Michael Phelps Set To Tee Off in Pro-Am Event at Phoenix Open

PHOENIX, Arizona, January 28. WORLD Champion Michael Phelps, Country Superstar Dierks Bentley, former ABA and NBA star Julius Erving, Super Bowl XX champion Jim McMahon, 13-time MLB all-star Ken Griffey Jr., two-time Daytona 500 Champion Michael Waltrip, Diamondbacks' pitcher Ian Kennedy and second basemen Aaron Hill are all scheduled to play in this year's Waste Management Phoenix Open Annexus Pro-Am, which tees off at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, January 30th on TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course.

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 total medals will be making his Waste Management Phoenix Open debut. Since retiring from competitive swimming in 2012, Phelps has been playing a lot of golf. In fact, Phelps has been filming The Haney Project with noted instructor Hank Haney — the show is scheduled to air on the Golf Channel beginning Feb. 25. A Golf Channel crew will be on site to film Phelps' progress for the show. An avid golfer, Phelps hosts the annual Michael Phelps Foundation Golf Classic which serves as the major fundraiser for his Foundation.

Capitol Records recording artist, 10-time Grammy Nominee and Phoenix native Dierks Bentley will also tee it up in the Annexus Pro-Am. Owner of 10 number one hits, including “What Was I Thinkin”, “Sideways” and “5-1-5-0”, Bentley is an 18 handicap and enjoys playing golf while out on tour.

Julius Erving (Dr. J) will be playing in his first WM Phoenix Open Pro-Am. An avid golfer, Erving is the 5th highest scorer in professional basketball history and four-time league MVP with the ABA's Virginia Squires and the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.

Ken Griffey Jr. played 22 seasons in the Major Leagues for three different teams, the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. Griffey is considered one of the most prolific homerun hitters of all time; his 630 homeruns rank him sixth in MLB history.

Former all-pro quarterback Jim McMahon played 15 seasons in the NFL for 7 teams. He is former NFL NFC Rookie of the Year, a two-time Super Bowl champion (XX and XXXI) and the 1991 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Since retiring from the NFL, McMahon now lives in Scottsdale.

NASCAR driver and two-time Daytona 500 champ (2001 & 03) Michael Waltrip will also tee it up in the Annexus Pro-Am. A 20 handicap, Waltrip loves the game and annually hosts the Waltrip Brothers Charity Championship with his brother Darrell in Franklin, Tenn.

Current Arizona Diamondbacks' Ian Kennedy and Aaron Hill will also be part of the Annexus Pro-Am. Kennedy will be playing in his second WM Phoenix Open Wednesday Pro-Am, while Hill will be making his tournament debut.

Tee times for the Annexus Pro-Am will be from 8:30 through 10:30 AM. Exact tee times for participating amateurs and celebrities will be announced the evening of Tuesday, January 29th.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played January 28 — February 3, 2013, at the TPC Scottsdale. The tournament host Thunderbirds have raised more than $80 million for charities, with more than $50 million generated since 2004. The 2013 edition will mark the 78th playing of the event, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR (not including the major championships). For more information on the Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit wmphoenixopen.com.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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