2022 WM Phoenix Open, Phoenix, Arizona

Around our hours of volunteering at Sunshine Acres Childrens Home's Greenhouse and Health Center, we volunteered one day for the WM Phoenix Open Golf tournament.  We're not into golf but thought it would be fun to volunteer on the Pro Am (celebrity) day.  

On this day, each celebrity is paired with a pro and two other rich people who pay a lot of money to play a round.

Warm Up Time

Enjoying the 16th hole in peace and quiet before the fans arrive.

We arrived at the course before most fans so we had time to walk around before the crowds arrived and enjoy the scenery.

First celebrity siting was Larry Fitzgerald who played for the Arizona Cardinals for 17 seasons and a local favorite.    

Lots of talking going on but not much golfing.

Cool shadow

Next up was Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer.  He is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold medals, Olympic gold medals in individual events, and Olympic medals in individual events.

 

Then we saw CC Sebathia, a retired professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in the Major League, with the Cleveland Indians, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the New York Yankees.

Next up we saw Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. 

Our volunteering position was to split a security station at the 1st hole with a friend we met doing Angels Spring Training.  She was having such a good time that when it was our turn to man the station, she said she would stay and we could go walk around some more so we did.  Let's see who we can find.

Michael Phelps

Here is Josh Duhamel, a model and actor from the daytime soap, All My Children, and Las Vegas.

We found Jared Goff, former quarterback for the LA Rams and now the Detroit Lions.  

Josh Duhamel

Josh Duhamel

Josh Duhamel

Okay, I had to search to figure out who this next guy is.  It's Patrick Peterson, cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings who previously played for the Arizona Cardinals. 

We walked a lot and didn't follow the holes in order but we managed to catch Aaron Rodgers at several holes.  I'm not a big fan of his but we would arrive at a hole and see who was up next and here comes Rodgers again. 

Aaron Rodgers in the blue shirt all the way on the right.

I did think it was cool when he spotted this little boy and his parents in Packer's jerseys and went over to sign an autograph and take some photos. 

We arrived at the 16th hole and it was a lot more busy than earlier that morning. 

Guess who we see again......Aaron Rodgers.  I think he was stalking us!  I mean, he must have seen our blog.  (Haha!)

Later in the week during the real tournament, Sam Ryder hit a hole in one at this hole and the place went nuts!  Check it out:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRexBzbdDg

Russell Henley and Chris Kirk

When we did get in a little volunteering, here is Al at the 1st whole waiting for the next round of players.  Our job was to keep spectators our of the way of the golfers.  Being at the first hole means they were coming from the clubhouse. 

Cute club socks

A little more warm up before the first hole.

We had a fun day at the Phoenix Open Pro Am and saw some celebrity golfers, got in a lot of walking and a little volunteering.  If only we knew more of the professional golfers.  

Next up is Spring Training.