WM Phoenix Open

Tuesday at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open was an absolute dream, especially for young kids just learning the game. More than 500 elementary school kids turned in notes to skip school to participate in the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day benefitting The First Tee of Phoenix. Just across the street from the tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course practice range, youngsters could hit shots and learn about the game of golf in a fun and interactive environment.

Also on hand to speak to the kids was 2023 U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Arizona Cardinals legendary wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr., and Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen – alongside local team mascots – hitting golf shots and answering questions from the crowd on what it takes to be a professional athlete. The fun didn’t end there. As a final treat, the youngsters played witness to a trick-shot golf show sponsored by PING, featuring Dan Boever who dazzled the crowd with unique skills and shots anyone in attendance won’t soon forget.

The festivities continued later in the morning when community leaders and celebrities joined PGA TOUR players and Valley team mascots in the annual San Tan Ford Special Olympics Putting Challenge. Paired alongside Special Olympians were community leaders who took part in the 9-hole contest for an afternoon full of fun and a ton of smiles.

And, to top it all off, everyone who enjoyed Tuesday at the WM Phoenix Open entered the gates for free, courtesy of Ford Free Days and Arizona Ford Dealers.

PREVIEW OF WEDNESDAY’S ANNEXUS PRO-AM

Get ready for Wednesday at “The People’s Open.” First up is the fan-favorite Annexus Pro-Am. Tee times for the event, hosted Wednesday morning, will be posted Tuesday night at www.wmphoenixopen.com. Some of the celebrities taking part in the festivities include Top Gun star Glen Powell, comedian Nate Bargatze, MLB stars Alex Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, Adrien Beltre and Merrill Kelly, football legends Nick Saban, Larry Fitzgerald and Emmitt Smith, Olympic Gold Medalist Cari Lloyd and more!

Wednesday afternoon, don’t forget to stick around for the WHOOP Shot at Glory – a unique closest-to-the-pin contest at the iconic 16th hole – where a slew of high profile personalities will compete for a chance to win $1 million to donate to a charity of their choice.

When the daytime action at TPC Scottsdale ends, things get going across the street for the biggest after party in golf – the Coors Light Birds Nest. Kicking off the first night are country music star and 2022 ACM award winner HARDY, and country music’s latest sensation Bailey Zimmerman. Gates open at 3:30 P.M.

We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at the 2024 edition of “The People’s Open.”

The world-class field for the 2024 edition of “The People’s Open” is nearly set as top-ranked players in the world Brian Harman (10), Tom Kim (17) and Harris English (40) are among the final players to commit to play in the 2024 WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison, set to tee it up February 5-11 at TPC Scottsdale.

The last remaining sponsor exemptions were awarded to up-and-comers Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Chris Gotterup as well as PGA TOUR veteran Kevin Chappell.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returns for a possible three-peat against an amazing field that includes premier players and fan favorites like Max Homa, Justin Thomas, Matt Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Clark, Jordan Spieth, and Rickie Fowler just to name a few.

The field includes five of the Top-10 and 27 of the Top-50 ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), along with seven Major champions, and four WM Phoenix Open champions, including two-time winners Scottie Scheffler and Hideki Matsuyama.

“We’re excited to once again see an amazing field compete at one of the PGA TOUR’s most thrilling and unique stops,” said 2024 Tournament Chairman George Thimsen. “From past champions and Major winners, to up and comers and fan favorites, the 2024 field features some of the game’s biggest stars and personalities. We can’t wait to see them tee it up at ‘The People’s Open’.”

Harman picked an important tournament for his third professional victory, taking the winner’s circle at Royal Liverpool at the 2023 Open Championship. The win catapulted Harman into the Top-10 (No. 10) in the Official World Golf Rankings up from No. 26 the week before and led to a 2023 U.S. Ryder Cup appearance, the first of his 12-year PGA TOUR career. Harman followed his biggest professional win with a T5 at the BMW Championship and a 23^rd-place finish in the FedExCup standings. He will make his 12^th start at TPC Scottsdale at the 2024 WM Phoenix Open.

Rising PGA TOUR star Tom Kim has three titles under his belt in just two years on the PGA TOUR making him the first player since Tiger Woods to win twice on TOUR before their 21st birthday. The young South Korean put together a memorable 2023 season, successfully defending his title at the Shriners Children’s Open at TPC Summerlin and 15 Top-25s, nine Top-10s and a runner-up finish en route to his first TOUR Championship where he finished 20th in the FedExCup standings. He currently ranks No. 17 in the Official World Golf Ranking and will make his second-straight appearance at this year’s WM Phoenix Open.

