WM Phoenix Open

Seven-time NCAA Football National Champion coach Nick Saban and Arizona Cardinals all-time leading receiver Larry Fitzgerald are the latest celebrities to commit to appear in the popular Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

“Football fans are going to be pretty excited to catch a glimpse of Coach Saban and Larry Fitzgerald at this year’s Annexus Pro-Am,” said 2024 Tournament Chairman George Thimsen. “When it comes to football, it doesn’t get much better than these two, and we’re honored to have two legends of the gridiron have a little fun at the WM Phoenix Open.”

Recently retired legendary college football coach Nick Saban served as the head football coach at the University of Alabama from 2007 to 2023. Saban also served as head coach of the National Football League (NFL)’s Miami Dolphins and at three other universities – Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Toledo.  He amassed seven national titles as a head coach, the most in college football history. His first came when he led the LSU Tigers to the BCS National Championship in 2003. He then coached the Alabama Crimson Tide to BCS and AP national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, and to College Football Playoff championships in 2015, 2017 and 2020. He became the first coach in college football history to win a national championship with two different Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936. Saban and Bear Bryant are the only coaches to win an SEC championship at two different schools. Saban’s career record as a college head coach is 292–71–1.

A familiar face at the Annexus Pro-am, Fitzgerald played 17 seasons in the NFL – all with the Arizona Cardinals. Throughout his NFL career, Fitzgerald has been one of the most productive and consistent wide receivers in the league, holding multiple records for receptions, touchdowns, and yards for the Cardinals franchise. Fitzgerald was recognized as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016, was inducted into the University of Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 2023, and most recently selected to the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame class. Among Larry’s proudest achievements is establishing and building The Larry Fitzgerald Foundation.

Thanks to Ford, the Official Vehicle of the WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison, all fans will once again be admitted FREE of charge on Monday, Feb. 5 and Tuesday, Feb. 6 to the WM Phoenix Open as part of “Ford Free Days” courtesy of your Arizona Ford Dealers.

“This marks the eighth year ‘The People’s Open’ and Ford have partnered to offer free admission to all of our fans,” said 2024 Tournament Chairman George Thimsen. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue this partnership with Ford, serving as a commitment to our local communities to ensure all WM Phoenix Open fans have the opportunity to experience everything the tournament has to offer.”

As part of this renewed partnership, the closest-to-the-pin contest called “Ford Drive One for Arizona Charities” will once again be held on the iconic 16^th hole during tournament play on Thursday and Friday, giving players a chance to win $10,000 for one of 11 local non-profit organizations, many of whom support green initiatives in Arizona communities.

The WM Phoenix Open is appropriately named ‘The People’s Open’, we hope that everyone can come out and enjoy Ford Free Days on Monday and Tuesday to kick off tournament week,” said Arizona Ford Dealers Chairman John Nissen. “The Arizona Ford Dealers are proud to not only be the official vehicle of the Open but honored to follow in the philanthropic footsteps of the tournament and give back to our local community through Ford Drive One for Arizona Charities.”

Monday’s schedule includes practice rounds by PGA TOUR players and the Carlisle Pro-Am, while Tuesday will include practice rounds, the R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day and the popular San Tan Ford Special Olympics Open.

The R.S. Hoyt Jr. Family Foundation Dream Day features motivational talks and Q&A’s with PGA TOUR professionals and professional athletes, a trick shot show, and a junior golf clinic presented by PING. The event is located on the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course practice range and will feature appearances by Arizona Cardinals legend Larry Fitzgerald, and Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Zac Gallen and Brandon Pfaadt.

The popular San Tan Ford Special Olympics Open Putting Challenge is located at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course putting green and features a friendly competition between teams comprised of Special Olympics Arizona athletes, celebrities and sports stars, and business leaders from the community.

Ford will bring out the latest Ford gas and electric vehicles and showcase them near the driving range for fans to check out all tournament long, along with some special giveaways. Beyond the on-course showcase, Ford Free days, and the Ford Drive one for Arizona Charities, Ford will also host Country Night at the Coors Light Bird’s Nest on Thursday, Feb. 8 with Dierks Bentley and special guests Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Patrick.

