The Grant Thornton Invitational is a welcome addition to the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour schedules – their first co-sanctioned event since the JCPenney Classic in 1999.
The JCPenney Classic began as the Haig & Haig Scotch Foursome in 1960 and underwent several makeovers. This mixed event was taken off the PGA Tour schedule in 1968 but was reintroduced in 1976 as the Pepsi-Cola Mixed Team Championship and won by Chi-Chi Rodriguez and Jo Ann Washam.
The event at Tiburon Golf Club features 16 pairs of men’s and women’s stars in a unique three-round competition that perhaps represents something every golf fan loves to see, yet sees little of.
In 1999, John Daly and Dame Laura Davies won the last edition of the JCPenney Classic before it disappeared from the schedule for good. The Grant Thornton Invitational is a great opportunity to watch a combination of the best male and female players.
Tiburon in Naples, Florida also hosts the CME Group Tour Championship which is the season-ending event on the LPGA Tour.
Lydia Ko and Jason Day won the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational in 2023, beating the Canadian pair of Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners by one shot on 26-under-par.
The Swedish pair of Ludvig Aberg and Madelene Sagstrom shot a 60 together in the final round to rally towards the top of the leaderboard too, but Ko and Day made four birdies in the last nine holes of the tournament to seal the deal.
Some of the same pairs from 2023 are returning in 2024, including the defending champions Day and Ko. Ko has had a superb season in 2024, winning three times including her third major title at the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews.
Jeeno Thitikul, the winner of the CME Group Tour Championship at this venue, is playing in the field with Tom Kim and World No.1 Nelly Korda was meant to link up with Tony Finau but he withdrew citing recovery from knee surgery. Daniel Berger has taken his place.
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Below is a summary of the event, plus each pair competing:
Grant Thornton Invitational preview
Format: Round 1 is a Scramble where both players hit each shot and play from the best one. Round 2 is foursomes, so each player hits the same ball and alternates. Round 3 is modified fourball.
Course: Tiburon Golf Club
Tees: Men – Par 72, 7,382 yards. Women – Par 72, 6,788 yards
Dates: December 13-15
Purse: $4 million
Teams:
Lydia Ko and Jason Day
Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners
Nelly Korda and Daniel Berger
Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler
Jennifer Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia
Celine Boutier and Matthieu Pavon
Mel Reid and Cameron Champ
Andrea Lee and Max Greyserman
Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim
Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp
Megan Khang and Matt Kuchar
Lilia Vu and Luke List
Maja Stark and J.T. Poston
Allisen Corpuz and Sahith Theegala
Lauren Coughlin and Cameron Young
Gabriela Ruffels and Nick Dunlap
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NOW READ: PGA Tour 2024 results
NOW READ: PGA Tour Champions results 2024
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