WM Phoenix Open Tournament Guide

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RESPECT THE FANS / RESPECT THE PLAYERS / RESPECT THE GAME

WASTE MANAGEMENT

WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

PHOENIX OPEN PRESENTED BY THE AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY

WILL RICKIE REPEAT? PLAYERS TO WATCH WHAT’S NEW FOR 2020

| 2020

Celebrating 85 Years

THE PEOPLE’S OPEN

20 20 jan 27 feb 2

#thePEOPLES open wm PHOENIX open . com 2019 CHAMPION RICKIE FOWLER

85 YEARS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS GET TIN’ AROUNd // FEATURES // WM PHOENIx OPEN HISTORy // PHOTO GALLERIES FOR THE FANS // SPONSORS // THE THUNdERBIRdS // SPEcIAL THANkS

\\ G E T T I N’ A R O U N D

\\ W M P H O E N I X O P E N H I S TO R Y

9 Fan code of conduct 12 calendar of Events 16 FAN ATTRAcTIONS 16 24 WMPO A to Z 28 course Map 30 TPc Scottsdale Hole-by-Hole Overview 42 coors Light Birds Nest

92 85-year History 104 1932-2019 Winner Each year 108 WMPO Record Book 114 The WMPhoenix Open – By the Numbers

PGA TOUR’S Greatest After-Party \\ F E AT U R E S TO R I E S

52 2019 Tournament Highlights 58 FOWLER BREAkS THROUGH 58 66 Tom Lehman - Home Town Hero 72 Matthew Wolff – young Gun

\\ P H OTO G A L L E R I E S

46 Birds Nest Photo Gallery 132 Fan Photo Gallery 138 Social Media Highlights 78 Players to Watch 86 AMy BOckERSTETTE STOLE THE SHOW 86 91 cONVERGE Summit Technology. InnovationGolf.

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\\ F O R T H E FA N S

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WINNER! WINNER! - A SOcIAL MEdIA STORy

124 The Mulligan 128

16TH HOLE BREAkFAST cLUB

150 Big Win Match-Up \\ O U R B I G G E S T S P O N S O R S

148 154 Tee-Off Luncheon 158 Waste Management – Recycle Right 160 The Ak-chin Indian community TPc Scottsdale

25 years of Entertainment

\\ T H E T H U N D E R B I R D S

7 John Bridger - A Fond Farewell 165 Tim Woods Tournament chairman 167 A Salute to Military 170 Thunderbirds charities 178 Tournament Management 181 Thunderbird charities Board 182 Active & Life Thunderbirds 185 deceased & Honorary Thunderbirds

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ryan Woodcock CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jonathan crist Bill Huffman Jeff Locke Tom Mackin doug Milne

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ART DIRECTION Andrea Minogue CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Everardo keeme Mark Squire kristin Brown Erin Mcdonald TOdd Photographic Services EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER The Thunderbirds 602.870.0163

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR communication Links 480.348.7540 PRINTING courier Graphics 602.437.9700

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RICKIE FOWLER

GARY WOODLAND

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calendar of events

THURSDAY JAN / 30 7:30 am

MONDAY JAN / 27 Practice Rounds for PGA TOUR pros only 9:30 am coors Light Pro-Am AT TPc Scottsdale Stadium course

TUESDAY JAN / 28 Practice Rounds for PGA TOUR pros only

Waste Management Phoenix Open 1ST ROUNd AT TPc Stadium course

3:30 pm coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens ACTS INCLUDE

G-Eazy

FRIDAY JAN / 31 7:30 am

10 am R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation dream day Activities AT TPc champions course Practice Range • Staring Larry Fitzgerrald and Matthew Wolff • Trick Shot Show • Junior Golf clinic Presented By PING

Waste Management Phoenix Open 2Nd ROUNd

11 am San Tan Ford Special Olympics Putting challenge

dierks Bentley, Austin Burke and Hot country knights

AT TPc Stadium course

3:30 pm coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens ACTS INCLUDE

AT TPc Stadium course Putting Green

The Special Olympics Putting challenge features Special Olympics athletes, celebrities, sports stars and business leaders from the community. The event is open to all ticket holders and media and lasts about an hour.

WEDNESDAY JAN / 29 8:30 am Annexus Pro-Am AT TPc Stadium course 3:30 pm Phoenix Suns charities Shot at Glory AT TPc Scottsdale 16th hole 3:30 pm coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens ACTS INCLUDE

Miranda Lambert and cody Johnson

SATURDAY FEB / 1 9:00 am

Waste Management Phoenix Open 3Rd ROUNd AT TPc Stadium course

3:30 pm coors Light Birds Nest entertainment tent opens ACTS INCLUDE

kygo and A R I Z O N A

SUNDAY FEB / 2 9:00 am

Waste Management Phoenix Open FINAL ROUNd AT TPc Stadium course

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Phoenix SunS CharitieS

Shot at Glory Wednesday of WM Phoenix open Week

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birdieS for the brave

Patriots outpost

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open Wednesday thru Sunday

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WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN FAN

Make sure to wear your fitness tracker when you enter the gates at tPC Scottsdale – home of the Waste Management Phoenix open – because navigating the grounds at the PGa tour’s most iconic stop is sure to get you to that magic 10,000 step number or more. but if you’re new to the event and you’re not sure where you’re going or what you should see during your stay, consider this your viewing guide to the People’s open.

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hole in golf features more than 16,000 roaring fans occupying the completely enclosed, three-story stadium often in matching outfits or costumes. on Saturday, those who are first to make it to the greenside grandstands are part of the 16th hole breakfast Club and are treated to free food, music and t-shirts. (if you don’t get a t-shirt, it didn’t happen). the first fans line up at the gate around 4:30 a.M., so get there early.

PRO TIP: SERIOUSLY, GET THERE EARLY!

Annexus Pro-Am

Wednesday, Jan. 29 brings the ever-popular annexus Pro-am to tPC Scottsdale where fans can catch a glimpse of celebrities, rock stars, professional athletes, coaches and community leaders playing with PGa tour pros. Players slated to appear this year include arizona Cardinals receiver larry fitzgerald, arizona diamondbacks pitcher archie bradley, arizona Coyotes legend Shane doan, nfl hall-of-fame tailback emmitt Smith, country music star dierks bentley, as well as other celebs and community leaders.

PRO TIP: TAKE A LOOK AT THE FREE PAIRINGS GUIDE TO SEE WHO YOUR FAVORITE ROCK STARS, ATHLETES AND CELEBRITIES ARE PLAYING WITH – AND FEEL FREE TO SNAG AN AUTOGRAPH OR SELFIES IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ASK.

Shot at Glory

after the annexus Pro-am, fans are encouraged to stick around at the 16th hole for the Phoenix Suns Charities Shot at Glory where contestants compete for their chance at $1 million for charity in a unique closest-to-the-pin contest. last year Chicago Cubs first baseman anthony rizzo came out on top, stop by the 16th hole to see who will win in 2020.

