-to-back Arizona High School State Championships right here in Phoenix to earning his PGA TOUR card with standout performances is truly incredible. His recent T12 finish at The American Express shows he’s ready to compete at the highest level, and we can’t wait to see him take on the field at TPC Scottsdale.”

Capan III earned his PGA TOUR card by finishing third on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour points list, highlighted by a KFT playoff victory at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. He closed that event with a stellar performance, securing a two-shot win and cementing his spot among the Korn Ferry Tour’s top graduates. Earlier in the 2024 season, Capan III etched his name in history by shooting a 13-under 58 at the Veritex Bank Championship, setting a course record and tying the second-lowest round ever on the Korn Ferry Tour. His consistent play throughout the KFT season included 11 Top-25 finishes.

Capan III’s path to the PGA TOUR began with a standout amateur and collegiate career. After his back-to-back Arizona High School State Championships at Northwest Christian School in Phoenix (shot 59 in the final round to clinch his second title), he played his freshman year at the University of Alabama before transferring to Florida Gulf Coast University. As an amateur, Capan III gained recognition by winning the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship alongside Shuai Ming Wong.

Capan III currently ranks 42nd in the FedExCup standings thanks to his T12 at The American Express in La Quinta. The Junior Golf Association of Arizona alum served as a standard bearer during the 2012 WM Phoenix Open and will be making his first playing appearance at “The People’s Open.”

The Thunderbirds and WM have a total of five exemptions to award for the 2025 WM Phoenix Open. The remaining three exemptions will be announced leading up to the tournament.

GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING DJ AND PRODUCER TIËSTO TO REPLACE SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA FOR FINAL NIGHT OF COORS LIGHT BIRDS NEST

WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Matt Mooney announced today that GRAMMY-Award winning DJ/Producer Tiësto has been added to the 2025 Coors Light Birds Nest lineup, taking over for Swedish House Mafia, who unfortunately had to cancel due to personal matters. Tiësto and Special Guest GORDO will take to the stage on Saturday, Feb. 8, capping off four great nights of music at the Coors Light Birds Nest. Tickets for the Saturday show can be purchased at  CoorsLightBirdsNest.com.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Tiësto step in as our Saturday night headliner at the Coors Light Birds Nest,” Mooney said. “While of course Swedish House Mafia will be missed, Tiësto is an absolute legend in the world of electronic music and will undoubtedly bring an unforgettable energy to close out an incredible week.”

For fans who have already purchased tickets for the Saturday show, those tickets are still valid.   For fans who purchased Saturday tickets through the official tournament websites at www.WMPhoenixOpen.com or www.CoorsLightBirdsNest.com  (after the lineup was announced on Nov. 11th)  that would like to cancel their tickets and request a refund, they may do so by emailing Orders@WMPhoenixOpen.com. No refunds will be issued after Saturday’s show on February 8.  No ticket exchanges allowed. Tickets purchased through third parties or unofficial websites are not eligible for refunds through Orders@WMPhoenixOpen.com.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN REFUND INQUIRY

General admission tickets for Tiësto and GORDO will start at $125. VIP tickets and elevated experiences are available starting at $350 each and provide exclusive access to an enhanced VIP area where guests are treated to complimentary food and drinks and access to a premium viewing area for the shows.  Organizers encourage fans to buy their tickets early as ticket prices will increase as the event draws closer.

Limited tickets still remain for the Jelly Roll show on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Friday’s Nickelback show (Feb. 7).  The Luke Bryan and Nate Smith show on Thursday is completely sold out.

Tiësto is a pillar in electronic music and an artist that transcends beyond that – Tiësto is an experience. When you hear the name and hear his signature sound on the dance floor, you know you’re about to have the best night of your life. Throughout his unparalleled career, the GRAMMY® Award-winning, Platinum-certified, international icon has brought electronic music to the masses, first rising out of the underground scene to become one of the biggest and most influential DJ/producers of all time. He’s played the mainstage of every major international dance music festival and created the template for Las Vegas DJ residencies.

Meanwhile, he’s sold more than 36M albums, clocked six Billboard “Hot 100” hits and aggregated an incredible 11B+ worldwide streams. But the truth is, Tiësto is just now getting started. A leading figure of the global Dance Music movement, he helped forge the bridge between electronic and pop, evolving the sound of mainstream music itself in the process. The artist born Tijs Verwest has found a particular sweet spot in this crossover realm, gaining critical acclaim and millions of new fans with a litany of hits. His new LP, Drive, finds the artist at the height of his powers. Named for the perpetual momentum of his career and the physical movement his work continues to inspire, Drive makes the thrill of the dance floor available whenever, and wherever, listeners turn it on.

GORDO is a new house music alias from the artist previously known as Carnage. More than that, it is a new way of life and a new way of thinking for Diamanté. With this renewed sense of energy comes his essential new house sound. It is a passionate, heartfelt new beginning for GORDO that will redefine house music for the next generation.

Off to a quick start, his world tour has seen him perform at iconic venues such as Hï Ibiza, Green Valley, Shalvata Tel Aviv, Lollapalooza, Fiction Canberra, Savaya Bali, and more. Meanwhile, GORDO continues to curate his own event series; TARAKA, a brand which has been taking over the world, popping up in places like San Francisco, Miami, Tulum, Mykonos, Medellin, Amsterdam, Acapulco, New York, Bulgaria, and Detroit.

His quest for this new sound has led to releases such as ‘KTM’, which became an instant Top 10 hit on the Beatport Main Chart, TARAKA, which was named after his own event series, the techno-infused speaker-rattling ‘Leaving Earth’ with KAS:ST, the widely acclaimed ‘RIZZLA’; GORDO’s first release with The Martinez Brothers, and house anthem ‘R U 4REAL’. Diamanté solidified his name as GORDO as he broke ground with 6 production on Drake’s latest dance-infused album ‘Honestly Nevermind’ and got crowned #1 producer on Billboard’s Hot 100 producers and #1 Hispanic DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100.