The Waste Management Phoenix Open (Scottsdale, Arizona) was honored by the PGA TOUR at the TOUR’s Tournament Meetings on December 7, earning an award for “Best Title Sponsor Integration” during the 2017 tournament at TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course).

“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 Tournaments and Competitions Officer Andy Pazder. “The tournament committee worked tirelessly with its title sponsor on new and innovative ways of improving the tournament experience and this award is a testament to that.”

The award recognizes a tournament that best integrates the title sponsor’s objectives and brand into every aspect of the event to deliver value, awareness and overall goals. This marks a record-fourth time the Waste Management Phoenix Open has won the “Best Title Sponsor Integration” award.

During the 2017 tournament, Waste Management provided almost 1,800 support staff to achieve its mission of being a Zero Waste Event, a goal now reached for a record fifth consecutive year. The title sponsor also utilized a marketing campaign – Lessons with the Pros – that promoted the event and its overall objectives. The marketing campaign included a new viral sensation, the Green Gopher, which aided in more than a million impressions on social media platforms. Waste Management also leveraged the tournament to provide an incredible guest experience, highlighted by customer events that included celebrities such as Jerry Rice, Michael Phelps, Bo Jackson and Jake Owen.

 “This is an extraordinary honor and something we are extremely proud of,” said Waste Management Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Carlos Sugich. “The Thunderbirds and Waste Management work tirelessly to make sure our efforts meet the sustainability goals set by our title sponsor at the best-attended golf tournament on the planet. It’s a fantastic partnership and certainly worthy of praise.”

“Being recognized by the PGA TOUR for Best Title Sponsor Integration illustrates Waste Management’s unwavering commitment to creating a tournament that focuses on the environment and is truly something special,” said Waste Management Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Jim Trevathan. “We are extremely proud of the role we play together with The Thunderbirds in making the Waste Management Phoenix Open the Greenest and Greatest Show on Grass.”

The 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, won this year by Hideki Matsuyama in a playoff over Webb Simpson, will be held January 29-February 4.