Four-time PGA TOUR winner Harris English is off to a solid start in 2024, already capturing a Top-15 finish at The Sentry and Top-10 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, but his best season came in 2020 when he accrued two titles at The Sentry Tournament of Champions and The Travelers Championship (both in a playoff). English represented Team U.S.A. at the 2020 Ryder Cup and helped them secure the victory against Europe at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. This will be his 12th appearance at the WM Phoenix Open, with his best outing a solo third back in 2016.

Adrien Dumont de Chassart has had an extraordinary start to his budding professional career, making history as the first PGA TOUR University graduate to clinch a win in his professional debut at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. Before embarking on his professional journey, Dumont de Chassart played for the University of Illinois where he was a three-time All-American, a finalist for the esteemed 2023 Jack Nicklaus and Fred Haskins Awards and was awarded the 2023 Big Ten Medal of Honor, the highest accolade a student-athlete in the Big Ten can achieve. Dumont de Chassart will make his first WM Phoenix Open appearance in 2024.

During his college career at Oklahoma, Gotterup became the first Sooner to win the Haskins Award, which is given to recognize the Player of the Year in men’s collegiate golf.  The award dates back to 1971 and has been given to the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, David Duval, and Ben Crenshaw, to name a few. This will be his first ever appearance at “The People’s Open.”

PGA TOUR veteran Kevin Chappell turned pro in 2011 and has played 286 events on TOUR, carding a lone victory at the 2017 Valero Texas Open. His best season was the 2015-2016 wrap-around schedule where he had four runner-up finishes including the TOUR Championship en route to an eighth-place finish in the FedExCup Standings. Chappell will make his 10^th WM Phoenix Open appearance in 2024.

The field also includes 34 players who finished in the Top-50 in last year’s FedExCup race. The four former champs in the field include Scheffler (2022, 2023), Rickie Fowler (2019), Gary Woodland (2018), and Hideki Matsuyama (2016, 2017).

Along with Dumont de Chassart, Gotterup, and Chappell, the other sponsor exemptions were awarded to 2014 WM Phoenix Open champion Kevin Stadler and current European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Three Monday qualifier spots also were decided at Pinnacle Peak Country Club on Monday, with Patton Kizzire, Nicolo Galletti and Jim Knous taking the final three spots in the 2024 WM Phoenix Open field.

By Landon Silinsky

The PGA TOUR heads to Arizona this week for the WM Phoenix Open. TPC Scottsdale will be the host, and measures as a 7,261-yard par 71 with Poa grass greens. After weeks of multi-course rotations, we are back to a standard full-field, 36-hole cut event this week.

As per usual, the field for the WMPO is quite strong, even with both Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele withdrawing. World No. 1 and two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler will headline, along with Justin Thomas, Max Homa and Jordan Spieth

Below, I have outlined three of my favorite DraftKings plays for the week.

Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR $1M People’s Open Special [$200K to 1st] 

Justin Thomas ($10,000)

It took me a while to get here, but there’s no fighting it anymore, JT is back. Whatever adjustments Thomas made to his game over at the tail end of the Summer have worked, because he’s as hot as any golfer on the planet right now. Dating back to the Wyndham Championship in late August, Thomas has posted finishes of T12, solo fifth, solo fourth, solo third, T3 and then T6 last week at Pebble Beach.

During this stretch, which dates back 16 measured rounds, JT ranks fifth in the field in SG: Approach and No. 1 in both SG: Tee-to-Green and SG: Total. The 15-time PGA TOUR winner also loves TPC Scottsdale, having posted four top-eight finishes and three additional top-17s in eight starts since 2015.

When you factor in his recent form, rolling stats and course history, JT makes for a no-brainer play this week at $10,00, especially with the $1,600 discount you’re getting from Scheffler.

Beau Hossler ($8,000)

Hossler has really turned into one of more consistent golfers on the PGA TOUR, having missed just one cut dating back to the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July. In that time he’s posted seven top-15 finishes, including four top-10s. Hossler is not the most prolific ball-striker, but he does just enough in that department while letting his incredible short game carry him.