16th Hole

aka the ColiSeuM, aka the StadiuM, aka the loudeSt hole in Golf // the loudest and most exciting

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PHOENIX SUNS CHARITIES

The Ridge 4

PRESENTED BY TAYLOR MORRISON

arguably the best golf-watching venue of the WM Phoenix open, the viewing platform on 12 – now called the ridge Presented by taylor Morrison – was expanded for the thirdstraight year to 36,000 square feet and features stadium seating, drink rails on three sides, shade umbrellas and great food and drink options to catch awesome views of golf on the 12th, 13th and 6th holes of the WM Phoenix open. far enough away from the crowd, but still right up close to tournament action, the ridge is the place to be if you prefer watching olf instead of people.

PRO TIP: GRAB A SEAT EARLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SHADE OPPORTUNITIES

BIRDIES FOR THE BRAVE

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Patriots Outpost

the Patriots outpost is a complimentary hospitality tent for all active duty, reserve and retired military from all five branches of the armed forces and their families to enjoy Wednesday through Sunday at the WM Phoenix open. once in the tournament, all military personnel and their guests are invited to visit the birdies for the brave Patriots outpost. located near the 18th tee box, the Patriot’ outpost is a comfortable place for our heroes and their guests to relax, grab a bite to eat and enjoy a cold or warm beverage (all free of charge) while enjoying the golf.

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fan Zone

arrive before it gets too crowded and enjoy some games too.

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kids autograph opportunity adjacent to the driving range is an autograph area where players will often go after warm-up

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Coors Light Birds Nest

the Coors light birds nest is a four-night concert series located inside an enormous tent across the street from the Waste Management Phoenix open. the birds nest, with its great music, beautiful patrons and enthusiastic partying, has earned near legendary status on the PGa tour offering a show totally unlike anything associated with professional golf. this year’s lineup includes Miranda lambert and Cody Johnson on Wednesday, hip-hop superstar G-eazy on thursday, birds nest favorite dierks bentley with austin burke and hot Country knights on friday, and world-famous edM star kYGo with a r i Z o n a on Saturday.

PRO TIP: ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER OR A PLANNED RIDE HOME, AND PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY

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adjacent to the Clubhouse at tPC Scottsdale is the Champions Wall, where past winners of the WM Phoenix open are enshrined forever in copper plating.

PRO TIP: THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO MEET UP WITH FRIENDS WHO CAME IN SEPARATE VEHICLES

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Fan Zone

looking for something to eat? the fan Zone is the perfect place to grab a quick bite at Garcia’s, dierks bentley’s Whiskey row or Zinburger to relax and recharge before heading back out to watch golf.

PRO TIP: LOOK FOR STANDING TABLES TO KEEP YOUR HANDS FREE WHILE EATING

Desert Oasis

forMerlY Craft beer hauS

looking to have fun without the crowds? head over to the west side of tPC Scottsdale to the newly renovated desert oasis near hole no. 7 where shade is abundant and so is the beer. the brand new Coors light hospitality deck on the west end will have a large projector streaming live golf from the tournament so you’re sure to never miss a single moment of the action.

PRO TIP: HEAD AWAY FROM THE CROWDS FOR SHORTER LINES AND FREE BEER SAMPLES

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PRESENTED BY THE AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY

the entrance area will be largely unrecognizable to those who have frequented the People’s open in the past. Moving from a large, covered expo tent to an outdoor marketplace area, the entrance to the 2020 WM Phoenix open will be a great place to meet your friends and enjoy great food and drinks while getting ready for the day ahead – or meeting up after and recapping the great day on the course.

PRO TIP: GET A FREE PAIRINGS GUIDE AND BUY A HAT AT THE TPC MERCHANDISE PAVILLION ON YOUR WAY INTO THE TOURNAMENT

Driving Range Putting Green

ever wonder how the PGa tour pros warm up for their round? You can see for yourself at the practice area located just west of the fan Zone. each player has their own specific warm-up area with a large, identifiable banner easily seen from the cart path, so you won’t have to take out binoculars to see them.

PRO TIP: GRAB A SEAT IN THE BLEACHERS TO SEE YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS PRACTICE

The Entrance 8

Champions Wall

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Kiva Club

the brand-new kiva Club venue, located in the desert area between 10 green and 17 fairway just west of bay Club, will feature a main viewing deck and a second-level platform with tables and seating across the railing as well as a large rectangular bar in the middle. the newest addition to the general-admission venues at the WM Phoenix open will also feature umbrellas for shade and food and beverage options for purchase.

PRO TIP: NOT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS NEW GENERAL ADMISSION VENUE YET. MAKE SURE YOU STOP BY AND SEE IT BEFORE IT BECOMES THE NEXT BIG THING

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A TO Z A

ACES Lounge

aces lounge at the Coliseum is the newest hospitality experience to be added to the always impressive 16th hole. the incredible view overlooking the 16th hole tee box on golfer’s right puts you in the center of the excitement opening into a shared lounge area with all-inclusive food and beverage, incredible access to the action and an experience that is unrivaled at any event. it’s aptly named as a nod to the nine players who have carded aces at the iconic 16th hole.

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breakfast club

if you are one of the brave souls who waits in line at the wee hours of the morning to race to 16, you are now part of the 16th hole breakfast Club – enthusiastic fans are treated to fun, food and entertainment at the 16th hole starting at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning of tournament week before the third round gets underway.

Coors light birds nest

the ultimate party venue is only open for four nights during the tournament, but the memories will last forever thanks to entertainment from top-notch musical acts. this year’s headliners include: WedneSdaY, JanuarY 29 // Miranda lambert with Cody Johnson thurSdaY, JanuarY 30 // G-eazy fridaY, JanuarY 31 // dierks bentley with austin burke and hot Country knights SaturdaY, februarY 1 // kYGo with a r i Z o n a

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2019 social media contest winner

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desert Oasis

formally the Craft beer haus, desert oasis is an appropriately named general-admission venue located near the 7th hole offering a reprieve from the crowds at the People’s open. Shade, a covered hospitality deck and projector screens ensures patrons who make it out to the oasis never miss a minute of the action.

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Engagement

Make sure to engage with the WM Phoenix open on social media for a chance to win tickets and viP experiences to the 2020 tournament and future tournaments at tPC Scottsdale. the more you engage, the more likely you are to win. @WMPhoenixopen on facebook, instagram and twitter

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Fowler

Perennial fan favorite rickie fowler, who finally notched a win at the WM Phoenix open in 2019, will return to tPC Scottsdale to defend his title against a world-class field. fowler has finished in the top-5 four times in 11 appearances, including two runner-up finishes to go with his 2019 victory.

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Green Scene

the WM Green Scene is an interactive area at the tournament where fans can learn more about recycling right! Within the WM Green Scene, fans can participate in the #bintheredonethat trick shot contest, capture themselves hitting a shot on the 16th hole, and even dumpster dive into WM’s own custom built dumpster couch.

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Playing Hooky

the most popular day to visit the WM Phoenix open is on Saturday, but if you really want to explore all tPC Scottsdale has to offer, a less attended day like Wednesday is your best bet. Get a doctor’s note, tell your boss you’re sick or just play hooky and get out to the People’s open.

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Information

information – as in where do i get it? daily pairings guides are available for free throughout tPC Scottsdale to take the guesswork out of living your best life on the golf course. they tell you where and when all of your favorite PGa tour professionals are teeing off for the day, who they’re playing with and their score to date.

