Celebrating its 81st year, the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community promises to be one of the best in tournament history, with a stellar field comprised of young guns, perennial contenders, and Major Championship winners. In addition to the PGA TOUR’s best, celebrities, business leaders, and rock stars will also join in the fun making the 2016 tournament a can’t-miss event.

The last two years will be hard to beat, as the 2014 and 2015 tournaments both achieved record-breaking attendance numbers. Last year’s contest lined the fairways and filled the stands with 564,368 passionate fans, despite cooler than average temperatures. And Brooks Koepka will return to defend his title after an outstanding second season on the PGA TOUR.

The 2015 tournament also was a record-breaking affair for local charities, as the host Thunderbirds raised more than $9 million that was distributed to more than 150 Arizona non-profits through the proceeds from the 2015 event. This marks the largest single amount raised by The Thunderbirds in the 80-year history of the tournament. To add to the crowning accomplishment, the civic organization eclipsed the $100 million mark in money raised for Arizona charities since the first tournament in 1932, with more than $36 million raised since 2010 when Waste Management became the title sponsor.

So what’s new at the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open? Each year, The Thunderbirds strive to improve the tournament in new and exciting ways. And this year, the Corporate Village tents at the par-4 17th hole will be removed to make way for the Bay Club, an upscale, luxury hospitality venue that will feature formal wait staffs, a chic lounge area and furnishings that resemble a five-star resort. Overlooking the 17th fairway and green, the Bay Club offers fantastic views of this drivable par 4, along with a viewing area to catch the action on hole 10. Bay Club guests also have access to the popular Greenskeeper venue.

Also new in 2016 and open to general admission ticket holders is EL Rancho on 12, a new venue that is located around the existing 12th green concession tent and open to the general public. The theme is Mexican old Ranch with a special food menu and margaritas. The area will have picnic tables, oak barrels, umbrellas, agave plants and games. Tequila Don Julio will park its promotional pick-up truck inside el rancho and offer mixed margaritas.

The 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open continues to be one of the most iconic and unique holes on the PGA TOUR. The Thunderbirds expanded the already enormous construction project, adding 50 skyboxes that include 20 new upper-level boxes on the green and five new loge boxes. The “Coliseum” will now feature 250 skyboxes, 5,000 general-admission seats and hold more than 15,000 fans.

The party doesn’t end with the conclusion of each round, as the Coors Light Birds Nest brings the party across the street to a four-night music extravaganza. Open Wednesday (2/3) through Saturday (2/6) from 3:30-10 pm, the 2016 Coors Light Birds Nest will feature country group Rascal Flatts on Wednesday night, Phoenix native Dierks Bentley on Thursday night, Robin Thicke on Friday night and Dutch DJ Tiësto on Saturday night.

While the actual Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament will be played Thursday-Sunday (February 4-7), 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. And thanks to Ford – the official vehicle sponsor of the WM Phoenix Open – all guests receive free admission to the festivities on Monday, Feb. 1, and Tuesday, Feb. 2 for Ford Free Days courtesy of Arizona Ford Dealers. 

There are also special activities that will feature PGA TOUR professionals, including the Coors Light Pro-Am on Monday. Tuesday brings The R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day and Outfront Media Special Olympics Open. And the fun continues on Wednesday with the extremely popular Annexus Pro-Am and Phoenix Suns Charities Shot at Glory. On Saturday, Feb. 6, Waste Management and The Thunderbirds invite everyone to participate in the sixth-annual GREEN OUT, where players and fans are encouraged to wear green to showcase their support for the environment, the community and all that Waste Management is doing to solidify the tournament’s status as not only the greenest event on the PGA TOUR, but also the most charitable. For every person who wears green on Saturday, The Thunderbirds will donate “green” to three local charities.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is not only the most-attended tournament on the PGA TOUR, it is also the largest zero-waste event in the world. That means ZERO tournament waste has entered landfills in the last three years. Instead, 100 percent was recycled, composted or sent to waste-to-energy facilities. 

There is a lot of excitement in Scottsdale during the early months of 2016, but none more impactful or fun than the Greatest and Greenest Show on Grass. For more information or tickets to the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.