Exciting Golf Showdown Kicks Off in Naples, Florida!
Get ready, golf fans! Naples, Florida, is the place to be as the 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational is set to begin this Friday morning at the stunning Tiburon Golf Club. This unique event is all about teamwork, featuring a thrilling mix of the best players from the LPGA and PGA Tours, and fans are buzzing with excitement.
What’s the Buzz About?
The Grant Thornton Invitational is not your typical golf tournament. It pairs up professionals from the LPGA with their PGA counterparts, forming 16 dynamic teams that will compete for a whopping $1 million winner’s prize. This year, fans are particularly excited to see the return of the star-studded duo, Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler, who are joining forces for the second consecutive year. Can they work their magic and dethrone the defending champions, Lydia Ko and Jason Day?
Format and Schedule
Friday’s opening round will be played in a traditional scramble format. This means that both players will hit a shot, and then they’ll choose the best one to play from for the next shot. It’s a format that emphasizes teamwork and strategy—perfect for these talented athletes! The excitement kicks off bright and early, with Thompson and Fowler hitting the course in the penultimate pairing at 10:30 a.m. ET alongside Allisen Corpuz and Sahith Theegala.
Here’s a quick look at the tee times for the first round:
- 9:00 a.m. – Mel Reid/Cameron Champ; Maja Stark/J.T. Poston
- 9:15 a.m. – Jennifer Kupcho/Akshay Bhatia; Celine Boutier/Matthieu Pavon
- 9:30 a.m. – Lauren Coughlin/Cameron Young; Megan Khang/Matt Kuchar
- 9:45 a.m. – Andrea Lee/Max Greyserman; Gabi Ruffels/Nick Dunlap
- 10:00 a.m. – Patty Tavatanakit/Jake Knapp; Lilia Vu/Luke List
- 10:15 a.m. – Jeeno Thitikul/Tom Kim; Brooke Henderson/Corey Conners
- 10:30 a.m. – Allisen Corpuz/Sahith Theegala; Lexi Thompson/Rickie Fowler
- 10:45 a.m. – Nelly Korda/Daniel Berger; Lydia Ko/Jason Day
Tune In!
Don’t miss a minute of the action! The first round will be aired on the Golf Channel starting at 1 p.m. ET. If you can’t catch it on TV, you can also stream it live on NBCSports.com or through the NBC Sports App, as long as you have a cable subscription. It’s the perfect chance to cheer on your favorite players and see who comes out on top in this exciting team format!
What’s at Stake?
With a total prize pool of $1 million on the line, every stroke counts! Last year’s inaugural event was a hit, and players are eager to create new memories this time around. Can Lexi and Rickie break through and land that coveted first-place finish? Or will Lydia and Jason manage to defend their title? It’s all set to unfold very soon!
Wrap-Up
So gear up for what’s gearing up to be another unforgettable season of golf and mark your calendars! The 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational promises a dose of fierce competition, camaraderie, and, of course, breathtaking golf from some of the finest athletes in the game. Let the games begin!