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Jarrod Lyle

the aussie became a fan favorite of the WM Phoenix open after his hole-in-one on the famed 16th hole in 2011. it wasn’t the shot as much as his reaction that kept the crowd going nuts – and it’s a shot that is replayed over and over throughout lyle’s career and in WM Phoenix open history. lyle lost his battle with leukemia on aug. 8, 2018, but his legacy will live on forever among fans of the WM Phoenix open.

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Kiva Club

the brand-new venue kiva Club is located in the desert area between 10 green and 17 fairway just west of bay Club, and will feature a main viewing deck and a second-level platform with tables and seating across the railing as well as a large rectangular bar in the middle. the newest edition to the general-admission venues at the WM Phoenix open is a great place to settle in and catch the golf action on two great holes.

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LifeBird Grill

one of the staples of WM Phoenix open concessions is the lifebird Grill located at Calfee’s Corner between 10 green and 11 teebox where fans in the know can purchase a thunderdog – a half-pound, all-beef hotdog soaked in Pabst blue ribbon beer. and if you ask nicely, the cooks might sing a song for you.

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Main Entrance

the Main entrance to the 2020 WM Phoenix open got a complete makeover, going from a closed tent to an open-air marketplace feel complete with full concession stands and booths from some of the tournament’s biggest sponsors. it’s a great place to meet before heading inside to the tPC, and a cool spot to unwind with some food and drink before heading out for the day.

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Nicklaus

the 1964 Waste Management Phoenix open champion Jack nicklaus – nicknamed the Golden bear – is widely considered one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game. over his more than 25-year career, nicklaus won 73 times on the PGa tour, including a record 18 major championships.

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official

official hashtags of the WM Phoenix open are #WMPo #thepeoplesopen, #reSPeCt, and #greenestshow

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Excitement

Whether you want to follow your favorite PGa tour players, grab one of the 3,700 coveted bleacher seats at the 16th hole, watch your favorite athletes in the celebrity pro-am, soak in the winter sunshine or just to be seen in your Sunday best, there’s excitement for everyone at the People’s open.

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the fans are what make this the greatest tournament on the PGa tour and truly “the People’s open.”

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Annexus Pro-Am

arguably the best-attended pro-am on the PGa tour, the annexus Pro-am pairs the world’s best golfers with sports legends, rock stars, local business leaders and celebrities on the tPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, just one day before the WM Phoenix open. the event is sponsored by annexus, and will feature celebrities like archie bradley, dierks bentley, Shane doan, larry fitzgerald, emmitt Smith, lorena ochoa and more.

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Quiet

Please! You wouldn’t want people coming to your office and being loud and obnoxious while you try to work, right? Please be quiet while players are hitting their shots. unless you’re encouraged by them to make some noise (especially on the 16th hole, of course!)

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The Ridge

the area atop the hill overlooking hole no. 12, no. 6 green and no. 13 tee, which started in 2016 as el rancho, got yet another upgrade for the 2020 tournament. renamed the ridge, the extremely popular general-admission viewing area will provide a nearly 36,000-square-foot viewing platform featuring lounge furniture, drink rails on three sides, great food and beverage options and some of the best views on the golf course.

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Scorekeepers

the growth at the finishing hole continues with the addition of Scorekeepers, a double-decker, arcum-style structure on golfers left. the venue mirrors what was done just across the fairway last year for the venue known as e18hteen – making the 18th hole a sight to see as players walk down the fairway toward the green.

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Thunderbirds

the thunderbirds have been the driving force behind the WM Phoenix open since 1937. the 55 active thunderbirds play a wide variety of roles each year by making sure the tournament runs smoothly. they’re easily recognizable thanks to their distinctive royal blue, long-sleeve tunics and concho belts.

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Uber

uber and lyft rideshare pick-up has moved and now can be found at Westworld at 94th street and bell road. for the Coors light birds nest, starting after 7 p.m. fans can be picked up by uber or lyft at lot 7, just north of the birds nest.

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Volunteers

no professional golf tournament can operate smoothly without the hard work of countless volunteers. the same is true at the WM Phoenix open, which receives assistance from more than 5,100 volunteers every year.

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Waste Management

the title Sponsor of “the Greenest Show on Grass” has implemented innovative and historic recycling programs, which include 100 percent of tournament waste diverted through recycling, composting, donation, reuse or energy creation since 2013. last year, Waste Management and the thunderbirds renewed their title sponsorship and extended this great partnership through 2030.

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Zero Waste Event

for seven years in a row, title Sponsor, Waste Management, has diverted 100 percent of all waste away from landfills, making the Waste Management Phoenix open the largest and best-attended zero-waste event in the world. n

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coors light birds nest THE PGA TOUR’S GREATEST AFTER-PARTY Ask any golf fan about the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and they’ll tell you it’s unlike anything else in the world. Enthusiastic crowds, spectacular weather, and the PGA TOUR’s best players are just some of the reasons the tournament brings golf’s biggest crowds to The People’s Open. But after the final putt falls and when the sun sets over TPC Scottsdale, things are just getting started across the street at the Coors Light Birds Nest – the PGA TOUR’s greatest after party. It begins Wednesday night after the extremely popular Annexus Pro-Am, and features some of the music industry’s most popular artists across multiple genres.

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3 Wednesday, January 29 1 Miranda LaMbert with speciaL guest 2 cody Johnson

Thursday, January 30

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3 g-eazy

Friday, January 31

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4 dierks bentLey with speciaL guest 5 austin burke and hot country knights

Saturday, February 1 6 kygo with speciaL guest 7 a r i z o n a

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Coors Light Birds Nest general admission tickets start at $75, while VIP tickets are available starting at $285 each and provide exclusive access to the Jameson VIP area where guests are treated to a complimentary catered dinner, complimentary drinks and access to a premium viewing area for the shows.

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Wednesday, January 29 kicking off the four-day concert series on wednesday, Jan. 29 is country music superstar Miranda Lambert and cody Johnson.

Lambert is traveling across the country on her wildcard tour promoting her sixth studio album by the same name. Lambert burst onto the country music scene with her debut album kerosene (2005) and has been widely considered one of the strongest vocalists in the genre ever since, producing anthems like “gunpowder and Lead” and “Mama’s broken heart.”

Johnson – the only artist in history to sell out houston’s nrg stadium – has released six albums to date including his most recent album gotta be Me which debuted at the no. 2 spot on billboard’s country albums chart.

thursday, January 30 headlining thursday night is american multi-platinum, hip-hip artist and producer g-eazy who has taken the rap game by storm over the past few years releasing five studio albums, six mixtapes, seven extended plays and 47 singles. the bay-area rapper has had a meteoric rise after the release of his riaa certified platinum sophomore album when it’s dark out, which featured five-time platinum single “Me, Myself, and i” with superstar bebe rexha. his third studio album the beautiful & damned debuted at no. 3 on billboard’s top 200 chart and in 2017, and in that same year g-eazy was named “Favorite hip-hop artist” at the people’s choice awards, beating out a strong group of nominees that included dJ khaled, wiz khalifa, kendrick Lamar and kanye west.

