PING, conducting a job interview after he played in the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. Six months after graduating from college, where he was an All-American, Cozby started his PING career in 1999. “It has been an incredible experience, starting with the Solheim family, which has been so great to me and my family,” Cozby said. “I am so impressed with how PING does business and what it stands for.” Although his two teenage sons


are not diehard golfers, Cozby has been very active in junior golf circles over the years, both in his role with PING and in representing the Phoenix Thunderbirds, the civic group that conducts the Phoenix Open. Among other things, he has served for the past four years on the Junior Golf Association of Arizona’s board of directors. “We have a great group of people who


are dedicated to supporting junior golf and promoting the future of the game,” Cozby said. “It has been a pleasure to be involved with that, but also working the tournaments and interacting with kids, seeing their emotions come out and being able to offer them advice and support. “Golf has been so good to me, it’s


uncomfortable position, so I will ask until it’s not appropriate to ask anymore. “We have so many great PING


players around the world, but no matter how many of them commit to playing here, I’m sure that our field is going to be very strong.” Cozby said he is excited about


From left, Chance Cozby, Bubba Watson, Christian Pena and Louie Oosthuizen share a moment at this year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Cozby is the vice president of player development for PING, while Pena is the company’s PGA Tour manager. Watson and Ooshuizen are two of PINGs top pros on the PGA Tour.


really easy for me to give some of my time back and do something to help junior golf. That’s the least I can do.” Cozby has made some subtle


pitches to PING-sponsored pros that could help bring some new faces to TPC Scottsdale for the 2019 Open. “I’ve known for a couple years that


I would be in this role, so I have been working on that and telling their agents what a wonderful event we have here and why it would be a great place to play,” Cozby said. “But I am also respectful in that I don’t want to put players in an


changes to the fan experience for this event, which will include 11 new suites in the “Cove” area of the 17th hole, a new double-deck structure along the right side of the 18th hole with 60 suites and a greatly expanded area for general admission fans at “El Rancho” on the 12th hole. “I’m sure attendance will take care


of itself, especially if the weather is good,” Cozby said. “My goals have to do with charities and fan experience. I want to make the experience the best it has ever been for fans and see if we can raise even more money for charity than the record $12.2 million we gave last year, which is an incredible number. “I think for all of the past


chairmen, and all of the Thunderbirds for that matter, the goal is to take what is there and try to make it better, and that certainly is what I hope to see happen.” n


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ANNUAL 2018 | AZ GOLF Insider | 27


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