#PEOPLESOPEN

Archives for February 2023

JON RAHM, JORDAN SPIETH AND TOM KIM HIGHLIGHT THE FINAL ROUND OF COMMITS FOR THE 2023 WM PHOENIX OPEN

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The world-class field for the 2023 edition of “The People’s Open” is nearly set and shaping up to be one of the strongest in tournament history as top-ranked players Jon Rahm (3), Tom Kim (14) and Jordan Spieth (16) are among the final players to commit to the field for the 2023 [geoswitch][geoswitch_case country_code=”US” state_code=”AZ”]WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison[/geoswitch_case][geoswitch_case]WM Phoenix Open[/geoswitch_case][/geoswitch], set to tee it up February 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale.

World No. 2 Scottie Scheffler returns to defend his title against an amazing field that includes premier players and fan favorites like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Colin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tony Finau, Sam Burns, and Max Homa, just to name a few.

The world-class field now includes 19 of the Top-20 and 38 of the Top-50 ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), along with 14 Major champions, five FedExCup champions and six WM Phoenix Open champions, including two-time winners Hideki Matsuyama and J.B. Holmes.

“We’re thrilled to have one of the best fields in the history of our tournament compete at one of golf’s most exciting stops on the PGA TOUR,” said 2023 Tournament Chairman Pat Williams. “The field includes five of our last six champions, highly ranked players including another appearance from the world’s number one ranked player Rory McIlroy, multiple Major winners and FedExCup champs.  Additionally we have the next generation of PGA TOUR stars headed to TPC Scottsdale for what will be one of the most exciting weeks in the Valley.”

Perennial WM Phoenix Open contender and nine-time PGA TOUR winner Jon Rahm is off to an electrifying start to the 2023 PGA TOUR season, winning two of his first five appearances in back-to-back fashion (Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express) and finishing in the Top-10 in his other three starts. To go along with his nine PGA TOUR wins – including a major championship victory at the 2021 U.S. Open – Rahm also has eight DP World Tour titles, a Race to Dubai Title (2019), and was named the PGA Player of the Year in 2021. In seven starts at the WM Phoenix Open, Rahm has four Top-10 finishes including a solo 5th-place finish as an amateur in 2015 and has never finished higher than 16th. Rahm is currently the 2023 FedExCup Points leader and ranks No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Spieth’s storied career began in 2013 where he was awarded PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year honors, and just two years later in 2015, the Texas native put together one of the greatest PGA TOUR seasons of all time.  That year Spieth won five times including two Major titles (2015 Masters, 2015 U.S. Open) and the season-ending TOUR Championship on his way to a FedExCup title, and PGA of America and PGA TOUR Player of the Year honors.  Spieth has 13 total PGA TOUR victories and three Major championship titles under his belt, was part of the victorious 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2022 U.S. Presidents Cup teams as well as being a member on four U.S. Ryder Cup teams (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021). Spieth is currently ranked No. 16 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Up-and-coming PGA TOUR star Tom Kim already has two PGA TOUR titles under his belt, becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on the PGA TOUR before their 21st birthday. The 20-year-old is putting together a promising 2023 season, carding his second PGA TOUR win at the 2022 Shriners Children’s Open in October and picking up two additional Top-10s at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and The American Express. He currently ranks No. 4 in the 2023 FedExCup standings, No. 14 in the Official World Golf Ranking and will make his debut appearance at this year’s WM Phoenix Open.

McIlroy is the highest ranked player in the field (1), followed closely by Scheffler (2) and Rahm (3). The other top-ranked players include Patrick Cantlay (5), Xander Schauffele (6), Colin Morikawa (7), Justin Thomas (9), Matt Fitzpatrick (10), Viktor Hovland (11), Tony Finau (12), Max Homa (13), Tom Kim (14), Sam Burns (15), Spieth (16), Cameron Young (17), Sungjae Im (18), Billy Horschel (19) and Hideki Matsuyama closing out the Top-20 in the world.

The field also includes 25 of the Top-30 in the current FedExCup standings, along with 24 players who finished in the Top-30 in last year’s FedExCup race. The nine former champs in the field include Scheffler (2022), Webb Simpson (2020), Rickie Fowler (2019), Gary Woodland (2018), Matsuyama (2016, 2017), and J.B. Holmes (2006, 2008).

Along with Davis Thompson and Ricky Barnes, the other three sponsor exemptions were awarded to J.B. Holmes, Charley Hoffman, and Taylor Montgomery.