friday, January 31 turning back to country, Friday’s headliner and friend of the coors Light birds nest, dierks bentley will bring his upbeat style to the stage for the third time. a phoenix native and graMMy nominated artist, bentley first gained fame from his self-titled debut album in 2003 with the album’s single, “what was i thinkin’?” topping the country charts. his 2005 album, Modern day drifter, was also certified platinum, and the same year, bentley became the youngest member of the grand ole opry in addition to winning the cMa horizon award. to date, bentley has released nine studio albums including his most recent work – the Mountain – one live album, one compilation album, and 29 singles, 16 of which reached no. 1 on billboard’s hot country songs. coors Light birds nest fans will undoubtedly recognize bentley’s special guest, hot country knights, a ‘90s-influenced comedic country band fronted by bentley (aka douglas “doug” douglason) and comprised of members of bentley’s live touring band, all

performing under alter egos - lead bass player trevor travis, lead guitarist Marty ray (“rayro”) roburn, keytar/fiddle player terotej (“terry”) dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist barry Van ricky and percussionist Monte “Monte” Montgomery. started in 2015, the band mixes comedy with covers of songs by such ‘90s country mainstays as alan Jackson, clint black and John Michael Montgomery, often opening for bentley at his live shows. all six band members, who sport mullets and dress in ‘90s fashions, come with elaborate backstories. also taking the stage on Friday is another phoenix native, austin burke, who left behind dreams of playing baseball to pursue a career in country music. his debut single “sleepin’ around” boasts more than 54 million streams and has been featured on sirius XM’s the highway. recognized as an “artist to watch” in 2019 by pandora and ny country swag, burke has played a host of country music festivals including country thunder arizona, country Lakeshake, watershed Music Festival, the willamette country Music Festival and Faster horses Festival.

saturday, february 1 rounding out the final night of the four-night concert series at the wM phoenix open is kygo, a norwegian-born music producer and dJ who was tabbed by billboard Magazine as the “the next edM superstar.” kygo has gone from bedroom producer to one of the most recognizable electronic artists on the planet, establishing himself as a household name thanks to his widely popular remixes, sellout shows in north america and europe as well as headline performances at coachella and ultra Music Festival. he reached one billion streams faster than any other artist in history, already amassing more than 13 billion combined audio and video streams worldwide. his first original track “Firestone”, released at the end of 2014, has now amassed more than 7 million plays across soundcloud and youtube and more than 700 million plays on spotify, peaking at no. 4 in the worldwide spotify chart. since then, kygo has released two studio albums – “cloud nine” in 2016 and “kids in Love” in 2017; and in June 2019 he remixed whitney houston’s cover version of steve winwood’s song “higher Love” which reached no. 1 position on billboard magazine’s dance club songs chart, making it houston’s highest-charting posthumous release to date. “higher Love” has been streamed more than 200 million times on spotify. opening for kygo on saturday night is edM band a r i z o n a, known for their unique brand of contemporary electronic dance pop. a r i z o n a has released two studio albums under the atlantic records label, including its most recent release “asylum” in october of 2019. the band has more than one billion worldwide stream and has created worldwide waves with their ingenious brand of contemporary electronic dance pop. n

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AMY BOCKERSTETTE

Stole the Show WITH A NIFTY UP-AND-DOWN What was the big viral moment at the 2019 WM Phoenix Open?

Hideki Matsuyama’s titanic 392-yard drive on No. 13, the longest of the tournament? Nope. Rickie Fowler hanging on for the win after making double bogey and triple bogey in the final round? Not that either (though pretty close). After 409 scores posted with 160 of those logged in the 60s, the moment literally heard (or rather seen) around the world came during Tuesday’s practice round courtesy of Amy Bockerstette.

Who is Amy Bockerstette? Unless you spent the past year in an isolated bayou, it was nearly impossible to miss the media blitz surrounding the 20-year-old Bockerstette after she joined then defending champ, Gary Woodland, and Matt Kuchar on the famed par-3 16th hole.

“I knew for a little over a week,” said Woodland. “I got an e-mail about it; I got her story sent to me. I was excited to do it.”

What he didn’t know, however, was it would be “by far the coolest thing [He’d] ever experienced.”

It didn’t take long for Amy to spot Woodland entering the coliseum and even quicker to accept his invitation to play the hole with a cheerful “yes.” Although Amy played golf as a Special Olympics Arizona Athlete and member of the Paradise Valley Community College golf team – the first person with Down Syndrome to receive a college athletic scholarship – she had never stepped into a situation quite like this. After a few fist bumps and waves to the crowd, it was show time.

As she made the swing, it looked like her smile preceded impact, and she seemed unfazed by the fact it landed short in the bunker. The trio then strolled up to the green chatting and laughing like old pals. As they did, Amy came up with a few keen observations. First she noted, “They love me,” referring to the fawning crowd. True. Then she threw out what has become so cliché, but in this case, fit – “awesome.” Even Tuesday at the 16th is impressive. And then the phrase that captured the heart of a nation – “I got this.”

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Amy thumped it out of the sand to about 12 feet, and Woodland was waiting at the edge of the bunker with a spirited high five and prophetic statement.

“Let’s go putt. We’re gonna make this,” he said.

As they surveyed the putt, Woodland gave her the read: “What do you think?

Going a little left? Go ahead and make that.”

“Okay, I got this,” Amy said.

She got that indeed, right in the center of the cup! The crowd went nuts. Woodland raised his arms in victory and belly laughed like he had just won the lottery.

“She was phenomenal,” said Woodland. “To step up in front of all the people and to hit the shots that she hit and made par, I never rooted so hard for somebody on a golf course and it was an emotional, really cool experience.”

The video of Amy’s clutch up-and-down has been viewed more than 40 million times, social media channels buzzed nonstop, and Amy began making appearances across the country at events such as the ESPYs and the National Down Syndrome Conference, to name a few.

On the “Today” show Amy’s father, Joe, talked about the incredible impact the viral video had on so many people.

“Those 2 ½ minutes have changed our lives. Amy has continued to play golf around the country, participated in many charity events and opportunities,” he said. “So many folks have reached out to us to talk about how much that video touched their lives. It’s just been a terrific blessing.”

Always on the move, Amy has been crisscrossing the country on the talk show circuit, playing in tournaments and making inspirational appearances.

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A star was born with Amy’s clutch par, and it also was the beginning of a friendship with Woodland that will no doubt last a lifetime. They keep in touch on social media, and even share a few words of encouragement. None more impactful than Amy’s simple tweet to Woodland as he carried the 54-hole lead into the final round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach - “You’ve got this, @GaryWoodland.”

She then followed up with a video of her family’s reaction as Woodland drained the final putt. It was all hugs, high fives and hands raised in victory. Not to be outdone, Woodland facetimed Amy shortly after his lengthy post-victory press conference to say “I used your positive energy," and "I look forward to seeing you soon. We're going to play some golf."

Woodland even took the time to surprise Amy during her “Today” show interview the Monday after the U.S. Open.

“We won that together,” Woodland said about his first major victory. “We had a special day in Phoenix. It has blossomed from there. The world needs more of Amy in it. Her attitude, her energy, it was contagious. I thought a lot about you on Sunday, but I think a lot about you every day, so thank you.”

But even when they are not together, Woodland explained that her words of encouragement are always there.

“I hear ‘I got this’ a lot, he said on the “Today” show. “A lot of people have seen that video and I hear ‘I got this,’ ‘you got this,’ from the crowd. Not only am I thinking about it myself, I hear it from other people, so it’s pretty cool.”