Dating back 24 rounds in this field, Hossler ranks 10th in SG: Putting, ninth in SG: Around-the-Green and 13th in SG: Total. His history at this event is nothing to write home about, but he did finish T14 last year and is now returning a much more polished player.

Hossler should continue his made-cut streak in the desert this week and boasts pretty clear top-20 upside for a very reasonable $8,000 salary.

Kurt Kitayama ($7,200)

Kitayama has been on a tear with his ball striking of late. He gained 2.7 strokes last week in just two measured rounds at Pebble Beach, and before that gained three at the Sony Open and 5.1 at Sentry. His problem has remained with his putter, where he’s lost strokes in all three of his 2024 starts.

In Kitayama’s lone start at the WMPO last season, he posted a T23 finish, while averaging .79 SG: Putting per round. If that repeats itself this week, Kitayama is very live to not only post a high finish but maybe even win. We have already seen him take down a big boy event once before, when he outdueled Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational last March

Thankfully, Kitayama’s price has not quite caught up to well he’s been hitting the ball of late, so we can still roster him at this discounted $7,200 tag.

Set your DraftKings fantasy golf lineups here: PGA TOUR $1M People’s Open Special [$200K to 1st] 

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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is Lan1228) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.

Day one of the 2024 WM Phoenix Open is in the books and “The People’s Open” has begun. Monday’s Carlisle Pro-Am featured PGA TOUR professionals playing practice rounds alongside community leaders and VIPs during a perfect Monday afternoon. Garrick Higgo’s group took top honors at 19-under par followed closely by Chez Reavie’s group and Luke Donald’s group tied at 17-under.

Tuesday continues the leadup to tournament play with a few special events. And, just like Monday, tournament admission is absolutely FREE thanks to Ford Free Days.

First up is the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day presented by PING beginning at 10 a.m. on the TPC Champions Course practice range. Fans and kids in attendance for Dream Day can join in on the fun, see a trick-shot golf show, learn the game at a junior golf clinic presented by PING, take part in fun games and prizes and listen to motivational speeches from Arizona sports heroes Larry “Legend” Fitzgerald, Zac Gallen and Brandon Pfaadt.

Tuesday also features the San Tan Ford Special Olympics Putting Challenge where Special Olympians, celebrities, sports stars, and business leaders from the Valley take part in a friendly putting competition. The event begins at 11 a.m. on TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course putting green. The event is open to the public, and more often than not, fans in attendance can see a few familiar faces and PGA TOUR professionals show up to support our amazing athletes.

Three Monday qualifier spots were decided at Pinnacle Peak Country Club with Patton Kizzire, Nicolo Galletti and Jim Knous taking the final three spots in the 2024 WM Phoenix Open field.  To see the full Monday qualifier results, click here.

WM Phoenix Open tournament officials have confirmed a star-studded list of professional athletes, celebrities, entertainers, TV personalities, musicians and Olympians that will be on hand to tee it up at the Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

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. 6 at wmpodev.wpenginepowered.com/ with a complete list of celebrities and PGA TOUR players in the field.

Football legends in the field include seven-time national champion college football coach Nick Saban, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, Arizona Cardinals legendary receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Baseball superstars include three-time MLB MVP Alex Rodriguez, recent Baseball Hall-of-Fame inductee Adrian Beltre, Arizona Diamondbacks standout starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly and National League champion Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo.

Teeing it up on the music front is country music superstar Jake Owen, 2022 ACM award winner HARDY and world-renowned DJ Kygo.

Rounding out the list are other famous sports and entertainment personalities including Olympic Gold Medalists Michael Phelps and Carli Lloyd, popular comedian and golf fanatic Nate Bargatze, actor and “Top Gun” star Glenn Powell, and TV personality and Today Show co-host Dylan Dreyer.

Tournament Chairman George Thimsen announced today general admission tickets for Friday’s second round and Saturday’s third round of the 2024 WM Phoenix Open are now completely sold out as the tournament has put a cap on tickets for the biggest days of tournament week. General admission tickets for all other days are still available online at www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.

“Creating an exceptional fan experience is our top priority at the WM Phoenix Open and our dedication to elevating the quality of the fan journey guides every decision,” Thimsen said. “In pursuit of ensuring a great fan-first experience for our community, we have strategically chosen to put a cap on attendance for Friday and Saturday. Our community is what makes ‘The People’s Open’ so special and a high demand event. With this demand, we are prioritizing the right atmosphere for our guests.”