The competitive WM Phoenix Open field will be competing for the increased purse of $20 million, the $3.6 million first-place check and 500 FedExCup points. PGA TOUR members had until 5 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 3), to commit to play in the WM Phoenix Open. Eligible players are assigned one of 34 PGA TOUR priority ranking categories based on their past performance on TOUR.   Click here to see the full field.

JASON ALDEAN AND ALEX RODRIGUEZ NEXT UP TO JOIN THE FIELD FOR THE POPULAR ANNEXUS PRO-AM AT THE 2023 WM PHOENIX OPEN

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Multi-PLATINUM country music star Jason Aldean and three-time Major League Baseball MVP and investor Alex Rodríguez are the latest additions to the star-studded list of entertainers and celebrities set to tee it up at the Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course. This will be the first appearance for both of these celebrities at the Annexus Pro-Am.

Aldean has risen to fame as a widely popular country music star, amassing 27 No. 1 hits, 15 billion streams, and more than 20 million albums sold worldwide.  He has seven studio albums that have been certified Platinum and has the most Top-10 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart (34), more than any other artists since he made his debut in 2005. The three-time ACM “Entertainer of the Year” is preparing for his upcoming “Rock N’ Roll Cowboy Tour” for his 10th studio album “Macon, Georgia” that features 20 new songs that showcase his southern roots and signature sound.

Rodriguez is regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. The former shortstop and third baseman played 22 seasons in the MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. During that span, Rodriguez put together historic statistical lines with a career .295 batting average, 696 home runs (5th all time), 2,086 RBI, 2,021 runs scored, 3,115 hits and 329 stolen bases. He was also a 14-time All-Star, won three American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, 10 Silver Slugger Awards, and two Gold Glove Awards. Rodriguez is currently the CEO of A-Rod Corp, a multi-faceted private equity and real estate firm, as well as part owner of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.

Tee times for the Annexus Pro-Am will range from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Exact tee times for participants will be announced on Tuesday, Feb. 7 on wmpodev.wpenginepowered.com/, along with a complete list of celebrities and PGA TOUR players in the field.

The 2023 WM Phoenix Open will take place Feb. 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale. “The People’s Open” has been named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR four times to acknowledge the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf. The 2023 edition will mark the 88th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the 14th with WM as title sponsor. For more information visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.

The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members who have helped the tournament eclipse $176 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932 (through the 2021 tournament). For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2023 WM Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.

2022 WM PHOENIX OPEN INJECTS MORE THAN $450 MILLION INTO ARIZONA’S ECONOMY

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An economic impact study conducted by Arizona State University found the 2022 WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison generated nearly a half billion dollars ($453.7 million) into the state of Arizona’s economy.  As part of the total economic impact, the study, commissioned by The Thunderbirds – hosts of the WM Phoenix Open – also reported a total State of Arizona GDP contribution of nearly $280 million ($276.8 million) and an annual employment impact of 4,290 jobs.

The study used an IMPLAN model to estimate economic impacts for the State of Arizona which is a commercially licensed input-output model developed and maintained by the Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc. (MIG) and widely used by professional economists to assess impacts of economic activities on a local economy.

““We’re proud to see our once small golf tournament in the middle of the desert grow into a crucial source for economic development and growth not only in the Phoenix area, but everywhere in Arizona,” said Michael Golding, 2022 WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman and current President of Thunderbirds Charities. “We take great pride in the positive experiences we provide our fans, and together with our corporate partners, we will continue to draw all types of visitors and businesses to the Valley.”

The study defined and estimated economic impact as the increase in spending and therefore economic vitality in a community as a result of the existence of an event or organization. For the WM Phoenix Open and surrounding events, this included the expenditures of visitors who identified the WM Phoenix Open as the key factor in visiting Arizona, media from outside Arizona who cover the event, the “organizational spending” by The Thunderbirds, media and event production companies, diverse organizations and businesses involved in operations, event production and activation of sponsorships, plus the indirect and induced multiplier effects.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”35771″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1675297573999{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The study focused on estimating the total gross economic impact (gross output) of the 2022 tournament, which includes the total amount of direct spending by out-of-town visitors and organizations in metro Phoenix, and indirect and induced impacts of those expenditures. For the purpose of the study, a visitor was defined as any individual who does not live in the metro Phoenix area for any portion of the year. As a result, no resident expenditure was used to generate the economic impact estimates. Dual-state residents were excluded from the study.