As the Official Vehicle of the WM Phoenix Open, Arizona Ford dealers will be providing more than 150 courtesy vehicles during tournament week to transport PGA TOUR players, tournament officials and WM Phoenix Open staff. Those vehicles, comprised of all 2023 Ford F-150, Edge and Expeditions that will go up for sale at the Phoenix metro Ford Dealerships following the tournament.

Coors Light Birds Nest officials confirmed an addition to the music lineup as Indie pop sensation Fitz and The Tantrums will join Rock & Roll Hall of famers Duran Duran for the Friday night show (Feb. 9) of the popular four-night concert series during WM Phoenix Open week.

Limited tickets for Friday’s show are still available and can be purchased at CoorsLightBirdsNest.com.  Limited tickets still remain for the other three nights of the Coors Light Birds Nest as well; which features HARDY, Bailey Zimmerman and mike. on Wednesday, Feb. 7; Dierks Bentley with Special Guests Mitchell Tenpenny and Meghan Parker on Thursday, Feb. 8; and Kygo with Special Guest Sam Feldt on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Fitz and The Tantrums emerged onto the music scene in Los Angeles in 2008 with their infectious blend of soulful pop, indie rock, and neo-soul influences.  Their breakout moment came with the release of their debut album, “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” in 2010, showcasing a retro-inspired sound that garnered critical acclaim. Known for their energetic and engaging live performances, Fitz and The Tantrums quickly gained a devoted fan base. The Los Angeles collective have magnified the scope of pop with a whole lot of dancefloor-ready bounce. Their catalog spans fan favorite records such as Pickin’ up the Pieces [2010], More Than Just A Dream [2013], the gold-certified Fitz and The Tantrums [2016], and All the Feels [2019]. Along the way, they’ve impressively tallied just shy of 4 billion streams and counting powered by enduring hits such as the 4x-platinum “HandClap,” 3x-platinum “Out of My League,” platinum “The Walker,” and gold “Moneygrabber.” With chart-topping hits like “Out of My League” and “HandClap,” the band has consistently delivered catchy tunes marked by infectious hooks and soulful vibes, making them a celebrated presence in the contemporary pop music landscape.

The Coors Light Birds Nest doors will open at 3:30 p.m. each day with its expanded outdoor patio area that will feature more live music, outdoor games, entertainment, and various food and beverage offerings.  The special guest opening act will take the main stage inside the 48,000 square foot tent at approximately 6:30 p.m. each night, with the headliners going on stage at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Tournament Chairman George Thimsen announced today three-time Major champion Jordan Spieth, two-time WM Phoenix Open champion Hideki Matsuyama, and former U.S. Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick have committed to play in the 2024 WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison, which is scheduled to tee off February 5-11 at TPC Scottsdale.

“We’re excited to welcome back our two-time champion, Hideki Matsuyama, and we’re equally excited to bring back these huge names – as they are some of the world’s top players who have had tremendous success at the WM Phoenix Open,” Thimsen said. “We have seen them already combine for two wins and nine Top-10 finishes at TPC Scottsdale, we can’t wait to see how these fan favorites will perform again this year.”

Between Jordan, Hideki, Matthew and Tyrell we have been able to see two wins and nine additional Top-10 finishes. We can’t wait to see if these TOUR fan favorites add to their impressive resumes this year.”

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 five U.S. Ryder Cup teams (2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023). Spieth is currently ranked No. 14 in the Official World Golf Rankings and will make his eighth WM Phoenix Open start in 2024 where he has four Top-10 finishes.

Matsuyama’s stellar career includes 17 worldwide wins, counting the 2021 Masters at Augusta National where he became the first Japanese born player to win a Major. The eight-time PGA TOUR winner – and two-time WM Phoenix Open champion – is one of only eight players to successfully defend their WM Phoenix Open title the following year. Matsuyama also is the second-leading money winner at the WM Phoenix Open, earning more than $3.7 million in 10 starts. Matsuyama will vie for his third WM Phoenix Open title in 2024, seeking to become only the fourth player in tournament history to win three times.

