Few days, if any, showcase the “Golf is Good for Everyone” theme quite like Tuesday at the WM Phoenix Open, when local grade school students, Special Olympians, military families and kids in need of eye care all benefit.
The festivities tee off with the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day, featuring hundreds of local elementary students in grades 4-6 for a morning centered on inspiration, learning and fun. The event was headlined by PGA TOUR pro Joel Dahmen, Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and pro pitcher Zac Gallen. Students were amazed by the trick-shot golf show, participated in a Q and A session, and even took a few cuts at a junior golf clinic presented by PING.
After Dream Day, the San Tan Ford Special Olympics Putting Challenge got rolling on the Stadium Course putting green. The annual event paired Special Olympics Arizona athletes with celebrities, professional athletes and business leaders from across the Valley in a friendly competition celebrating inclusion and community.
Open to all ticket holders, the event once again highlighted the WM Phoenix Open’s commitment to supporting meaningful causes while giving fans the chance to see familiar faces in a relaxed, interactive setting.
The day of giving then shifted to military families during an event held by Operation Shower, a nonprofit organization that throws baby showers especially for expectant mothers whose spouses are deployed or who may be serving themselves. Held at Patriots Outpost, soon-to-be mothers are honored with essential items, emotional support, and a sense of community as powerful reminders of the tournament’s ongoing support and appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
The day concluded on the TPC Champions Course with the PGA TOUR Wives Association Golf Classic. The five-hole charity shootout featured members of the PGA TOUR Wives Association competing for a cause, while their PGA TOUR professional partners took on caddie duties, carrying bags, raking bunkers and tending flags throughout the round. The event benefited EYECARE4KIDS and added a lighthearted, personal touch to Tuesday’s schedule.
