The torch as tournament director of the FBR Open was passed late Sunday afternoon on the 18th green of the TPC of Scottsdale, shortly after Phil Mickelson received his $936,000 winner’s check and trophy.

The change of leadership went without fanfare, as 2005 tournament chairman Bryon Carney stepped down and assistant chairman Mike Haenel stepped up.

“(Monday morning) I woke up, and I felt like I was staring at Mount Everest,’’ admitted Haenel, who like Carney is a member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the civic organization that sponsors the FBR Open.

“I mean, Bryon and the rest of the Thunderbirds, they just hit it out of the park! It puts a lot of pressure on me, simply because this tournament -- Phil winning, the huge crowds, the great weather -- was so awesome.’’

Chances are Haenel actually is chomping at the bit. Certainly he’s not waiting around for November, when the infrastructure -- the tents, the skyboxes, the bleachers, the ropes -- starts being put back in place.

“We’re heading to L.A. next week for the Nissan (Open),’’ Haenel reported. “We want to thank all the pros for playing here, and we want to start recruiting next year’s field. . . . It’s the first of many trips, because we want to stay in front of the players and keep asking them how we can make our tournament better.’’

Wow, it seems s little early for that, but Haenel said it’s “never too early.’’

“We really did have a strong field this year, with Vijay and Phil and dozens of big-name players,’’ Haenel pointed out. “But we’re always trying to improve it, to make it stronger and deeper. . . . To get Tiger (Woods) and Ernie (Els), and anybody we missed this time.’’

Still, it’s not necessarily Haenel’s No. 1 priority for 2006, he said.

“The most important job I have as tournament chairman is to select the right Thunderbirds to be our committee heads for the various venues, and then to stay out of their way’’ he said in reference to who is going to run the Bird’s Nest, security, parking, volunteers, ticket sales, etc.

Naturally, Haenel will lean heavily on Carney, who did an excellent job last week of enhancing the fans’ experience, taking care of the players, making the tournament more enjoyable for the sponsors, raising money for charity and recreating the Bird’s Nest. That a near-record crowd of 517,847 fans came and watched, and went home happy, might have been Carney’s greatest legacy.

Certainly, there will be continuity in the changing of the guard, as Carney and Haenel work together at Grubb-Ellis BRE, a real estate company.

“I think it’s the first time in the 70 years of the FBR/Phoenix Open that the tournament directors have come from the same company -- back-to-back -- or at least that’s what we’ve been told, ’’ Carney said. “So, obviously, I’ve got a very close relationship with Mike -- we’ve been friends for 20 years -- and I know he’s excited and will do a great job.’’

Carney’s only unknown as he gets ready to assume the Big Chief position for the Thunderbirds this spring (technically, it’s a vote; realistically, it’s a slam dunk) is waiting to find out how much money has been raised for charity. Last year, the Thunderbirds raised $4.54 million -- the largest increase on the PGA Tour.

“I’m confident that we’ll do as well as we did last year, and maybe even a little better,’’ Carney said. “We added the Birdies For Charity program (where fans pledge money) this year, and that raised an additional $700,000, so we’re very optimistic.

“All I can say is, I’m thankful to the players, the fans, the volunteers and the Thunderbirds for making it such a great tournament. We accomplished what we started out to, and it was one of the most wonderful weeks of my life.’’