Archive for January 2010
2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open Field Begins to Take Shape
21. January 2010 by admin.
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Defending champion Kenny Perry and local fan favorite Phil Mickelson are among the first of early commitments to the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open. With the tournament date a month later this year, tournament officials are expecting one of the strongest fields in years as “The GREENEST Show on Grass” returns to the TPC Scottsdale the week of Feb. 22-28.
To date, 13 of the top-30 and 78 of the top-125 money leaders from the 2009 season have committed. A field of 144 players will vie for the $6 million purse, the $1,080,000 first place check and highly-coveted FedEx Cup points.
Mickelson (No. 2) and Perry (No. 11) are the highest ranked players on the Official World Golf Ranking currently in the field. Other top-ranked players who have committed include Sean O’Hair (15th), Robert Allenby (20th), 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover (21st) and Hunter Mahan (27th).
PGA TOUR members have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, to commit to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Eligible players are assigned one of 34 PGA TOUR priority ranking categories based on their past performance on TOUR. The field will continue to change as players with higher priority rankings commit to play in the Open.
Other notables to commit include three-time Phoenix Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, 12-time PGA TOUR winner Justin Leonard, 12-time PGA TOUR winner David Toms, former University of Arizona golfer Rory Sabbatini and 2009 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year Michael Sim. Additionally, former ASU standout Billy Mayfair and PGA TOUR rookie sensation Rickie Fowler have already received the first two of eight sponsor exemptions for the tournament.
J.B. Holmes (2008, 2006), Aaron Baddeley (2007), Jesper Parnevik (1998) and Lee Janzen (1993) join Calcavecchia, Mickelson and Perry as the other former FBR/Phoenix Open champions in the field thus far.
A number of local golfers also have committed including Michael Allen, Ricky Barnes, Arron Oberholser, Pat Perez, Ted Purdy, Jeff Quinney, Chez Reavie and Kevin Streelman.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played February 22 – 28, 2010, at the TPC Scottsdale. The tournament host Thunderbirds have raised more than $65.9 million for charities, with more than $37.9 million generated since 2004. The 2010 edition will mark the 75th playing of the event, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR (not including the major championships). Title sponsor Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. For more information on Waste Management visit wm.com or thinkgreen.com. For more information on the Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit wmphoenixopen.com.
Rickie Fowler Gets Second Sponsor Exemption for 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open
20. January 2010 by admin.
PHOENIX, Ariz. – 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman David Rauch announced today that Rickie Fowler will receive the second sponsor exemption for the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Billy Mayfair received the first tournament exemption in December. Rauch and the tournament host Thunderbirds will hand out a total of eight sponsor exemptions for the tournament, scheduled to be played at the TPC Scottsdale, February 22 – 28.
“Rickie Fowler is a 21 year-old golf phenom who burst onto the PGA TOUR last year and almost won his second start,” said Rauch. “He played in our event last year under an exemption as an amateur and finished T58. We are all excited for his return and look forward to his first Waste Management Phoenix Open as a professional.”
Fowler, a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State University, turned pro late last year after leading the U.S. Walker Cup team to victory with his unblemished 4-0 record. He was the first freshman to win the Ben Hogan Award given annually to the top men’s NCAA golfer. He was also named to the Ping All-America First Team and Golfweek’s All-America team during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Oklahoma State.
In 2009, Fowler earned $571,090 in just three starts. Fowler placed T7 in his first start at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, T2 at the Frys.com Open and T40 at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Finishing just outside the Top 125 on the 2009 PGA TOUR money list, Fowler played in the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he tied for 15th and earned his card for the 2010 season – officially his first full year on TOUR as a professional.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played February 22 – 28, 2010, at the TPC Scottsdale. The tournament host Thunderbirds have raised more than $65.9 million for charities, with more than $37.9 million generated since 2004. The 2010 edition will mark the 75th playing of the event, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR (not including the major championships). Title sponsor Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. For more information on Waste Management visit wm.com or thinkgreen.com. For more information on the Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit wmphoenixopen.com.
O.A.R. Returns to Coors Light Bird’s Nest at Phoenix Open
13. January 2010 by admin.
Scottsdale, Ariz. – A year after bringing down the house at the 2009 Birds Nest, national recording artist O.A.R. will return to Scottsdale and perform at the 2010 Coors Light Birds Nest on Saturday, February 27 during the upcoming Waste Management Phoenix Open, closing out what will be an exciting four-day run of exceptional and varied entertainment.
Tickets for O.A.R.’s Saturday evening show will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. on January 16th through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlet locations). General admission tickets are $35 through Ticketmaster in advance or $40 the day of the show and available only at the Birds Nest ticket office and Birds Nest ticket sales booths located throughout the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
VIP Tickets are also available for $175 which provides exclusive access to the Ketel One Vodka VIP area. VIP guests are treated to a complimentary catered dinner provided by Sushi Roku, complimentary drinks and access to a premium viewing area for the show.
Formed in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland, O.A.R. (an acronym for Of A Revolution) is hailed as one of the best live bands on the planet. Since the late 90s, O.A.R. has transformed themselves from Ohio State University bandmates to Billboard chartbusters and headliners at venues across America. The band’s 10th album, the 37-song Rain or Shine Live album, was just released on January 12, 2010.
The Coors Light Birds Nest is located directly across from the main Waste Management Phoenix Open tournament entrance at 82nd Street and Bell Road. The entertainment venue opens at 3:30 pm and closes at 10 pm Wednesday, February 24 – Saturday, February 27. Headline acts will take the main stage each evening at approximately 8 pm. The Coors Light Birds Nest is a 21-and-over venue.
The Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played February 22 – 28, 2010, at the TPC Scottsdale. The tournament host Thunderbirds have raised more than $65.9 million for charities, with more than $37.9 million generated since 2004. The 2010 edition will mark the 75th playing of the event, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR (not including the major championships). Title sponsor Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. For more information on Waste Management visit wm.com or thinkgreen.com. For more information on the Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit wmphoenixopen.com.
For information about the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open Coors Light Birds Nest, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.
For more information on Scottsdale Golf Courses www.ScottsdalesGolf.com
