The cast of athletes and celebs continues to grow for the Annexus Pro-Am as Michael Phelps, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Duhamel, Walker Buehler and Reggie Bush are the latest to join the fan-favorite Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
Phelps is considered the greatest Olympic athlete of all time thanks to his record 28 overall medals, including a record 23 gold medals. His most recent competitive appearance was at the Rio Summer Games in 2016 where he added six more medals, including five gold medals, to his record medal count. The Scottsdale resident will be making his seventh appearance in the Annexus Pro-Am (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
One of the greatest NFL quarterbacks in the past 30 years, Aaron Rodgers has earned three NFL MVP awards (2011, 2014, 2020), a Super Bowl victory in 2011 and a Super Bowl MVP title. Among Rodgers’ NFL accolades are four First-Team All-Pro selections (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021), 10 Pro-Bowl appearances (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014-2016, 2018-2021) and an Associated Press Athlete of the year distinction in 2011. Rodgers twice led the NFL in passing touchdowns (2016, 2020), was the NFL’s completion percentage leader in 2020, was named to the NFL’s 2010’s All-Decade Team and holds the NFL record for highest passer rating in a season (2011), consecutive passes without an interception (402), lowest interception percentage in a season (2018) and best career touchdown to interception ratio (4.83). Aaron Rodgers ranks 10th all time in passing yards (55,360) and fifth all time in passing touchdowns (449).
READ ALSO: Phoenix Open preps rowdy 16th hole for return to full capacity
Duhamel is an American actor and former fashion model. He made his acting debut as Leo du Pres on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children and later starred as Danny McCoy on NBC’s Las Vegas. Duhamel has appeared in films such as Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), When in Rome (2010), Life as We Know It (2010), New Year’s Eve (2011), Safe Haven (2013), and You’re Not You (2014). Duhamel has also starred in two video games, most notably Call of Duty: WWII (2017). Most recently, he appeared in the romantic comedy-drama film Love, Simon (2018) and played Sheldon Sampson in the Netflix superhero series Jupiter’s Legacy (2021).
Walker Buehler was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers 24th overall in the 2015 draft just one year removed from his 2014 College World Series victory as a member of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Buehler was instrumental in the Dodgers 2020 World Series title, and a year later was named to the 2021 All-MLB first team. The two-time MLB All-Star pitcher has a 40-13 record with a 2.90 ERA and 632 strikeouts in five years.
Two-time All-American at USC and 11-year NFL veteran Reggie Bush will make his third appearance at the WM Phoenix Open’s Annexus Pro-Am (2018, 2020). Bush played for five NFL teams during his career, winning Super Bowl XLIV (2010) with the New Orleans Saints, was named a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2008 and was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2019.
Others already in the field include Larry Fitzgerald, Jared Goff, Alexandra O’Laughlin, Patrick Peterson, Rob Riggle, CC Sabathia and Adam Thielen.
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. 8 on WMPhoenixOpen.com, along with a complete list of celebrities and PGA TOUR players in the field.
The 2022 WM Phoenix Open Presented by Taylor Morrison will take place Feb. 7-13 at TPC Scottsdale. “The People’s Open” has been named the Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR four times in the past eight years (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019) to acknowledge the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf. The 2022 edition will mark the 87th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the 13th with WM as title sponsor.
The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members who have helped the tournament eclipse $165 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932 (through the 2021 tournament). For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.