“The economic impact results reveal the power of professional sports and how a single event can have such a positive impact on a region,” said WM President and CEO Jim Fish. “WM is very proud of what we continue to accomplish together with The Thunderbirds through the WM Phoenix Open for the benefit of the community and the environment. Helping communities thrive and empowering people to live more sustainably is a key priority for WM.”

The Thunderbirds, the PGA TOUR and others associated with the tournament injected an additional $55.4 million in direct expenditures from staging and attending the tournament. These expenses are numerous and include tents and equipment, food and beverage, administration, signage, parking and security, hotel rooms leading up to and during the event for the players, caddies, PGA TOUR employees and out-of-town media, to name a few.

Economic activity of more than $220 million was induced by visitors’ and organizations’ expenditures – up from $195 million in 2017. The total gross output associated with visiting media, PGA participants and all other organizational expenditures is up 68.8% from the previous study. This figure was calculated using the IMPLAN economic assessment software with Arizona specific multipliers. This number is additional impact due to what is referred to as the multiplier effect, or the spending and re-spending of money through the local economy. When the indirect impact is combined with the direct impact, out-of-town media expenditure ($1.7 million) and total organizational expenditure, the total economic impact becomes $453.7 million.

In addition, the economic activity spurred by the event created incremental state and local sales tax revenues. The direct sales tax revenue generated from out-of-state visitors, media, and PGA participants at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open is estimated at $17.6 million. Direct sales tax revenue was estimated to be $13 million, through combined direct fiscal impacts in the City of Scottsdale ($2.9 million), Maricopa County ($1.9 million) and the State of Arizona ($9.3 million).

DAVIS THOMPSON AND RICKY BARNES RECEIVE FINAL TWO SPONSOR EXEMPTIONS FOR 2023 WM PHOENIX OPEN

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Tournament Chairman Pat Williams announced today PGA TOUR rookie Davis Thompson and 19-year PGA TOUR veteran Ricky Barnes will receive the fourth and fifth available sponsor exemptions for the 2023 [geoswitch][geoswitch_case country_code=”US” state_code=”AZ”]WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison[/geoswitch_case][geoswitch_case]WM Phoenix Open[/geoswitch_case][/geoswitch], which is scheduled to be played February 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale.

The 2022-2023 season is Thompson’s first on TOUR and he is already off to a promising beginning to his rookie campaign. The 23-year-old has made seven cuts in eight starts and has notched two Top-10’s, including his runner-up finish earlier in January at The American Express.   He held at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds and finished just one shot back of winner Jon Rahm.  During that run, he carded five eagles over the four days of play, becoming only the seventh player to make five eagles in a 72-hole event.  He currently ranks 20th in the FedExCup standings.

“Davis is a tremendous young talent and is already having an impressive rookie season, as we witnessed in his battle with Jon Rahm a few weeks ago in Palm Springs,” Williams said.  “He has put together a great stint so far on this West Coast Swing, we are excited to give him the chance to keep that going here at the WM Phoenix Open.”

Phoenix resident and University of Arizona alum Ricky Barnes has appeared in nine WM Phoenix Open’s, with a T-14 in his first ever start in 2004.  He has played in 335 events in his 19-year career on the PGA TOUR, notching 18 Top-10s, three third-place finishes and most notably, his runner-up outing in the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black.  A four-time All-American at Arizona, Barnes won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2002 and earned the Ben Hogan Award in 2003 as the country’s best college golfer.

“Ricky has been a huge supporter of this tournament, we are excited to have him back,” Williams said.  “We are thrilled to support one of our local TOUR players and we look forward to a great week for everyone in the field this year.”

The Thunderbirds and title sponsor WM had a total of five exemptions to award for the 2023 WM Phoenix Open. The first three sponsor exemptions were awarded to PGA TOUR veteran Charley Hoffman, two-time WM Phoenix Open champion J.B. Holmes, and rising star Taylor Montgomery.

The competitive WM Phoenix Open field will vie for the increased purse of $20 million, the $3,6 million first-place check and 500 FedExCup points. PGA TOUR members have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, to commit to play in the WM Phoenix Open. Eligible players are assigned one of 34 PGA TOUR priority ranking categories based on their past performance on TOUR. The field will continue to change as players with higher priority rankings commit to play in the WM Phoenix Open. This year, the WM Phoenix Open is guaranteed to have the majority of the Top-20 players at its event thanks to the commitment from PGA TOUR players in the Player Impact Program. The 2023 WM Phoenix Open has been named one of the PGA TOUR’s “designated status” events.