Tournament Chairman Matt Mooney announced today Arizona Cardinals all-time leading receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr., two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Carli Lloyd and World Series champion Kyle Schwarber are among the first list of celebrities to commit to play in the popular Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.
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“We’re thrilled to welcome my fellow Thunderbird Larry Fitzgerald, along with Carli Lloyd and Kyle Schwarber to the 2025 Annexus Pro-Am,” Mooney said. “These athletes have reached the pinnacle of their sports, making them the perfect additions to ‘The People’s Open.’ The Annexus Pro-Am is all about bringing together golf, entertainment, and community, and this year’s lineup is shaping up to be one of the most memorable yet.”
“Fitz” has become a household name at “The People’s Open.” The all-time leading receiver for the Arizona Cardinals played 17 seasons in the NFL – all with the 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.
Lloyd’s Hall-of-Fame career is marked by two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles (2015, 2019), and back-to-back FIFA Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016. A four-time Olympian (2008, 2012, 2016, 2021), Carli Lloyd is perhaps best known for her unforgettable performance in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, where she scored a hat-trick within the first 16 minutes, leading the United States to a commanding 5-2 victory over Japan.
With 316 starts for the U.S. Women’s National Team, Lloyd ranks second in international appearances, third in goals (134), and sixth in assists (64). She also spent nine seasons in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), concluding her playing career with NY/NJ Gotham FC, where she is now a minority investor. Lloyd’s upcoming participation in “The People’s Open” marks her third consecutive appearance at the event.
A two-time MLB All-Star, Schwarber has become one of Major League Baseball’s most formidable sluggers. Celebrated for his prodigious power and clutch performances, he played a pivotal role in the Chicago Cubs’ historic 2016 World Series victory. Schwarber made a miraculous return in the Fall Classic, batting .412 and helping the Cubs end their 108-year championship drought.
Schwarber’s career has since been marked by consistent power production. After leaving Chicago following the 2020 season, he had impactful stints with the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. In 2022, Schwarber led the National League in home runs with 46, earning his second All-Star selection.
The 2025 WM Phoenix Open will take place Feb. 3-9 at TPC Scottsdale. “The People’s Open” has been named Tournament of the Year by the PGA TOUR five times in acknowledgement of the tournament’s legendary status as one the most unique events in golf. It also has been recognized as one of the largest zero waste sporting events in the world for 12 consecutive years.
Nick Taylor won in dramatic fashion in 2024 against Charley Hoffman in a two-hole playoff, capping off his fourth career PGA TOUR victory and marking the sixth time in the last nine years the WM Phoenix Open has been decided in a playoff. The 2025 edition will mark the 90th playing of the event and the 16th with WM, North America’s leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions, as title sponsor. For more information, visit www.WMPhoenixOpen.com.
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 $208 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932, with the 2024 WM Phoenix Open raising a single-tournament record $17.5 million for charity.