In the past spring she broke 100 for the first time, and her season average was 108.5. By the numbers, maybe 1 in 100 golfers with a 30+ handicap make par. That would be Amy. But honestly, she’s more like one in a million. n

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Quin

Ian

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WINNER! WINNER! A SOCIAL MEDIA STORY

The airport can be a miserable place.

Even those who aren’t deathly afraid of flying and don’t feel the need to self-medicate at the airport bar at 9 a.m. still feel the “hurry-up-and-wait” aura of the modern airport. It’s too crowded, the food is overpriced and you’re likely more focused on how long you’ve been waiting in line than what is ahead of you after the flight. But for two young gentlemen carrying plane tickets out of Richmond, Virginia, the normally maddening airport wait-fest was instead full of magic, hope and eventually led to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open – courtesy of @WMPhoenixOpen social media.

Quin and Ian, two friends on their way to Scottsdale to celebrate Ian’s upcoming bachelor party and eventual wedding, got out of their Virginia beds before the sun came up in order to catch a ride to the airport. The first leg of their trip to the Valley of the Sun included a brief layover in North Carolina where they grabbed a bite to eat to pass the time while checking their social media feeds for updates on their eventual destination, the WM Phoenix Open. Quin and Ian were just the first of 10 members coming out for the party and were responsible for getting the lay of the land before the whole group attended the event on Saturday.

“We would be the first guys to land and we were planning to relax, maybe hit a sports bar prior to our friends getting into town,” said Quin. “We had never been to a PGA TOUR event before, so I figured social media would be my best shot at getting updates and learning more about what to accomplish while we were there.”

While mindlessly scrolling through his social media feed, slamming a Chic-fil-A sandwich and trying not to notice how tired he was from his early morning wakeup call, Quin came across a tweet from the WM Phoenix Open announcing a VIP ticket contest after a previous winner said they could not attend. The tournament holds many contests throughout the year, with a lot of those for free general-admission tickets. VIP experiences are only up for grabs a handful of times during the year and certainly worth the small investment of time to enter.

“I’m the type of person that’s a bit skeptical about these large-scale contest drawings, but I figured ‘hey, why not?’”

Quin said. “I’ve got nothing else to do during our layover.”

Quin entered the contest on Twitter and the two travelers renewed their focus on their chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, already dreading their four-hour flight to Phoenix which was about to begin the arduous boarding process. As they

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stood in line, feet shuffling like zombies, bags in tow dragged behind them at the same lethargic pace, Quin heard a ding come from his pocket. It was luck disguised as a text. A miracle.

A direct message notification from the WM Phoenix Open. Ian and Quin had won.

The contest victory breathed new life into Ian and Quin who quickly realized catching some shut eye during the flight was no longer an option. New energy, full bellies and a newfound sense of excitement turned a humdrum flight across the country into a proverbial war room. There was planning to do.

Ian and Quin landed in Phoenix early Thursday afternoon with a sense of purpose. It would take 20 minutes to deboard the plane, 30 minutes to rent a car and drive to TPC Scottsdale, 15 minutes to get in the gate – if they didn’t run into crowds – and five minutes to grab their first round. If they played their cards right, they’d be all set at 4 p.m., just enough time to enjoy all the WM Phoenix Open had to offer. There was just one thing left up in the air: what on earth does VIP mean at The People’s Open?

“We still didn’t quite know what ‘VIP’ meant, so surprises still awaited,” said Ian. “What we experienced was beyond what we imagined. First, the view from the hospitality venue was amazing overlooking the 18th fairway. We showed a picture to the guys still waiting to get on their flight and they honestly couldn’t believe it. It was a perfect way to start the long weekend. It was exactly what we needed after that flight.”

Quin and Ian stood a little taller that Thursday evening knowing they’d be able to tell tales of The People’s Open for the rest of their lives. Their planned bachelor party was still a few days away, but Quin and Ian had certainly accomplished their mission to get the lay of the land. And they did it in style. All thanks to a simple comment on a WM Phoenix Open social post.

If you want to win tickets just like these two fine gentlemen, be sure to follow @WMPhoenixOpen on your preferred social media accounts. The WM Phoenix Open holds special contests just for followers and you don’t want to miss your chance to win! n

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FAN CODE OF CONDUCT FANS WILL RESPECT THE TOURNAMENT PLAYERS, CADDIES, OFFICIALS AND OTHER FANS

We take pride in the fact that the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented

by The Ak-Chin Indian Community has become one of the premier sporting events in the country, attracting record numbers of fans from throughout the United States and the world. To ensure a fun, safe and memorable experience for all, please adhere to the tournament’s Code of Conduct: Fans will enjoy the WM Phoenix Open free from disruptive behavior including, but not limited to FOUL OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, obscene gestures, fighting, throwing objects, attempting to disrupt play or distract tournament players from their professional game. Such behavior includes taunting players, caddies and officials, volunteers or other fans. Those who engage in any of these actions are subject to immediate ejection from the tournament and subject to criminal trespass.

Tournament volunteers, ambassadors, security and police personnel are trained to intervene where necessary to help ensure that the previous expectations are met, and fans are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior to the nearest tournament representative.

Underage fans who are found to be consuming alcoholic beverages or any fan who assists in purchasing or supplying alcoholic beverages to underage fans will be removed from the tournament grounds in a prompt and safe manner and subject to criminal prosecution.

Fans will avoid engaging in behavior that endangers the safety of tournament players, caddies, officials, volunteers or other spectators.

Fans consuming alcoholic beverages will do so in a responsible manner. Impaired or intoxicated fans will be removed from the tournament grounds and subject to criminal trespass or prosecution.

The Thunderbirds reserve the right to deny entry or eject from the tournament fans displaying inappropriate behavior.

Fans who choose not to adhere to any of these provisions will be subject to ejection without refund. Hospitality Package holders and/or their guests who are identified violating any of these provisions are subject to revocation of their hospitality suite, box and/or package for the remainder of the tournament and all future tournaments.

THE THUNDERBIRDS THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ADHERING TO THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN FAN CODE OF CONDUCT. YOUR COOPERATION ENSURES THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN WILL CONTINUE ITS TRADITION AS NOT ONLY THE BIGGEST EVENT ON THE PGA TOUR, BUT ALSO THE BEST!

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The Mulligan U N U S U A L HA P P ENI NG S ON T HE COURSE AT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOE N IX O P EN Here are some of the biggest stories from the 2019 tournament (from less-than-credible sources) that you may have missed. Have fun everyone and remember, these are not true, just for laughs.

THUNDERBIRDS TAKE TO THE SKIES WITH NEW HOSPITALITY PACKAGE

THUNDERBIRDS INTRODUCE “IMPOSSIBLE” THUNDERDOG AT 2020 EVENT

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — The Thunderbirds are in talks with Scottsdale- based

In an effort to capitalize on the recent popularity

Imaginary Airlines to sell WM Phoenix Open VIP hospitality packages on

of plant-based protein alternatives, The Thun-

flights based out of Scottsdale Airport. The ultra-nosebleed seats will feature

derbirds’ plan to sell “impossible” Thunderdogs

an exclusive viewing area from any one of each flight’s window seats with an

at the 2020 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

open bar and additional legroom. Aisle seats are also available at a lower price.

