Left: 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open Champion: Kyle Stanley

The Greatest Show on Grass, a.k.a. the Waste Management Phoenix Open, returns to TPC Scottsdale January 28 through February 3, 2013.

2012 Tournament Champion Kyle Stanley is back to defend his title after an exciting come-from-behind victory over 54-hole leader Spencer Levin. In fact, much of the golf world called it, “The comeback of the year.”

So, what’s new at the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open? For starters, tournament officials plan to increase fan engagement opportunities via mobile devices while on property during tournament week. Last year was the first year in tournament history that cell phones and other PDA’s were allowed into the tournament. This year, spectators will enjoy several new ways in which they can interact amongst themselves and with the tournament. And, don’t forget to scan the QR Codes located around the tournament. These codes will be your access point to a wealth of interesting tidbits you won’t find anywhere else.

Spectators will notice an increased amount of skyboxes on both the famous 16th hole and elsewhere on property. The 16th hole, for example, will now have a total of 177 skyboxes an increase of 22 skyboxes from the 2012 event. And speaking of hospitality, tournament officials are planning a special venue for active and retired military personnel and their families affectionately called, The Patriot Outpost. Located just off the 18th fairway, The Patriot Outpost includes hosted food and beverages for the men and women who selflessly protect our country as well as their families. Traditionally, the tournament has allowed these service men and women into the tournament for FREE. This year, in addition to free admission, there’ll be a place for them to enjoy the tournament comfortably and build camaraderie among their peers. 

And, at the 2013 Coors Light Birds Nest the entertainment line-up is one of the best in recent years. Country superstar Dierks Bentley and Birds Nest crowd favorite O.A.R. will headline the four nights of entertainment. Multi-platinum recording artist Dierks Bentley will rock the Birds Nest on Thursday, January 31st. A Phoenix native and ten-time Grammy nominee, Bentley is one of the hottest stars in country music and promises to put on an incredible show for his hometown fans. Then, on Friday, February 1st, O.A.R. returns to the Birds Nest after a one year hiatus. Known world-wide as one of the best live bands on the planet, O.A.R.’s album sales are in the millions. The band’s 2008 studio album All Sides, which debuted at No.13 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 3 on the Digital Album chart, produced smash hits such as “Shattered” and “This Town.” Rounding out the entertainment line-up is DJ Roonie G, Kelley James, Smash T and Metalhead.

While the actual Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament will be played Thursday – Sunday (January 31-February 3), there will still be plenty of things to see and do at TPC Scottsdale all week long. Many of the PGA TOUR pros will play morning practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday of tournament week. There are also other special activities that will feature PGA TOUR professionals, including the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day on Tuesday and the ever-popular Annexus Pro-Am (formerly the Silver Pro-Am) on Wednesday. On Saturday, February 2, the tournament is inviting everyone to participate in the third annual GREEN OUT. Waste Management and The Thunderbirds encourage players and tournament attendees to wear green in support of the many green/sustainability initiatives that the company is doing to make the event not only the greenest tournament on the PGA TOUR, but one of the most charitable. For every person who wears green on Saturday, tournament host, The Thunderbirds, will donate “green” to three charities including Keep America Beautiful, Keep Phoenix Beautiful and Arizona Forward. The percentages given to each charity will be determined by an online voting promotion on the tournament’s Facebook page in the weeks leading up to the tournament.

In fact, in the three years since taking over as title sponsor, Waste Management has quickly turned the “Greatest Show on Grass” into the “Greenest Show on Grass” by incorporating a tournament-wide recycling and waste reduction program. Now in year two, Waste Management’s Zero Waste Challenge is aimed at controlling the materials brought into the event and educating vendors and patrons about the proper disposal of materials, so that eventually zero waste is sent to local landfills.

January 28 through February 3 is the week, and Greatest and Greenest Show on Grass is the place to be. For more information or tickets to the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.