[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1672328530881{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Tournament Chairman Pat Williams announced today the [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] has received early commitments from some of the top PGA TOUR players who will tee it up at “The People’s Open” February 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale. Those among the first to officially commit include defending WM Phoenix Open champion and 2022 PGA TOUR Player of the Year Scottie Scheffler, seven-time PGA TOUR winner and 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist Xander Schauffele, and four-time PGA TOUR winner Sam Burns.
“With the WM Phoenix Open being named a designated event, we have high expectations for showcasing the best field we’ve ever had,” Williams said. “We can’t wait to introduce the rest of the field as we get closer to the 88th edition of ‘The People’s Open.’”[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”35363,35365,35361″ img_size=”medium”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1672328442880{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Scheffler turned in a memorable 2022 campaign that included his first major win at the 2022 Masters on his way to winning PGA TOUR Player of the Year honors. He earned his first four PGA TOUR titles in a span of six starts, starting with the 2022 WM Phoenix Open (his first career win), followed by victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Masters. That winning stretch proved to be historic as Scheffler was the first player to achieve such a feat since Jason Day accomplished it back in 2015. Scheffler was the PGA TOUR’s leading money winner in 2022, earning himself a President’s Cup appearance, a runner-up finish in the 2022 FedExCup standings and Player of the Year honors to move into the top spot in Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career following his third victory (March 27), becoming the 25th player in the OWGR era to reach the No. 1 position. He maintained his position as World No. 1 through the end of the season, and currently is second in the rankings behind Rory McIlroy. This will be Scottie’s fourth appearance at “The Peoples Open.”
Schauffele also had a stellar year in 2022, earning seven Top-10s that included wins at the Travelers Championship, Genesis Scottish Open and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He recorded Top-15 finishes at three of the four majors (The Open Championship, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship), as well as a Top-5 performance at the TOUR Championship to finish solo fourth in the final 2022 FedExCup standings. This will be Xander’s sixth appearance at the WM Phoenix Open, with his best outing a runner-up finish in 2021. He finished solo third last year behind Scheffler and runner-up Patrick Cantlay. He currently ranks sixth in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Burns was selected to his first President’s Cup team and had a breakout season in 2022 with three wins (Sanderson Farms Championship, Valspar Championship, and the Charles Schwab Challenge). He advanced to the TOUR Championship for the second consecutive season, finishing No. 24 in the final FedExCup standings. With his three victories, Burns was one of five players to win three or more times on the season. The LSU alum finished the season with eight Top-10s in 24 events played. This will be Burns’ fifth appearance at “The Peoples Open,” with his best performance a Top-25 finish in 2021. He currently sits 13th in the OWGR.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]