AZCENTRAL SPORTS | SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2014
WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN PREVIEW
LOTTA LOVE FOR LEFTY
LOTTA LOVE FOR LEFTY
Valley fans adore Mickelson, and the feeling is mutual By Bob Young
I
| azcentral sports
n December when Phil Mickelson dropped into the Valley to be inducted into the Waste Management Phoenix Open Hall of Fame, he spread so much good will that he could have been working for the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. He praised the tournament’s sponsoring organization, the Thunderbirds. He raved about the title sponsor, calling the partnership with a golf tournament a great way for Waste Management to get the message out that it is an “environmentally thoughtful” company. He heaped more praise on the now-famous No. 16 “Stadium Hole” at TPC Scottsdale. He spoke glowingly about what was happening with the Cardinals and called receiver Larry Fitzgerald “the classiest athlete” in professional sports.
See MICKELSON, Page WM8
Phil Mickelson finishes his final round to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Feb. 3, 2013, his third victory at the tournament. MICHAEL CHOW/AZCENTRAL SPORTS
MORE COVERAGE » MORE PHIL: A closer look at Phil Mickelson’s relationships — with his family, his caddie and his corporate partners. WM9-10
» PRO-AM: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, who will play in the Annexus Pro-Am, says Phil Mickelson “plays the way I play.” WM4
» THE BASICS: Schedule, parking, tickets and course map. WM2 » THE COURSE: A hole-by-hole breakdown, with stats. WM12-13
» REGIONAL DIRECTORY: Key local-course information. WM6-7 » ONLINE COVERAGE: Go to phoenixopen.azcentral.com.