Aaron Baddeley’s 12-year old daughter Jolee contacted him a little over a month ago to ask if he would play in the WM Phoenix Open. It starts February 9.
Scottsdale resident, 41, has been playing in his hometown event 18 years consecutively since 2003. He won the title in 2007 and was the first to do so in 2008. He has been unable to play in the “People’s Open” the last two years due to his diminished status on the PGA Tour. In fact, he is currently playing out of the past champion category. His daughter asked him why it didn’t look so good this year. He would not be able to make it into the 132-man field if he finished in the top 10 at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The purse has risen to $20 million and the event has been elevated to designated status.
Baddeley stated that he would likely need to either secure one of the three Monday Qualifier spots or one of five unrestricted sponsors invites. Jolee wasn’t happy with the response and decided to do her part for his cause.
Jolee stated, “I’m going write them a note.”
Baddeley didn’t blink.
He said, “Go for it, baby.”
Is there anything better than having your 12-year old daughter write a letter to the WM Phoenix Open director?
Papa Baddeley proudly stated, “It was pretty amazing.” “I had nothing to do with it. He was told by her the reasons they should invite him.
Baddeley could not recall exactly what his daughter wrote, but he said that it read like this: Baddeley is a local boy who has been a champion in the past, works hard, nearly won in Bermuda and still has a lot to play.
He said, “She did it more than I could ever do.” “Hopefully, I will get there.”
Aaron Baddeley celebrates a “clubdrop” after making birdie on the 16th hole at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Ariz. on January 31, 2019. (Arizona Republic Photo)
Chance Cozby was the executive director of WM Phoenix Open and received the letter. He wrote back to Jolee one of Baddeley’s six children.
Cozby said, “First time I have received a letter written by a child of a player.” It’s a nice touch. It was unusual and it felt genuine to me.
It is too early to predict if it will convince the tournament to give Baddeley an exception this year. Cozby said that ultimately the decision rests with the tournament chairman, this year being Pat Williams from the Thunderbirds. This charity organization hosts the event. Baddeley was granted a sponsor invitation to the tournament in 2019, as Cozby was tournament chair. He has also been a beneficiary the tournament’s charitable efforts before.
The WM Phoenix Open announced two of the tournament’s five sponsors invites: Charley Hoffman (a long-standing ambassador for tourney sponsor WM) and J.B. Holmes (a two-time WM Phoenix Open winner); both Hoffman and Holmes needed a sponsor invitation into the tournament.
Baddeley’s letter to her daughter shows how valuable sponsor invitations are, especially in this age of designated tournaments. A $3.6 million share and a $20 million purse can make a difference in your life. This has inspired #LetterWritingSzn. Cozby stated that some letters are handwritten while others are PDF attachments. Some are also requests from agents for the player.
“We have 43 players who have written letters. He said that they are all excellent players, and that we must say no to most of them. We have eight top 150 players and four top 100 players asking for a spot. Taylor Montgomery, 52 is the second player after capturing his eighth top-15 and fourth top-10 finishes of the PGA Tour season at American Express. He is not going to be playing unless we offer him a spot.
Nathan Grube, the long-serving tournament director at the Travelers Championship, can empathize with how difficult it is to make a decision.
He said that sponsor invitations are one of his favorite and most difficult tasks. Although he cannot accommodate everyone due to the overwhelming number of requests, he promises to get back to all who write.
Baddeley was asked about Baddeley’s daughter, and he laughed and replied that he hadn’t. Grube replied, “That’s fantastic.” “You completely pulled the trump card. “I don’t know how to beat that.”
Baddeley was ranked 196, but he failed to place in the top125 of the FedEx Cup standings. Baddeley is unable to pick his schedule, and he only had 13 starts last season as a former champion. Baddeley earned some early-season starts, including Monday Qualifying at the Fortinet Championship where he shot 7 under to reach a playoff and then made eagle on his second playoff hole to earn a place in the Napa field. He was T-36 at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, T-6 at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, and converted a sponsorship invite at the Sony Open, Hawaii into a season-best T-5 finish that got him into The Amex.
Baddeley stated that it was difficult to rely on tournaments’ goodwill and go the Monday Qualifying route. It’s more difficult for my family, I’d say, than it is for me. You try to make plans, and then you either get invited or you’re in the top 10, or you qualify Monday and get home.
He said that he views the four-round tournaments as a Monday qualifier for the next event, even if he is in the field.
He said, “Just a 4-day qualifier and there are 10 spots instead of 4.”
Sahith Theegala, who was hot on Tour’s West Coast Swing and received the fifth and last exemption to the tournament at the WM Phoenix Open last year, finished third. Baddeley could benefit from a strong result at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open, which could help him get one of the three exemptions that remain. Jolee has faith in it.
Cozby stated, “If we give him one it will be a nice tale and if not it makes us seem like we don’t have a heart but we do.”
