Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit emerged as winners of the 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational, showcasing an outstanding performance throughout the tournament. Here’s a summary of their victory:
Final Round Performance:
- In the final round played in a modified four-ball format, Knapp and Tavatanakit finished with a score of 10-under par, which was enough to secure their victory. Their total tournament score was 26-under par.
Tournament Breakdown:
- Context: The Grant Thornton Invitational features 16 two-player teams from the PGA Tour and LPGA, competing in three different formats over three rounds.
- First Round (Scramble): They started strong with a record-setting 14-under 58, birdieing every hole on the front nine and wrapping up with an eagle on the 17th and a birdie on the 18th.
- Second Round (Foursomes): They maintained their lead with a 6-under 66, showcasing great teamwork in the alternate shot format.
- Third Round (Modified Four-Ball): Their final round was crucial, where both players would hit tee shots, and choose one ball to play out the hole. This format allowed them to capitalize on their individual strengths, leading to the winning score of 26 under.
Key Moments:
- Their chemistry was evident from the beginning, with Tavatanakit’s putting and Knapp’s driving setting the pace. A notable moment was Tavatanakit’s clutch putt on the 16th hole in the second round to keep their lead intact.
- In the final round, Knapp birdied the 18th hole to seal the victory.
Victory Margin:
- They finished one stroke ahead of their closest competitors, Tom Kim and Jeeno Thitikul, who ended at 25-under par.
Prize and Significance:
- The UCLA alums won $1 million from the $4 million purse, with the tournament offering equal prize money for both LPGA and PGA Tour players.
- This win was particularly significant for both players. For Knapp, it padded what was already a breakout year for the rising star, following his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open earlier in the year. For Tavatanakit, it added to her list of career achievements, including her major win at the ANA Inspiration in 2021.
Impact:
- The victory at the Grant Thornton Invitational not only highlighted their skills but also their ability to work as a team in a mixed-team event. Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit’s win at the Grant Thornton Invitational was a display of talent, strategy, and partnership, adding another memorable chapter to their careers in golf.
Got it done at Tiburon ????@Patty_MPT and @knapptime_LTD are walking away from @gtinvitational with the trophy after crushing it all weekend with their @Titleist golf balls! pic.twitter.com/PlOjmAhXsY
— LPGA (@LPGA) December 15, 2024
Quotes:
Jake Knapp: Yeah. I mean, kind of the same. Great way to end the year before Christmas. I feel like in an event like this you never really know what your partner’s going to be like when you haven’t met ’em before and I feel like I couldn’t have gotten a better partner. I feel like we just got along perfectly energy was the same. It was a really, really fun week.”
Patty Tavatanakit: “It was nice to put the cherry on top of my 2024 season to win my
last event of the year. It’s definitely going to be a nice feeling to take some time off. And to be able to do it alongside Jake, it’s just been so fun and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”
What a week! Can’t thank @impattyt1 enough for picking me up and helping me have the most fun I’ve had on a golf course in a long time. Thank you to @gtinvitational for having me and putting on such an amazing event. Same time next year, sign us up. #bruwins pic.twitter.com/BYVoALwjdl
— Jake Knapp (@knapptime_LTD) December 16, 2024
Grant Thornton Invitational: Top-5
Leaderboard: Day 3
1. Tavatanakit / Knapp -27 (-7)
2. Thitikul / Kim -26 (-8)
3. Kupcho / Bhatia -25 (-8)
4. Henderson / Conners -24 (-10)
5. Boutier / Pavon -21 (-7)
Full leaderboard at PGATour.com
