The Waste Management Phoenix Open delivered its signature blend of elite golf and festival energy on Wednesday, and the Annexus Pro-Am added an unexpected spark.
NFL superstar
Travis Kelce joined the field, trading Super Bowl prep for fairways at TPC Scottsdale. Fans packed the course, music echoed across holes, and the pairing list turned into a headline of its own.
Kelce, fresh off a season that ended short of February football, rotated through the back nine with Brooks Koepka after earlier teeing it up alongside Scottie Scheffler. The timing mattered. This tournament thrives on spectacle, and Kelce brought it. On the par-3 16th, he pulled off a shot that drew roars usually reserved for aces. It looked effortless, and it proved he belongs in this setting.
Travis Kelce hype reaches PGA Tour as Brooks Koepka’s wife Jena Sims gushes during Phoenix Open
The Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Am thrives on why and how. Why it works is simple. The crowd wants access, noise, and personalities. How it succeeds is pairing stars who feed off energy. Kelce did both. With
Taylor Swift’s music playing behind him, he leaned into the moment, smiling through cheers and soaking up a scene far removed from an NFL huddle.
Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour after nearly four years away added weight to the day.
His wife, Jena Sims, made sure none of it felt routine. Before tee time, she shared her outfit of the day on TikTok, a head-turning tank top that quickly drew attention. Once the Koepka-Kelce pairing became public, her reaction went viral. Sims gushed, “I’m obsessed with Taylor Swift’s fiancé even before Taylor was in the picture.” She called it “one of the best pairings,” her excitement bubbling as she planned to watch from the ropes.

Jena Sims (Instagram)
Kelce’s golf resume explains why the pairing worked. He owns a reported low handicap and has long been a fixture at celebrity events like the American Century Championship. His long drive wins there, including one in 2023, speak to raw power and coordination. If retirement ever comes, golf will not be a learning curve. It will be a second act.
The Phoenix Open did what it always does. It blurred the line between sport and spectacle, and this year, Kelce and Sims made sure the buzz carried well beyond the desert.