The new “meatless-sausage” option will be made

“We can’t build up anymore around the 16th hole or any of our other main-

which were preserved in cryogenic chambers

planes?’ ” said Patrick Conners, Chief Out-of-the-Box Officer. “These will be

and enhanced with beer-flavored chlorophyll

some of the most exclusive ticket packages at the tournament. We’re very

to ensure the iconic Pabst Blue Ribbon taste of

excited to roll them out in the coming years.”

the original Thunderdog.

Ticket packages will be available for both inbound and outbound flights at

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entirely of grass clippings from the 2019 event,

stream hospitality venues, so we thought ‘why don’t we send people up in

“Modern problems require modern solutions,”

Scottsdale Airport as well as round-trip flights to Prescott and back. For an

said Indigo Harmony, Chief Flowerchild Officer

additional fee, fans will also be able to parachute out of a plane and land in

of the WM Phoenix Open. “We wanted to pro-

exclusive seats at the 16th hole.

vide the same Thunderdog taste our patrons have

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MEMES FOUND TO BE REASON FOR NOTICEABLY QUIETER 16TH HOLE A recent study conducted by the Bohemian Meme Society – the world leader in meme culture – found a direct correlation between the popular images and lack of noise at what has been considered the loudest hole in golf.

The study concluded the huge rise in Millennial ticketholders – who account for 75 percent of all mobile phone data at the tournament – significantly reduced the decibel level by drawing attention away from the event itself and towards their mobile devices.

“What did you say? I wasn’t listening,” said Harper Caiden, Millennial ticket holder.

“Look, do you have any idea what it takes to run a meme page these days? Frankly, I don’t have time to sit still and watch the tournament when I have to provide constant proof that I was ACTUALLY AT the tournament. Pics, or it didn’t happen, bro.”

THUNDERDOG CONT. come to know and love at The People’s Open,

BABY YODA DENIED “KIDS” FREE ENTRY BECAUSE HE’S ACTUALLY 50

but we also need to adapt with the times, impro-

One galaxy-faring fan of the Waste Management Phoenix Open was disheartened

vise and overcome any obstacles in front of us.

to learn he would have to pay full price for his young companion’s ticket to the

We think this new option checks all the boxes.”

2020 event despite the fact all fans 17 years of age and younger are granted free

The “impossible” Thunderdog also will be

admission to the tournament every year. The man in question – an imposing,

available with or without ashes, keeping with

helmet-wearing man called The Mandalorian – was traveling with a force-sensitive

the tradition of Calfee’s Corner, but the

species of unkown origin whose age had been determined to be older than 50 years

meatless option will cost considerably more

of age even though his size and child-like features would lead one to believe the

than the traditional food item. At $420 per

being was much younger.

hotdog, the “impossible” Thunderdog is easily the most expensive food item on course.

“We understand it’s a high-priced item, especially for such a small meal, but the costs of keeping the grass clippings alive for more than a year are exorbitant,” Harmony continued.

“We hope to bring the cost down over time,

“We go off driver’s licenses here on Earth,” said Calvin Windu, special Thunderbird in charge of hyperspace travel. “Our tournament is in Scottsdale.

If we gave free admission to everyone who ‘looked’ young, we wouldn’t sell a single ticket. We need to have standards.”

The traveler was upset to hear about the price of the ticket but was still willing to attend the galaxy’s greatest golf event.

“Sometimes things don’t go as planned,” The Mandalorian said. “I was upset

but creating a completely new food from

to hear about the regulations, but I wasn’t going to miss this event for all the

scratch is, well, kinda hard. Ya know?”

beskar in the galaxy. This is the way.”

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2 saturday marks the third round of the waste Management Phoenix open where Pga Tour players have to buckle down to make a run at the tournament title. in professional golf circles, saturday is normally referred to as “moving day” where a player’s round can make or break their chances at millions of dollars and the privilege to play in additional Pga Tour events. saturday is also “moving day” for patrons at The People’s open, albeit for very different reasons.

3

THis will be THe THird breakfasT Club aT THe wM PHoenix oPen, and jusT like THe TournaMenT iTself, THe THunderbirds sTrive To Make iT beTTer eaCH year. wHaT’s in sTore for 2020? well, you’ll jusT Have To geT uP early To ClaiM a sPoT and see for yourself.

4

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2020 | 16TH HOLE

BREAKFAST CLUB Fans have to move and move fast if they want to see the world’s best players at the loudest hole in golf on Saturday.

There are 3,700 coveted general admission seats available at the 16th hole greenside grandstands and they are all first-comefirst-served. Fans line up for hours – some as early as midnight – to wait for the gates to open at 7 a.m. before making the half-mile trek in front of them to reach their destination.

Things are a little different this year. The free-form lines at the entrance have been replaced with special loading zones and fans will be ushered onto the grounds in a more orderly fashion.

1

THE FRONT RUNNERS

Always the first through the gates, across the grounds, up the stairs and in their seats are the Front Runners, tightly gripping to the front-row rails of the 16th hole Coliseum. They quickly claim their group territory, and spread out in radial fashion, grabbing a seat for everyone, but never more than they need. They can often be identified by their banners, which they have neatly spread across the scaffolding iron as they pledge allegiance to the cause that brought them to TPC Scottsdale. They are loud, they are proud, and they stay all day long.

2

THE BUCKET LISTERS

You can spot the Bucket Listers from any seat on the 16th hole standing in bewilderment at the top stairstep of the grandstands enterance. You can’t blame ‘em for taking it all in, and if you’re being honest with yourself, you probably did the same thing the first time you found a seat at one of the most famous holes on the PGA TOUR. Bucket Listers are also quick on the social media draw, feverishly trying to stoke FOMO in their followers, but grabbing your phone out of your pocket is hard to do with your jaw on the ground. Give it some time because all it takes is one photo and Bucket Listers are brought into the fold, joining the ranks of the lucky to say they got a seat at 16.

The entrance itself will be brand new in 2020, providing an open-air “marketplace” type of look and feel as opposed to the covered expo tent from previous tournaments.

Once fans have found their place in the stands at the loudest hole in golf, there’s always time for a quick selfie, a free breakfast courtesy of The Thunderbirds, and of course, a t-shirt to prove you were one of the lucky ones who made it to the 2020 16th Hole Breakfast Club.

There are four main types of fans in the stands at the most iconic hole on the PGA TOUR. Which group do you belong to?

3

THE TRADITIONALISTS

Usually following the shade to find respite from the warm winter sun blanketing North Scottsdale are the Traditionalists, well aware of the discipline required to spend an entire day at the 16th hole. They take planned bathroom breaks in organized groups, wear matching clothing and sunglasses for solidarity – and to find a lost crewmember – and they strictly observe the written and unwritten rules of the Coliseum. Always on cue and never out of line, the Traditionalists uphold some of the venue’s most sacred customs with a respect earned from a lifetime of visiting The People’s Open.

4

THE SUPERFANS

The Superfans are easily the most recognizable group of fans at the famed 16th hole. No group has put in more effort over the past decade than the flock of Minnesota snowbirds migrating south for the winter to TPC Scottsdale. Masters of their craft, the Superfans come prepared with tasteful, choreographed chants curated from painstaking research of the WM Phoenix Open field. How do we know they’re from Minnesota? Easy. They all wear Minnesota Vikings jerseys, many going the extra mile in full horned-helmet regalia. These guys are the best fans on the PGA TOUR.

