This week, the PGA Tour and LPGA have come collectively for a brand new co-sanctioned blended occasion, the Grant Thornton Invitational.
For the primary time since 1999, 16 groups, every with a PGA and LPGA Tour participant, will tackle Tiburón Golf Membership in Naples, Fla.
From 1960 to 1999, these blended occasions had been a staple to fall golf. Earlier than it went away, it donned the title the JC Penny Traditional.
LPGA legends like Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Dottie Pepper, and JoAnne Carner performed in these alongside Davis Love, Curtis Unusual, and plenty of different PGA Tour gamers.
It was a staple again then, and now it’s reborn as new LPGA and PGA Tour stars restart this occasion.
Grant Thornton Invitational Info:
The place: Tiburón Golf Membership, Naples, Fla. (Par-72 (PGA Tour: 7382-yards) (LPGA: 6,595-yards))
When: Dec. 8-Tenth
Purse: $4,000,000 / First place crew: $1,000,000 ($500,000 per participant)
Defending Champ: N/A
Grant Thornton Invitational Groups
Madelene Sagström and Ludvig Åberg
Allisen Corpuz and Cameron Champ
Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners
Lilia Vu and Joel Dahmen
Lydia Ko and Jason Day
Céline Boutier and Harris English
Nelly Korda and Tony Finau
Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler
Leona Maguire and Lucas Glover
Mel Reid and Russell Henley
Cheyenne Knight and Tom Hoge
Andrea Lee and Billy Horschel
Megan Khang and Denny McCarthy
Charley Hull and Justin Rose
Ruoning Yin and Nick Taylor
Rose Zhang and Sahith Theegala
Watch the Grant Thornton Invitational:
Followers can tune into the motion this week on Golf Channel and NBC.
On Thursday and Friday, the Golf Channel will air three-hour telecasts. Then, on the weekend, Golf Channel will present protection for the primary half of the day, whereas NBC takes over within the afternoon.
Right here is the total schedule for community protection:
Friday, Dec. 8: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday, Dec. 9: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday, Dec. 10: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. ET (NBC)
Stream the Grant Thornton Invitational:
Peacock will simulcast the published all through all 4 days of the competitors.
Protection could be streamed on Peacock right here.
Grant Thornton Invitational Format
The Grant Thornton Invitational shall be a stroke-play occasion consisting of 16 groups, every with a PGA Tour and LPGA Tour participant on it. Every of the three days, the groups will play a distinct format.
For Day 1 on Friday, they may play a scramble. Saturday shall be foursomes or alternate shot. Sunday shall be a modified four-ball the place gamers will tee off with their balls after which swap balls for the remainder of the opening.
Grant Thornton Invitational Preview
The inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational is lastly right here. PGA Tour and LPGA gamers will battle it out for equal prize cash, however most significantly, to have enjoyable.
There hasn’t been a blended occasion since 1999, and the timing couldn’t be extra good to carry one again. Girls’s golf is gaining popularity, and showcasing these gifted ladies to the world is important.
The 16 pairings are stacked stuffed with high expertise on each excursions.
Nelly Korda and Tony Finau are the favorites this week, however a number of groups have the grit to get the job achieved. The ladies’s world No. 1, Lilia Vu, paired with Joel Dahmen, and so they might be a power collectively— her placing talents and his energy off the tee made for an ideal crew.
Then there’s LPGA rookie sensation Rose Zhang, who will play with Sahith Theegala. He recruited her for this occasion lengthy earlier than she turned professional this summer time. They make up one other heavy-hitting crew that might win.
Jason Day and Lydia Ko give us an Aussie crew. PGA Tour rookie Ludvig Åberg paired up with fellow Swedish golfer Madelene Sagström. English golfers Charley Hull and Justin Rose are one other sturdy crew. In fact, nobody can overlook Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson, two of the sport’s hottest gamers, no matter tour.
This subject is stacked and it’ll come right down to who works the very best collectively. The LPGA gamers have a bonus as a result of they had been right here not too long ago for his or her end-of-season occasion, the CME Tour Championship. They’ll know this course and easy methods to get round it.
Spherical 1 Tee Occasions for the Grant Thornton Invitational (ET):
Format: Scramble
9:10 a.m. – Mel Reid/Russell Henley; Allisen Corpuz/Cameron Champ
9:25 a.m. – Leona Maguire/Lucas Glover; Madelene Sagstrom/Ludvig Aberg
9:40 a.m. – Rose Zhang/Sahith Theegala; Lilia Vu/Joel Dahmen
9:55 a.m. – Megan Khang/Denny McCarthy; Cheyenne Knight/Tom Hoge
10:10 a.m. – Brooke Henderson/Corey Conners; Ruoning Yin/Nick Taylor
10:25 a.m. – Andrea Lee/Billy Horschel; Celine Boutier/Harris English
10:40 a.m. – Lydia Ko/Jason Day; Charley Hull/Justin Rose
10:55 a.m. – Nelly Korda/Tony Finau; Lexi Thompson/Rickie Fowler
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll be able to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and on Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough too.
