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PGA Tour

WM AMBASSADOR AND FOUR-TIME PGA TOUR WINNER CHARLEY HOFFMAN RECEIVES FIRST SPONSOR EXEMPTION FOR 2023 WM PHOENIX OPEN

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Tournament Chairman Pat Williams announced today WM ambassador and 23-year PGA TOUR veteran Charley Hoffman will receive the first of five 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], set to tee it up February 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale.

“We’re obviously very proud to present our first sponsor exemption to 23-year PGA TOUR veteran and WM ambassador Charley Hoffman,” Williams said. “Charley has been a wonderful friend of not only our tournament, but our title sponsor and our local communities. We’re looking forward to seeing him in action this February and excited to welcome him back to ‘The People’s Open’.”

Since, turning professional in 2000, the San Diego native has recorded four PGA TOUR wins including the 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship, the 2014 OHL Classic at Mayakoba and the 2016 Valero Texas Open. Hoffman also was a member of the 2017 U.S. Presidents Cup team. Hoffman will make his 17th start at “The People’s Open” with his best finish coming in 2009 as a runner-up to eventual winner Kenny Perry.

“I’d like to thank the Thunderbirds and WM for their continued support of me, my family, and my career,” Hoffman said.  “This is hands down my favorite event on the calendar, not only because of the fans and the amazing atmosphere, but because I get to represent WM during the week of their biggest event. I’m so grateful to be given the opportunity to compete at this stage, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for what seems to be the biggest WM Phoenix Open ever.”

The Thunderbirds and WM have a total of five exemptions to award for the 2023 WM Phoenix Open. The remaining four exemptions will be announced leading up to the tournament.

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 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 top 20 players at its event thanks to the commitment from PGA TOUR players in the Player Impact Program. The 2023 WM Phoenix Open will be one of PGA’s ‘designated status’ events.

DEFENDING CHAMPION SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, XANDER SCHAUFFELE AND SAM BURNS AMONG FIRST COMMITMENTS TO FIELD FOR 2023 WM PHOENIX OPEN

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[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]

GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING MAROON 5 TO TAKE THE STAGE AT THE ICONIC 16TH HOLE FOR YEAR TWO OF CONCERT IN THE COLISEUM PRESENTED BY SWIRE COCA-COLA

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[vc_row][vc_column][mk_button dimension=”flat” size=”large” url=”https://www.axs.com/festivals/457760″ align=”center” fullwidth=”true”]Get Tickets Now![/mk_button][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1668807151557{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Thunderbirds – hosts of 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] – announced the return of the Concert in the Coliseum presented by Swire Coca- Cola as GRAMMY award winning rock/pop band Maroon 5 and popular singer/songwriter Walker Hayes are set to perform live from the iconic 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale on Saturday, Feb. 4, prior to WM Phoenix Open week, which will take place Feb. 6-12.  This is the second year The Thunderbirds have hosted this unique concert inside one of sport’s most famous settings; last year Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion performed at the first ever Concert in the Coliseum.

General admission tickets for this special kickoff to WM Phoenix Open week will go on sale Friday, December 2nd at 10 a.m. at www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.  The Concert in the Coliseum presented by Swire Coca-Cola is a 21-and-over event.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”35299″ img_size=”full”][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1668708031116{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Walker Hayes will get the show rolling at approximately 5 p.m., while Maroon 5 will take the stage at approximately 7 p.m.  The concert will once again take place on a massive stage that will be built in the middle of the 16th hole strictly for this special Saturday night show.  Doors for this concert will open at 3:30 p.m.

“Last year’s inaugural Concert in the Coliseum was a huge success, so of course we are thrilled to run it back again for 2023,” said WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Pat Williams.  “We are excited to host Maroon 5 and Walker Hayes this year as we kick off tournament week in style, with a great show at the iconic 16th hole.”

Maroon 5 stands out as not only one of pop music’s most enduring artists, but also one of the 21st century’s biggest acts. Since they released their debut album, Songs About Jane, to date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved three GRAMMY® Awards and sold over 90 million in album sales and 550 million singles worldwide. Maroon 5 currently has the most Billion plus streamed songs by a group on Spotify, with 7, and have achieved 3 Diamond RIAA Certified records. They have sold over 7,500,000 tickets worldwide and next up, the band will close out their massive 2022 World Tour in Asia, notably selling out all three of their Dome Tour dates in Japan, totaling 120,000 tickets sold.

Walker Hayes is an American country singer and songwriter who has released three studio albums as an artist – “Reason to Rhyme” in 2011, “Boom” in 2017, and “Country Stuff The Album” earlier this year. The musician hits the country genre having multiple singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs. His highest-peaking single “Fancy Like” reached the No. 1 spot on both charts between late 2021 and early 2022. Riding off his recent success, Hayes released the EP “Country Stuff”. One of the tracks, “Fancy Like”, became a viral a hit thanks to TikTok and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, solidifying himself in the country music industry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]