The Grant Thornton Invitational is an annual golf tournament featuring mixed teams from the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, held at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Here’s a preview of the event for 2024:
Event Overview:
- Date: December 13-15, 2024
- Location: Tiburón Golf Club, Naples, Florida
- Format: Three days of team play:
- Day 1 (Scramble): Each player hits a tee shot, and the team chooses the best ball to play from there until the ball is holed.
- Day 2 (Foursomes/Alternate Shot): Players alternate shots with one ball until it’s holed. One player tees off on odd holes, the other on even holes.
- Day 3 (Modified Fourball): Both players tee off, then switch balls for the second shot, continuing with that ball until holed.
- Purse: $4 million, with the winners sharing $1 million.
- Teams: 16 teams, each comprising one PGA Tour player and one LPGA Tour player.
Notable Teams:
- Lydia Ko and Jason Day – A pair of former world No. 1s and the defending champs.
- Nelly Korda and Tony Finau – After finishing T4 in 2023, they’re a team to watch.
- Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler – Seasoned stars with a strong track record in team events.
- Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners – An Olympic duo from Canada.
- Madelene Sagstrom and Ludvig Aberg – A new Swedish twosome bringing fresh energy to the competition.
What to Watch For:
- Equal Prize Money: The tournament is notable for offering equal prize money to both tours, promoting equality in golf.
- Format Dynamics: The unique formats each day will test different aspects of team play, from strategy in alternate shot to individual prowess in modified fourball.
- Course Condition: Tiburón Golf Club’s Gold Course, known for its challenging layout and strategic play, will be a significant factor, especially with its history of hosting LPGA season finales.
How to Watch:
- Golf Channel and NBC will provide TV coverage:
- Friday, Dec. 13: 1-4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
- Saturday, Dec. 14: 2-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-5 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Sunday, Dec. 15: 1-2 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 2-4 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Streaming: Available via Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports App, offering viewers access to the full broadcast.
The 16 Teams:
- Akshay Bhatia & Jennifer Kupcho
- Cameron Champ & Mel Reid
- Corey Conners & Brooke Henderson
- Jason Day & Lydia Ko
- Nick Dunlap & Gabriela Ruffels
- Tony Finau & Nelly Korda
- Rickie Fowler & Lexi Thompson
- Max Greyserman & Andrea Lee
- Tom Kim & Jeenno Thitikul
- Jake Knapp & Patty Tavatanakit
- Matt Kuchar & Megan Khang
- Luke List & Lilia Vu
- Matthieu Pavon & Celine Boutier
- J.T. Poston & Maja Stark
- Cameron Young & Lauren Coughlin
- Sahith Theegala & Allisen Corpuz
Given the field’s composition of champions and top-ranked players, the 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the year’s golfing calendar.
Grok AI used to assist with report.
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