WM Phoenix Open

An Interview with PGA TOUR Veteran Charley Hoffman

September 9, 2020 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

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What’s it like going from 20-year PGA TOUR veteran to third-grade teacher? Charley Hoffman, Waste Management brand ambassador and four-time winner on the PGA TOUR had enough time on his hands to sit down with 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins for a virtual chat. On the list of topics was the state of his golf game coming out of quarantine and some of the unique challenges we’re all facing these days.

“I’m glad I’m good at golf,” said Hoffman when asked about how he fared as an elementary school instructor. “I’m a four or five (out of 10) at best.”

Hoffman and Jenkins discussed everything from Charley’s most memorable PGA TOUR memory, what it’s like playing without fans, what it’s like being at the center of attention at the famed 16^th hole coliseum at TPC Scottsdale, and of course, his relationship with Waste Management.

To see the full interview, take a look at the video above.

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Longtime Thunderbirds Executive Director John Bridger To Be Inducted Into Arizona Sports Hall Of Fame

September 8, 2020 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

John Bridger, former executive director of The Thunderbirds who retired in May of 2020, has been elected to the 2020 Arizona Sports Hall of Fame class by the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission. John will be formally inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 class on Friday, April 23, 2021 at The Phoenician Resort and will be joined by the rest of the 2020 class that includes three-time WM Phoenix Open champion Phil Mickelson and former Phoenix Suns head coach Paul Westphal.

“Congratulations to each member of this diverse, stellar Arizona Sports Hall of Fame class,” Crest Insurance Group President Cody Ritchie said. “These worthy honorees have made important contributions to Arizona sports, both on and off the field, and we are proud to recognize each of them.”

The Arizona Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches, administrators, and others who have made significant contributions to Arizona sports. The 2020 class was selected by a vote of trustees and the public, which elected Bridger in online balloting.

To be eligible for the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, an individual must meet one of three criteria:

A native of Arizona.
Immediately recognized as an Arizonan.
Have made at least two significant contributions to the athletics community in Arizona.

“Arizona has a rich sports tradition, and this Arizona Sports Hall of Fame class exemplifies that tradition perfectly,” ASEC Executive Director Nikki Balich-Cammarata said. “Each of these individuals has played an important role in shaping our state’s sports history.”

John took over as executive director of The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – in 2002 with a goal to steward the group into worldwide success. After 18 years of exceptional leadership, loyal and unwavering community service, more than $100 million raised for Arizona charities under his watch, and recognition from the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, we can say – without a doubt – John accomplished that goal.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor John, and it’s only fitting that you will be in the same class as Phil Mickelson!

The Thunderbirds Team Up With Arizona Helping Hands for Back-to-School Mission

August 31, 2020 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

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To assist Arizona Helping Hands in their mission to provide essential needs for children in foster care, The Thunderbirds – hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open – recently visited the AZ Helping Hands warehouse to assemble backpacks chock-full with back-to-school essentials.

“We were so excited to host The Thunderbirds,” said Jodie Sprayberry, Arizona Helping Hands CEO. “We had a whole bunch of guys volunteering. They put together bikes, backpacks, first aid kits, everything we could think of. It made such a huge difference and we can’t thank them enough.”

Along with financial assistance that hundreds of local charities receive each year from the Waste Management Phoenix Open , The Thunderbirds have been lending a hand in person, going to various charities as a group to offer much needed help to the staff’s by packing food and water to local food banks and the assist they gave Helping Hands to get kids back to schools safely.

“It’s a great feeling to assist these charities financially, but even more rewarding in person when you really see the effect is has on so many in need,” said Ed Grant of The Thunderbirds. “It is a lot of fun to work together alongside my fellow Thunderbirds and to really have an impact on the community.

Thunderbirds Charities – the charitable giving arm of The Thunderbirds – has been a long-time supporter of AZ Helping Hands and their vision to ensure every child in foster case is safe and loved.

“Thunderbirds Charities is very proud of our 10-year partnership with Arizona Helping Hands,” said Ed Grant of The Thunderbirds. “Especially during this pandemic where so many children who are used to getting service – either from their church or their school – are not receiving them right now. But Arizona Helping Hands continued to provide that. It’s very meaningful and it’s very important to us.”

To learn more about Arizona Helping Hands, visit their website HERE.

To donate to Arizona Helping Hands, CLICK HERE.

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Update from 2021 Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins

August 19, 2020 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

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“Over the last five months, the world has been rocked by unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the hosts of one of the leading community-driven sporting events in the world, The Thunderbirds are doing everything in our power to continue to lead community involvement through the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the hundreds of charities that we support.

The health and safety of the PGA TOUR professionals, sponsors, vendors, and, of course, the greatest fans in golf, is of paramount importance. As a result, The Thunderbirds have been working closely with the PGA TOUR, the State of Arizona and the City of Scottsdale in planning for this year’s tournament.

