The Greatest Show on Grass, a.k.a. the Waste Management Phoenix Open, returns to TPC Scottsdale January 27 through February 2, 2014.

2013 Tournament Champion Phil Mickelson is back to defend his title after an exciting week where an incredible 20 tournament records were either tied or broken. Mickelson broke four records himself and tied eight others, including joining Arnold Palmer, Gene Littler and Mark Calcavecchia as three-time tournament champions.

It wasn’t all because of Phil, though. Thanks to the tremendous support from the local community, in addition to Mickelson’s record-setting performance, the tournament also set attendance records during Friday’s 2nd round (121,901) and Saturday’s 3rd round (179,022).

At the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open, look for Mickelson to defend his title against several of the PGA TOUR stars such as Brandt Snedeker, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson and many others as they battle it out for their share of the $6.2M purse.

On February 2, 2014, a new champion will raise the Waste Management Phoenix Open trophy, but he won’t be the only winner of the event. The true winners each and every year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open are the hundreds of Arizona charities the tournament supports.

Last year, the Waste Management Phoenix Open and its hosts, The Thunderbirds, distributed more than $6.2 million to local charities through proceeds raised from the 2013 event. While last year’s donation was a staggering number, it’s only a small por tion of the overall charitable contributions the tournament has made in its 79-year history. Since its inception dating back to 1932, the event has raised more than $86 million for charity with more than $60 million coming since October 2003 when the tournament first brought on a title sponsor.

So, what’s new at the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open? Security. Beginning January 1, 2014 the PGA TOUR will implement a host of new security measures that will be in effect during the 2014 tournament. Much of the TOUR’s new security policy will be implemented behind the scenes and will have virtually no impact on your experience as a spectator with the exception of a few key changes. So, as you begin to plan for the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open please note that metal detecting wands will be used at each entrance gate on everyone including volunteers, spectators, staff and media; bag inspections will also be performed at all entrance gates (opaque bags are not to exceed 6”x6”x6” with clear tote bags not to exceed 12”x6”x12”); and no outside food or beverages may enter the tournament except for sealed bottled water and medical or infant needs.

And, when the sun sets at TPC Scottsdale the party heats up at the Coors Light Birds Nest. Open Wednesday through Saturday from 3:30-10 p.m. of tournament week, the Coors Light Birds Nest features new artists every year and this year’s acts are some of the best yet. Crowd favorite O.A.R. will kick off the party on Wednesday night, Country star Jake Owen will play on Thursday night, Weezer will have the crowd singing on Friday night and MetalHead will play on Saturday, the final night.

While the actual Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament will be played Thursday – Sunday (January 30-February 2), 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 Kyocera Pro-Am on Monday, the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day and CBS Outdoor Special Olympics Open on Tuesday and the ever-popular Annexus Pro-Am on Wednesday. On Saturday, February 1, the tournament is inviting everyone to participate in the fourth 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 Arizona Recycling Coalition, The Arizona Chapter of Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and Waste Not.

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 three, 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. During the program’s second year, the 2013 Waste Management Phoenix Open successfully diverted 100 percent of waste from local landfills – a feat that hasn’t been duplicated at any major sporting event.

January 27 through February 2 is the week and The Greatest and Greenest Show on Grass is the place to be.

For more information or tickets to the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.