With half a million fans navigating the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, five tournament insiders give us a look at how it all comes together.

Mike McQuaid  Title: Tournament Chairman  Favorite Local Course: Arizona Country Club  Preferred 19th Hole: The Vig  PGA Tour Pro to Follow: Charley Hoffman  Handicap: 10.7

Having spent upwards of 40 hours per week on the Waste Management Phoenix Open since the 2010 event concluded, Tournament Chairman Mike McQuaid knows the ins and outs of “The Greatest Show on Grass.” “I really get to see all the hard work that is put into the tournament,” McQuaid says. “From volunteers to vendors to all the money the Thunderbirds raise, I get to see that all firsthand.”
While a tournament that caters to more than half a million spectators has many moving parts, for McQuaid, the most rewarding pieces revolve around the event’s charitable contributions. “I’m involved in the day-to-day so I get to see how the money we’ve raised positively affects the community and all the local charities,” McQuaid says.
As a member of the well-known Phoenix Thunderbirds, McQuaid’s year-long reign as chairman involved acting as a liaison between the Thunderbirds and the title sponsor, Waste Management. “As tournament chairman, you are the face of the Thunderbirds, representing the 54 active Thunderbirds and more than 220 lifebirds,” say McQuaid, who practices commercial real estate.
One aspect McQuaid says will enhance the gallery experience at the 2011 Phoenix Open is the addition of a new viewing location on the 17th hole. Previously accessible only to corporate ticket holders, the location now allows the general public to view play on hole 17 and approach shots into the 18th green. Additional dining and entertainment will also be present on this stretch of the course. “We are creating a festival area where people can enjoy themselves while taking a break from the golf and grabbing a bite to eat,” McQuaid says.