You’ve probably seen the little guy cruising around on his remote control boat during the TV coverage of the Waste Management Phoenix.

His name is the Green Gopher. Sometimes he wears a headband. This year, he’s donning a mask. On Super Bowl Sunday, he sported some NFL gear.

For viewers on TV or fans at the course, he’s probably just a fun gimmick, a slick way for Waste Management to get some airtime for its logo.

But in reality, the Green Gopher, officially the Waste Management Recycling Ambassador, has an actual job: to buzz around the lake and scare the birds away from the giant floating WM on the 18th hole, although Golfweek did confirm that the Green Gopher’s boat no longer shoots water at the birds.

So now you know the story behind the Caddyshack-inspired Waste Management Phoenix Open mascot.

You may now return to whatever it is you were doing before you clicked here.

Article originally appeared on: golfweek.usatoday.com