Past champion looks to put slow start to season in rearview

Iconic venues can bring out the best in elite players. Pebble Beach is one of the most famous courses in the world, and it has produced a list of champions befitting its reputation.

Jack Nicklaus won both the U.S. Amateur (1961) and U.S. Open (1972) here, a feat not replicated at the same course until last summer, when Matt Fitzpatrick won the U.S. Open at Brookline. Tom Watson provided one of the great highlights of major championship history when he chipped in at 17 on his way to winning the 1982 U.S. Open.

Tournament Chairman Pat Williams announced today two-time WM Phoenix Open champion Hideki Matsuyama, 2021 Player of the Year Patrick Cantlay, 2022 U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick and world No. 11 Viktor Hovland have all committed to play in the 2023 WM Phoenix Open, which is scheduled to be played February 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale.

“As we get closer to ‘The People’s Open’, the field is shaping up to be one of the best ever,” said 2023 Tournament Chairman Pat Williams. “We’re extremely excited to add four more Top-20 players in the world, and thrilled to welcome back Hideki, a two-time WM Phoenix Open champion. We are looking forward to that first day of play at TPC Scottsdale.”

Matsuyama’s stellar career includes 20 worldwide wins, including 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 seven 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 $3.6 million in just nine starts. Last year he finished T11 in the final FedExCup standings thanks to six Top-10s and 10 Top-25s, and he currently ranks No. 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings. This will be Matsuyama’s 10th appearance at “The People’s Open” where, including his two wins, has four Top-5’s and five Top-10 finishes.

Home of the Farmers Insurance Open and consistently one of the toughest courses on the PGA TOUR, check out the best “golf is hard” moments from Torrey Pines at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open, where Max Homa earned his sixth career win on the PGA TOUR.

Tournament Chairman Pat Williams announced today the WM Phoenix Open received a third wave of commitments from some of the top PGA TOUR players in the world who will tee it up at “The People’s Open” February 6-12 at TPC Scottsdale. Joining the star-studded field at TPC Scottsdale include 15-time PGA TOUR winner Justin Thomas and 2021 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Will Zalatoris.

Additionally, the tournament received commitments from World No. 17 Cameron Young, World No. 19 Sungjae Im and World No. 20 Shane Lowry.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome back Justin and Will to TPC Scottsdale,” Williams said. “When on the course, both players are absolutely electrifying, and off the course, are incredible ambassadors for the game. We can’t wait to see them compete at ‘The People’s Open’.”