Ever wonder what goes into putting on one of the most famous golf tournaments in North America, the Waste Management Phoenix Open? In this week’s episode, I asked a former tournament director about the massive amount of manpower it takes to run this economic and entertainment juggernaut here in Greater Phoenix. Matt Mooney, CEO of Parkway, served as the 2025 WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman and shares some incredible insights with us.
Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Focus on the experience for the guests. Not the quantity of guests.
2. The tournament is always improving upon itself. Improved balconies, bridges for players, and VIP tee box seating are just a few recent upgrades that help the tournament flow more smoothly.
3. The WM Phoenix Open is a nonprofit. From last year’s tournament, they were able to donate $18.1 million dollars back to local charities this year, and $226 million dollars since the tournament’s inception.
4. The entire community gets behind this event to make Greater Phoenix shine, and in return, the WM Phoenix helps our region grow.
Bonus: Watch the end to find out how Hole 16 became one of the most famous golf holes!
I hope you enjoy the entire 10-minute interview as much as I did (ok, we went slightly over…15-minute interview). Hope to see you on 16 next year!
