Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris headline latest commits for 2023 WM Phoenix Open

Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris are among the third wave of commitments for the 2023 WM Phoenix Open.

This year’s tournament marks Thomas’ ninth WM Phoenix Open appearance and Zalatoris’ second. Thomas has turned in two third-place finishes (2019, 2020) — both ties — and was eighth in the 2022 iteration of the event. In his first taste of the WM Phoenix Open last year, Zalatoris ended up 17th as a sponsor exemption.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome back Justin and Will to TPC Scottsdale,” tournament chairman Pat Williams said in a press release on Wednesday. “When on the course, both players are absolutely electrifying. Off the course, (they) are incredible ambassadors for the game. We can’t wait to see them compete at ‘The People’s Open.'”

They join Cameron Young, Sungjae Im and Shane Lowry as the latest commits for the upcoming tournament.

Thomas is currently ranked No. 8 in the world and is coming off a 2022 PGA Championship victory. He’s been honored twice as the PGA Player of the Year (2017, 2020) and has won 15 PGA Tour events, two Majors (2017, 2022) and a FedEx Cup title (2017).

Zalatoris is coming off nine top-10 finishes last year. He picked up his first PGA Tour win (FedEx St. Jude Classic) along the way. The golfer was also a runner up at the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open and the Farmers Insurance Open.

Young is set to make his second WM Phoenix Open appearance. He is currently ranked No. 17 in the world.

Im will make his fourth WM Phoenix Open. His best finish in the tournament (seventh place) came in 2019.

Lowry is also making his fourth appearance at the tournament. His best WM Phoenix Open came in 2016 when he finished sixth.

Aside from the latest commits, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, Max Homa, Tommy Fleetwood, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Sam Burns have also signed up for this year’s tournament.

A field of 132 players will vie for an increased purse of $20 million, a $3.6 million first-place check and 500 FedEx Cup points.

The 2023 WM Phoenix Open takes place from Feb. 6-12. The first round tees off on Thursday, Feb. 9, with the tournament concluding on Sunday, Feb. 12.

Follow @Tdrake4sports