This week, the PGA Tour and LPGA have come together for a new co-sanctioned mixed event, the Grant Thornton Invitational.
For the first time since 1999, 16 teams, each with a PGA and LPGA Tour player, will take on Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Fla.
From 1960 to 1999, these mixed events were a staple to fall golf. Before it went away, it donned the name the JC Penny Classic.
LPGA legends like Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster, Dottie Pepper, and JoAnne Carner played in these alongside Davis Love, Curtis Strange, and many other PGA Tour players.
It was a staple back then, and now it’s reborn as new LPGA and PGA Tour stars restart this event.
Grant Thornton Invitational Information:
Where: Tiburón Golf Club, Naples, Fla. (Par-72 (PGA Tour: 7382-yards) (LPGA: 6,595-yards))
When: Dec. 8-10th
Purse: $4,000,000 / First place team: $1,000,000 ($500,000 per player)
Defending Champ: N/A
Grant Thornton Invitational Teams
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
How to Watch the Grant Thornton Invitational:
Fans can tune into the action 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 provide coverage for the first half of the day, while NBC takes over in the afternoon.
Here is the full schedule for network coverage:
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)
How to Stream the Grant Thornton Invitational:
Peacock will simulcast the broadcast throughout all four days of the competition.
Coverage can be streamed on Peacock here.
Grant Thornton Invitational Format
The Grant Thornton Invitational will be a stroke-play event consisting of 16 teams, each with a PGA Tour and LPGA Tour player on it. Each of the three days, the teams will play a different format.
For Day 1 on Friday, they will play a scramble. Saturday will be foursomes or alternate shot. Sunday will be a modified four-ball where players will tee off with their balls and then switch balls for the rest of the hole.
Grant Thornton Invitational Preview
The inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational is finally here. PGA Tour and LPGA players will battle it out for equal prize money, but most importantly, to have fun.
There hasn’t been a mixed event since 1999, and the timing could not be more perfect to bring one back. Women’s golf is becoming more popular, and showcasing those talented women to the world is essential.
The 16 pairings are stacked full of top talent on both tours.
Nelly Korda and Tony Finau are the favorites this week, but several teams have the grit to get the job done. The women’s world No. 1, Lilia Vu, paired with Joel Dahmen, and they could be a force together— her putting abilities and his strength off the tee made for a perfect team.
Then there is LPGA rookie sensation Rose Zhang, who will play with Sahith Theegala. He recruited her for this event long before she turned pro this summer. They make up another heavy-hitting team that could win.
Jason Day and Lydia Ko give us an Aussie team. PGA Tour rookie Ludvig Åberg paired up with fellow Swedish golfer Madelene Sagström. English golfers Charley Hull and Justin Rose are another strong team. Of course, no one can forget Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson, two of the game’s most popular players, regardless of tour.
This field is stacked and it will come down to who works the best together. The LPGA players have an advantage because they were here recently for their end-of-season event, the CME Tour Championship. They’ll know this course and how to get around it.
Round 1 Tee Times 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 staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. You can follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and on Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for more golf coverage. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough too.
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