Two-time Super Bowl Champion and five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning will be the headline speaker for the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community Tee-Off Luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale. Derrick Hall, President and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will serve as emcee for this annual event that is hosted by The Thunderbirds.  

Manning will offer an inside look at his historic NFL career and his life after football in an in-depth interview with Hall, while Tournament Chairman Carlos Sugich will preview the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open as it celebrates its rich 83-year history. 

One of the most prolific passers in NFL history, Manning holds NFL records for career passing yards (71,940), passing yards in a single season (5,477), career passing touchdowns (539) and passing touchdowns in a single season (55). Additionally, Manning was named to 14 Pro Bowls, NFL First-Team All-Pro seven times, NFL Offensive Player of the Year two times, NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2012, part of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the only NFL starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different teams. 

“The Tee Off Luncheon is such a popular event in the community and something that really kicks off the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” Sugich said. “Not only will we talk about all of the exciting things we have in store for 2018, we will get to hear stories from one of the best quarterbacks to ever play football. We’re more than thrilled Peyton Manning will be our featured speaker at the Tee-Off Luncheon.”

Tickets are $150 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10 and can be purchased on the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce website at www.phoenixchamber.com/wmpo. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the program will run from 12 – 1:30 p.m.  

The 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by the Ak-Chin Indian Community will be held at TPC Scottsdale January 29 – February 4, 2018. “The People’s Open” 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 2017 tournament broke four attendance records, including a PGA TOUR record 655,434 fans for the week. The 2018 edition will mark the 83rd playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the ninth as the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

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 250 “life” members. In 2017, The Thunderbirds raised a record $10.1 million for charity from proceeds from last year’s tournament and have eclipsed $121 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932. 

For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit 

www.wmphoenixopen.com.