Fore Play

WM PHOENIX OPEN WEEK, LIVE FROM THE LOUDEST HOLE IN GOLF

Feb 3, 2026
Jason Eisenberg, tournament chairman and longtime Thunderbird volunteer who oversees operations and charitable outcomes. He walks through the new temporary 16th-hole structure, why the build must be annual, and massive logistics behind the week. They also cover crowd safety, sponsor exemptions, field building, and the tournament’s year-round charitable impact.
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INSIGHT

Charity Is The Tournament's Core

  • The Thunderbirds are unpaid volunteers who run the WM Phoenix Open and focus fundraising on youth charities across Arizona.
  • The event has raised over $226 million all-time and $18.1M in the prior year, directly funding local youth programs and Special Olympics.
ANECDOTE

First-Year Thunderbird Experience

  • Riggs describes his first year as a Thunderbird and his role in scoring and communications, learning traditions and using radios.
  • He compares volunteering to hosting a dinner party where you ensure everyone else has a good time while staying behind the scenes.
INSIGHT

New 16th Structure Upgrades Views

  • The 16th-hole structure was fully rebuilt this year with modern temporary materials and improved view corridors.
  • The new four-story temporary build offers better sightlines and amenities but must be taken down because the site is in a floodplain.
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