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Behind the scenes of fan health: Mayo Clinic marks 25 years as WM Phoenix Open medical sponsor
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As the WM Phoenix Open prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of golf fans to TPC Scottsdale, tournament organizers and Mayo Clinic will offer media a behind-the-scenes look at the on-site medical operations that support one of the world's largest sporting events.
Ahead of the 2026 tournament, Mayo Clinic — marking 25 years as the WM Phoenix Open's medical sponsor — will host media in the tournament's medical tent, providing insight into how medical teams prepare for and respond to the predictable health needs of large, outdoor events in the Arizona desert.
The media access will include insight into:
- Medical staffing and preparation for large, outdoor desert events.
- Coordination with local EMS and tournament leadership.
- Common conditions treated in the medical tents.
- The role of trained volunteers staffing the Family Center to support parents and families with young children.
The access will include a look at medical staffing and preparation, how the tents reduce strain on local emergency departments and urgent care centers, how they provide convenient care on-site, coordination with other organizations, and the systems in place to support fan health and safety throughout tournament week.
Mayo Clinic's on-site medical team includes physicians, nurses, physical and respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals focused on addressing predictable health needs, such as dehydration, heat-related illness, sunburn, minor injuries and falls. Mayo Clinic also provides sunscreen for fans. Separately, the tournament's new Family Center is staffed by trained, nonclinical volunteers from Mayo Clinic and Phoenix Children's Hospital who will provide logistical and hospitality support for families, including wayfinding, basic amenities and a comfortable space to recharge.
"Mayo Clinic's role at the WM Phoenix Open is focused on preparation, teamwork and coordination," says Kristina Butler, M.D., chair of Community Engagement at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "Mayo Clinic specializes in serious and complex care, and that expertise is exactly what's needed at large events. Most issues are minor, but our job is knowing when something isn't. That experience helps keep people safe and prevents small problems from becoming big ones."
The media access aligns with the tournament's broader focus on fan-first enhancements, including the introduction of a new Family Center for the 2026 event, designed to support parents attending with children.
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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.
Media contacts:
- Carey Stanton, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
- Ryan Woodcock, WM Phoenix Open, 480-766-1221, woody@wmphoenixopen.com