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U N I T E D S TAT E S 6 6 T H S E C R E TA R Y O F S TAT E

CONDOLEEZZA RICE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE TEE-OFF LUNCHEON Each year, local business owners and community leaders gather in December for the Waste Management Phoenix Open Tee-Off Luncheon to officially kick off the upcoming event. It’s an opportunity to publicize all the new things to expect during the approaching tournament including new hospitality and general admission venues, formally introduce the new tournament chairman and reveal already committed players. The event is always a great time with excellent food, recognizable speakers and a warm and cozy atmosphere, but this year’s TOL bumped the programming up a notch.

For the first time, the event was held under an open roof on the infield of Chase Field – home of the Arizona Diamondbacks – just a few feet from where Luis Gonzales’ famous broken-bat single fell just in front of the Yankee outfielders to knock in the winning run of the 2001 World Series. The keynote speaker of the event was the 66th Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who spoke about her life experiences in politics, college football and everything in between. And as always, President and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and member of The Thunderbirds Derrick Hall was on hand to emcee.

Tournament Chairman of the 2020 WM Phoenix Open Tim Woods was first to speak at this year’s Tee of Luncheon taking the stage in his traditional Thunderbird suit jacket. Woods, a decorated veteran in the Arizona Army National Guard spoke about the meaningfulness of his volunteer life.

“I’m very fortunate to be in this seat,” said Woods at the TOL press conference. “My background, I can't believe this, I've been in the Arizona Army National Guard for more than 20 years

156 #WMPO

now. The whole journey has been pretty amazing. There are a few organizations that I've been fortunate to be a part of that shaped me so drastically – The Thunderbirds is certainly one of them – and especially being a citizen solider and an Arizona Guardsman is very meaningful to me.”

Woods then went on to describe why he wanted Secretary Rice to speak at the luncheon and what her service meant to him as a soldier.

“It means something when you're wearing a uniform. It's not just some talking points,” said Woods. “I was serving in the George W. Bush years and I served a tour in Iraq in 2004-2005 and another in 2009-2010, and I always had this true admiration for Secretary Rice in terms of her influence and her intellect and her presence and the way she goes about the things that she does. When I thought of who would be perfect, it just clicked and she was absolutely first on my wish list as Tournament Chairman.

The bottom line is she is an amazing American and a patriot and that's all there is to it. I couldn't be happier to host her here.”

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Secretary Rice was then brought on stage to speak with Hall, who asked her about her life since leaving the White House Cabinet.

The first question was about her love of the game of golf.

“I started playing golf very late in life. I actually started in this game at the age of 50,” said Rice. “I was a competitive figure skater as a kid…but when I hit a driver for the first time, I knew I found my sport. During the time I was in Washington D.C. I would go out to Andrews Air Force base whenever I could and play as many holes as I could get in. I will tell you, when you're Secretary of State, they close off the six holes in front of you and the six holes behind you, so you can kind of mess around out there. Then when I went back to California I started playing seriously and I just absolutely love the game.”

Switching gears, Hall then asked Secretary Rice about her time as a member of the College Football Playoff Committee.

“The college football playoff committee was probably the best committee I've ever been on because everyone came to that committee just trying to get the right answer,” said Rice.

“We were the inaugural committee, and so we felt a lot of responsibility and pressure to try and get it right. I probably watched 12-14 games every Saturday and then on Sunday I would watch the coaches tape of the teams I was following in various conferences. At the end of October we would fly to Dallas every Monday morning, work all day Monday, stay Monday night, work all day Tuesday and then release the rankings. So it was very tough and there was a lot of pressure.”

Hall’s final questions of Secretary Rice came under the topic of leadership.

“Regarding leadership, we're all trying to refine our leadership skills,” said Hall. “You're a teacher, you're a dignitary and a board member with so many different settings and roles. What is your leadership style and how does it change depending on the role or does it?”

“Leadership style, per se, can change, but there are a couple things about leadership that can't change,” said Rice. “First, if you ever lose people's trust, you'll never lead them. And so integrity is number one in leaderships. And you can erode trust in the most subtle ways. You can erode trust through gossip. The other thing that erodes trust if you don't look in the mirror and say 'am I about to ask someone to do something that I wouldn't do?' To me that's the definition of leadership, trust and integrity. Now, leadership style can vary, and if you're going to be a good leader you have to have all styles. I found in my work I had to divide decision making into three possibilities. It was something where I needed to inform people. It was something where I needed to consult people. It was something in which I needed to build consensus. Now if you try and build consensus when you should have just informed, you'll just waste a lot of time. But if you should have built consensus and you just informed, you won't get people to follow you. So I always asked myself, ‘what do I need to do to bring people on board on this?’” n

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human services campus To help individuals experiencing homelessness remove barriers leading to permanent housing, Thunderbirds charities made a signiďŹ cant donation towards hsc’s critical client services.

1

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2 For more information visit UPWARDAZ.ORG and HAC-AZ.ORG

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THUNDERBIRDS another Waste management phoenix Open is in the books, and like the seven years prior to this 84th playing, another record has been broken, as The Thunderbirds raised a record $13.2 million for local charities from the 2019 tournament.

This is the highest single-year charitable donation in tournament history, breaking last year’s record of $12.2 million and the first time eclipsing $13 million. it also marks the eighthconsecutive year breaking the tournament record of charitable dollars raised in a single year.

“We’re so proud to make this announcement, and we’re pleased to break our single-year charitable contribution record for the eighth-straight year,” said 2019 Wm phoenix Open Tournament chairman chance cozby. “it is a testament to the public involvement around our event and we’re grateful for the support of the community, our corporate partners and our title sponsor Waste management, in particular, so we can continue to help arizona children and families in need.”

The Thunderbirds and the Wm phoenix Open have raised more than $81 million for local charities since 2010 when Waste management became title sponsor. in its history dating back to 1932, the phoenix Open has raised more than $147 million for charities in arizona.

“With the tremendous partnership from The Thunderbirds, we are proud that the Waste management phoenix Open generated record-breaking charitable contributions and benefits hundreds of charities,” said Jim Fish, Waste management president and ceO. “2019 marked our 10th year as title sponsor. Given the tremendous impact this zero waste tournament provides the community and environment, it’s no surprise we announced our title sponsorship extension through 2030.”

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UPWARD FOUNDATION UPWARDAZ.ORG

upWarD, founded in 1958, is one of the few organizations in the valley dedicated to serving children, youth, and in response to a growing need, adults, who are medically fragile and have severe disabilities. This year upWarD will serve approximately 190 maricopa county individuals. With their campus expansion, made possible due to the support from Thunderbirds charities,

child care, special education school and adult day treatment programs are growing to help meet the demand for care.

Thunderbirds charities most recently supported upWarD’s on-site nursing program, ensuring that medically fragile children and adults with disabilities can attend three critical programs: inclusive childcare – integrates children who have disabilities with typically developing children. special education – for children in grades pre-K -12 whose disabilities are too challenging for their district to manage. adult day treatment – for children aged out of the school system.

With a mission to bring hope and joy to the children being served. They are able to help children and adults with special needs achieve their highest potential while empowering their families to thrive.

