The PGA and LPGA Tour’s seasons may be officially over, but the Grant Thornton Invitational is still on the horizon. This tournament sees 16 mixed pairs made up of players from the two circuits compete for a $4 million prize purse, split equally between the winners. Last year, Jason Day and Lydia Ko took home the title, and they are back to defend it this year alongside other notable names like Nelly Korda, Rickie Fowler, and Lexi Thompson. The tournament will take place at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida from December 13-15, with a Scramble format on Friday, Foursomes on Saturday, and Modified Four-Ball on Sunday.
The Tiburon Golf Club, designed by Greg Norman, boasts two 18-hole courses, The Gold and The Black. The Gold Course, which will be used for the tournament, has been the stage for events like the CME Group Tour Championship and features a standout par 3 fifth hole that can present a challenge depending on the tee and pin position. The PGA Tour players will tee off from a 7,382-yard layout, while the LPGA Tour players will compete on a 6,595-yard course. The Gold Course has been a staple for high-profile events since 2001 and will provide an exciting backdrop for this mixed competition.
The field for the Grant Thornton Invitational features pairs like Tony Finau & Nelly Korda, Tom Kim & Jeeno Thitikul, and defending champions Jason Day & Lydia Ko. The betting odds favor Finau & Korda, followed closely by Kim & Thitikul and Corey Conners & Brooke Henderson. The Golf Monthly team has made their betting picks for the tournament, with Jonny Leighfield tipping Conners & Henderson as potential winners due to their strong recent form. Rickie Fowler & Lexi Thompson are another popular pick, with Thompson possibly playing with extra motivation in what could be her last full-time pro event.
The most in-form duo coming into the tournament, according to the team, is Tom Kim & Jeeno Thitikul. Thitikul has been on a hot streak with seven top seven finishes in her last seven events, while Kim finished as runner-up at the Hero World Challenge and the Genesis Championship. The pair’s recent success makes them a comfortable pick for the tournament. Fans can catch all the action from the Grant Thornton Invitational on TV, with coverage provided by Golf Channel and NBC in the USA and Sky Sports Golf in the UK. The tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of talent from both the PGA and LPGA Tours.
In previous years, the Grant Thornton Invitational was a men’s event before switching to a mixed format in 2023. The inaugural mixed event was won by Jason Day & Lydia Ko, who will be looking to defend their title against a competitive field this year. The tournament offers a unique opportunity for fans to see top male and female golfers compete together in a high-stakes event. With a prestigious venue like Tiburon Golf Club hosting the competition, the Grant Thornton Invitational promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the golfing calendar for 2024.