Fitzpatrick has two PGA TOUR and eight DP World Tour wins to his name during his 10-year professional career, the most impressive of which came at the 2022 US Open at The Country Club in Brookline. Fitzpatrick picked up his second PGA TOUR victory last season at the 2023 RBC Heritage to go along with a T2 at the BMW Championship and five additional Top-10 finishes, a season good enough for a 9th place finish in the year-long FedExCup race. Fitzpatrick has been named to three European Ryder Cup teams (2016, 2021, 2023) and is currently ranked No. 8 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He will make his third WM Phoenix Open appearance this year.

The field now features six of the Top-10 and 14 of the Top-30 players in the world including World No. 1 and back-to-back WM Phoenix Open champion Scottie Scheffler, 2023 FedExCup Champion Viktor Hovland (4), Xander Schauffele (5), Max Homa (7), Fitzpatrick (8), reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark (10), Spieth (14), Sahith Theegala (19), Cameron Young (21), Sam Burns (22), Justin Thomas (23), Tony Finau (26), Rickie Fowler (27), and Sungjae Im (28).

The Thunderbirds announced today NFL all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith and two-time Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd are among the first list of celebrities to commit to play in the popular Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

“Anticipation is building for the Annexus Pro-Am, a true crowd-pleaser each year. Our hopes are high as we gear up to feature an array of world-class celebrities and athletes,” said 2024 Tournament Chairman George Thimsen. “As we are getting closer to tournament week, we’re thrilled to give you a peek into what the star-studded Pro-Am lineup will look like.”

Smith’s 15-year career NFL career spanned 13 years with the Dallas Cowboys and two years with the Arizona Cardinals.  He retired in 2004 as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher (18,335 yards), a record that still holds today.  Smith achieved significant milestones throughout his career, including winning three Super Bowls with the Cowboys, eight Pro Bowl selections and was honored as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1993. Additionally, in 2019 Smith was selected to the NFL 100 All-Time Team, a prestigious list honoring the best players of the NFL’s first 100 years. He has participated in the Annexus Pro-Am five times, with appearances in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023.  He also won the WHOOP Shot at Glory in 2016.

A distinguished soccer player, Lloyd boasts a decorated sports career with two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, two FIFA Women’s World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019, and dual FIFA Player of the Year titles in 2015 and 2016. As a four-time Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016, and 2021), Lloyd is celebrated for her outstanding contribution to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where she secured a hat-trick within the first 16 minutes, propelling the United States to a resounding 5-2 victory over Japan. With 316 appearances for the U.S. national team, Lloyd sits second overall in International appearances, and she ranks third in goals (134) and sixth in assists (64)  for the team. Throughout her illustrious career, she spent nine seasons in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) ending her career with NY/NJ Gotham FC where she is now a minority investor. Her upcoming appearance in “The People’s Open” marks Lloyd’s second-straight appearance.

Tournament Chairman George Thimsen announced today 23-year PGA TOUR veteran and current European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald will receive the second of five available sponsor exemptions for the 2024 WM Phoenix Open presented by Taylor Morrison, set to tee it up February 5-11 at TPC Scottsdale.

“Luke has had an outstanding career and is an incredible friend of the game of golf,” Thimsen said. “We’re thrilled and honored to have the current European Ryder Cup captain back at ‘The People’s Open’ and can’t wait to see him compete at TPC Scottsdale.”

Donald has enjoyed an enviable 22-year career winning 13 times in 421 tournaments across multiple professional tours including the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour. Donald’s first career win came his rookie season at the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic and would win another four times between 2002 and 2011. During the 2011 and 2012 seasons, Donald exploded collecting three PGA TOUR victories, four international wins and the coveted Official World Golf Rankings No. 1 spot which he held for 56 total weeks. Donald was a playing member of four winning European Ryder Cup teams (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012) and Captain of the victorious 2023 European team. Donald will make his 10^th appearance at “The People’s Open” in 2024.

The Thunderbirds and WM have a total of five exemptions to award for the 2024 WM Phoenix Open. 2014 WM Phoenix Open champ Kevin Stadler received the first exemption, while the remaining three will be announced leading up to the tournament.