2

HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS HSC-AZ.ORG

human services campus owns and operates a 13-acre campus at 12th avenue and madison that is home to 20 nonprofit organizations providing services and resources to people experiencing homelessness. Thanks to a grant from Thunderbirds charities, human services campus will be able to reunite individuals with family/friends, preventing the need to enter into the homeless services system, provide a mailing address to send/ receive mail, which is necessary for applying for and receiving benefits and employment, offer a place for individuals to safely store their belongings while accessing services on the campus, provide temporary shelter during nights with excessive heat/ cold temperatures or precipitation and many other services.

“We are incredibly grateful to Thunderbirds charities for their deep generosity through this grant that will provide vital support in our mission to use the power of collaboration to provide solutions to end homelessness,” said hsc executive Director amy schwabenlender. “Of the nearly 7,000 unduplicated homeless individuals who visited the Brian Garcia Welcome center on the campus last year, more than half initiated a strategy to achieve self-sufficiency. This grant will enable us to provide services to even more men and women.”

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3 For more information, visit OCONNORINSTITUTE.ORG

TEENLIFELINE.ORG LOCALFIRSTAZFOUNDATION.ORG

4

5

IN 2018

450

FUERZA LOCAL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR GRADUATES CREATED

536 $6.2M

NEW JOBS AND GENERATED

IN NEW SALES.

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3

SANDRA DAY O’CONNOR INSTITUTE - CAMP O’CONNOR OCONNORINSTITUTE.ORG

camp O’connor is a free, merit based week-long summer program providing interactive civics education and leadership development for 7th and 8th graders. now in its third year, camp O’connor takes place in downtown phoenix at the Beus center for Law and society, home of the sandra Day O’connor institute and the asu sandra Day O’connor college of Law. an increased focus on outreach to rural communities across arizona in addition to maricopa county. camp O’connor works to educate, inspire and encourage the next generation of leaders to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for democracy and their important role as citizens. campers develop leadership skills, and experience civics in action, enhanced by field trips to the executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of arizona’s government.

Thunderbirds charities has funded camp O’connor since its inception in 2016. The O’connor institute extends its deepest gratitude to Thunderbirds charities for demonstrating their remarkable civic leadership and philanthropy, spanning over several decades.

4 TEEN LIFELINE TEENLIFELINE.ORG Founded in 1986, Teen Lifeline is making a difference by enhancing resiliency in youth and fostering supportive communities to prevent teen suicide. Their vision is that all youth possess a sense of connectedness and hope for their future.

Teen Lifeline focuses on connection to individuals, family, community, and school; life skills (including problem solving and coping skills, ability to adapt, emotion regulation); hope

for the future—optimism; and awareness of and access to effective mental health care/peer counseling hotline.

Thunderbirds charities generously supports Teen Lifeline’s core program, a 24-hour Free, confidential peer counseling crisis hotline/Textline. a place callers and texters know the conversation is private, and the peer counselors relate to the pressures and frustrations they feel. Of the 24,000+ calls/texts Teen Lifeline answers each year, 1 in 3 callers is depressed and considering suicide. The peer counselors understand the gravity of their position and the responsibility that comes with answering a peer’s call for help. They treat each caller with dignity and respect and carefully guide callers through problem identification, risk assessment, and an evaluation of alternatives. it is crucial to note that peer counselors do not make decisions for callers. instead, they help the caller evaluate potential outcomes and walk them through a proven decision-making process.

5

LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA LOCALFIRSTAZ.ORG

Fuerza Local Business accelerator – a part of Local First arizona – is a six-month program offered at no cost to underserved Latino micro-entrepreneurs. The curriculum brings industry experts together to teach courses on business fundamentals, cash-flow projections, marketing, business planning and more – all taught in spanish. During the program, students solidify a credit score, and upon graduation, each student is given a line of credit to grow their business. in 2018, 450 Fuerza Local Business accelerator graduates created 536 new jobs and generated $6.2+ million in new sales in that year alone. With support from Thunderbirds charities, Fuerza Local Business accelerator will be able to expand their reach further into our underserved Latino community.

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For more information, visit TEACHFORAMERICA.ORG

GIRLSCOUTSAZ.ORG TREASURES4TEACHERS.ORG

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Treasures 4 Teachers

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The T4T on Wheels mobile program provides a solution to this problem while also alleviating the financial pressure many teachers feel when having to purchase their students’ supplies with their own money.

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TEACH FOR AMERICA TEACHFORAMERICA.ORG

Teach for america is a leadership development organization that recruits college graduates and professionals to teach for at least two years in low-income communities, and supports them as lifelong leaders to increase learning opportunities for students. currently, there are nearly 500 Teach For america members and alumni teaching in arizona’s schools with over 1,000 alumni working across numerous communities. as a result of Thunderbirds charities investment, the TFa phoenix 2019 corps increased educational access and opportunity for over 5,700 students across the valley. in addition, members will begin their two-year commitment

with a rigorous six-week training program to develop the instructional skills needed to be ready for teaching.

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TREASURES 4 TEACHERS TREASURES4TEACHERS.ORG

With many teachers paying from their own pockets, educators are struggling to get their students the basic supplies they need to be successful. Treasures 4 Teachers (T4T) has found a way to support educators with those needs by collaborating with community businesses, other non-profit agencies, and individual donors to collect new and re-usable resources and make them available for low or no cost to educators in our community.

Through the generous support of Thunderbirds charities, the T4T on Wheels mobile program will provide truckloads of free school supplies directly to Title 1 schools, serving an average of 50 teachers and 1,500 students in one trip. most students in Title 1 schools are less likely to be equipped with

the supplies they need. The T4T on Wheels mobile program is a solution to this problem while also relieving the pressure many teachers feel to purchase their students’ supplies with their own money.

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GIRL SCOUTS ARIZONA CACTUS-PINE COUNCIL GIRLSCOUTSAZ.ORG

in partnership with more than 10,000 volunteers, Gsacpc serves 20,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern arizona. since 1936, Gsacpc has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. Given the opportunity,

every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with hår community. Girl scouts grow courageous and strong through girl-driven programs, ranging from summer camps to troop activities and product sales.

With the generous support of Thunderbirds charities for Gsacpc ‘s social impact programs, they will be able to expand and reach girls who may not otherwise have access to Girl scouting. These programs operate as early intervention programs and empower girls–who face challenges outside of their control–to break cycles of poverty, incarceration, abuse, and other issues, and realize their full potential. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Girl scouts’ social impact work in arizona, that began with the innovative Girl scouts Beyond Bars program that connects girls with their incarcerated mothers. and will continue with Girl scouts in refugee communities, Girl scouts in Foster care and the newest, Girl scouts Juvenile Opportunity Youth.

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RESPECT THE FANS / RESPECT THE PLAYERS / RESPECT THE GAME

WASTE MANAGEMENT

WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

PHOENIX OPEN PRESENTED BY THE AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY

WILL RICKIE REPEAT? PLAYERS TO WATCH WHAT’S NEW FOR 2020

| 2020

Celebrating 85 Years

THE PEOPLE’S OPEN

20 20 jan 27 feb 2

#thePEOPLES open wm PHOENIX open . com 2019 CHAMPION RICKIE FOWLER

85 YEARS