Due to continued health challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the landscape at the Waste Management Phoenix Open will unfortunately look different this year. This week, we notified our suite holders that most of the hospitality venues that create our event’s incredible tournament atmosphere will not be constructed. In light of the fact that we usually start building our venues in late September/early October, it is just not prudent to do so under the current circumstances.

However, ‘The People’s Open’ just would not be the same without our fans, so it is our every intention to have fans at the Waste Management Phoenix Open during the week of February 1. In cooperation with Waste Management and our other partners, we are pivoting and planning an event that may have less fans and venues but will still be a world-class event that will make our community proud and support our charity partners.

In closing, I would just like to say thank you to our community for your ongoing support. We are truly fortunate to live in the Valley of the Sun and you are the reason our organization is able support our local charities, which is now as critical as ever.

Please stay tuned for future announcements and opportunities relating to 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Thank you.”

Scott Jenkins
Tournament Chairman,
2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open

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The Thunderbirds Team Up with Special Olympics Arizona Staff to Help Pack ‘Return to Play’ Bags for SOAZ Athletes

August 17, 2020 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

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Playing safely is of paramount importance these days, and thanks to The Thunderbirds, when Special Olympics Arizona athletes return to competition, they will be doing so in a safe manner. Recently, The Thunderbirds went to Special Olympics Arizona’s headquarters in Perryville, Ariz. to help prepare 140 “Return to Play” bags full of personal protection equipment like thermometers, masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to assist SOAZ programs start planning to resume activities.

“This is why we host the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” said 2021 Tournament Chairman Scott Jenkins. “To be able to give back to organizations like Special Olympics is why we work as hard as we do to sell ticket packages and all the other sponsorships available at ‘The People’s Open’.”

Take a look at the video to see all the amazing work The Thunderbirds and Special Olympics Arizona are doing in the local community.

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Thunderbirds Sponsor Arizona High School National Title Winners

August 12, 2020 by WM Phoenix Open Leave a Comment

(left to right) Sydney Seigel, Carolyn Fuller, Katie Stinchcomb, Kyla Wilde and Lexi Pelle

The Thunderbirds’ mission, outside of hosting the Waste Management Phoenix Open, has always been to promote local communities through sports – most notably the game of golf – and support children and families and Arizona. Through a special grant by Thunderbirds Charities, the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) supported local 2019-2020 state high school golf championship teams invited to the national event with traveling money for the trip to North Carolina.

The 2020 High School Golf National Invitational took place August 3-5 at Pinehurst, and when Arizona high school golf made headlines during the event nobody was cheering louder than The Thunderbirds.

“Most people think of The Thunderbirds and professional golf, but they also support youth golf in a big way. We allocate some of our grant money from Thunderbirds Charities to help local junior golfers and their teams with national-level events like these,” said Scott McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “If kids need financial assistance to make the trip, they can make a request straight to the JGAA, and we do our best to offset some costs, so they can focus on playing their best.”

The Pinnacle Pioneers Girls’ Golf team is a great example. Emboldened by last fall’s historic win over perennial favorites Xavier Prep Gators, they edged out Ohio by six strokes over the three-round competition to win the team title, while Tucson’s Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks came in third place.

(left to right) Raina Ports, Kaylee Jewkes, Zoe Newell, Makenna Brown, Celia Schrecker and Hannah Ports.

Bound for college golf at Memphis, Pinnacle’s Katie Stinchcomb shot 2-over-par 218 (74-72-72) to lead the Pioneers with a second-place finish individually, only two strokes off the pace set by medalist, Loralie Cowart, of Georgia. Stinchcomb’s teammate Sydney Seigel finished in 14^th place at 12-over par, Carolyn Fuller landed at 27^th place, Kayla Wilde came in 31^st and Lexi Pelle made 82^nd place.

Zoe Newell of Tucson finished T22 individually to lead the Nighthawks with rounds of 76-77-81. Her 18-over-par 234 was reinforced by teammates Raina Ports at 28^thplace, Hannah Ports at T33, Celia Schrecker at T45, Lucy Newell at T53, Makenna Brown at T86 and Kaylee Jewkes at T98.

The Hamilton Huskies’ Anawin Pikulthong took the boys individual title at 10-under-par 206. Pikulthong erased a couple bogeys early in the first round with four birdies to shoot 2-under 70. He then went on to post two bogey-free 68s in the second and third rounds, to finish four shots clear of second-place finisher, Ben Warian, of Minnesota. The balance of the Huskies pack mushed for a fifth-place finish: Johnny Walker T11, Nick Lippe T93, Ryo T160 and Ethan Adam 207.

Congratulations to all Arizonans who competed in the 2020 High School Golf National Invitational. It takes talent and a little support to compete on the national stage, so next time you’re at The People’s Open, don’t be afraid to order that second Thunderdog. There’s a good chance at least a part of the proceeds will go to little golfers with big dreams.