Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (ranked #23 on the Official World Golf Ranking), England’s Lee Westwood (ranked #24 in the world) and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington are among the first commitments to the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open – to be played the week of January 27 – February 2 at the TPC Scottsdale. A field of 132 players will vie for the $6.2 million purse, the $1,116,000 first-place check and 500 FedEx Cup points.

Brandt Snedeker is the top ranked (#11 in the world) U.S. golfer to commit to date. Other top-ranked golfers to commit include: Bubba Watson (28), Nick Watney (30), Hunter Mahan (31), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (35), Rickie Fowler (40), Kevin Streelman (44) and Jimmy Walker (47). Additional international golfers to commit include: Nicolas Colsaerts, Retief Goosen, Brendon de Jonge and Marc Leishman.

Matsuyama turned professional in April 2013 and already has five professional wins. He had two top-10 finishes in Majors in 2013, including a T-10 at the U.S. Open and T-6 at the Open Championship. Most recently, Matsuyama won the Casio World Open, a Japan Golf Tour event, and became the first rookie to lead the Japan Tour’s money list.

Lee Westwood will also be playing in his first career Waste Management Phoenix Open. Owner of 39 professional wins, including two on the PGA TOUR, Westwood has had an incredible career since turning professional in 1993.

PGA TOUR members have until 5 p.m. on Friday, January 24, to commit to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Eligible players are assigned one of 34 PGA TOUR priority ranking categories based on their past performance on TOUR. The field will continue to change as players with higher priority rankings commit to play in the Open.

Three past tournament champions are currently in the field, including Mark Wilson (2011), Mahan (2010) and J.B. Holmes (2006 & 2008).

In addition, the tournament host Thunderbirds recently awarded the first of five sponsor exemptions to Kevin Tway.

The 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open, known as “The Greatest and Greenest Show on Grass,” will be held at the TPC Scottsdale from January 27 to February 2, 2014. This is the best-attended golf tournament in the world and has gained legendary status for being the most unique stop on the PGA TOUR. The 2014 edition will mark the 79th playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the fifth as the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

For more information, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.