Who is playing in the Grant Thornton Invitational? Teams, players, format and schedule
Sixteen teams comprised of top PGA Tour and LPGA players will compete in the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational beginning this Friday, December 8th.
The world of golf will witness a new event this week and it would appear that everyone is invited. Indeed, the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour are teaming up in a first-of-its-kind move to stage the Grant Thornton Invitational, a co-sanctioned mixed-team event that will see 16 PGA Tour players paired with 16 LPGA pros to compete for a $4 million purse at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
What’s the Grant Thornton Invitational format
The 16 teams will play three 18-hole rounds in different formats between Friday, December 8th and Sunday, December 10th. Friday will see the field playing scramble, on Saturday they’ll play alternate shot, and finally, on Sunday they’ll be playing a modified four-ball, meaning both players will tee off and then switch balls for their second shots, playing those same balls until holed. For a breakdown of those three, take a look below:
Round 1: Scramble
Following a tee shot from both players on the team, the ball to be used for the next stroke is chosen. At that point, both players must hit their next shots from that spot, continuing to do so until the ball is holed.
Round 2: Foursomes (alternate shot)
Each team’s players alternate hitting shots with the same ball until the ball is holed. Important to note, is the fact that one player will tee off on the odd-numbered holes, and the other on the even-numbered holes.
Round 3: Modified fourball
As mentioned above, both players tee off, and then switch balls for their second shots, continuing to play with that same ball until it is holed. The lower score of the partners is then counted as the team score for the hole.
The Grant Thornton Invitational TV schedule
TV coverage of the Grant Thornton Invitational will be shared between the Golf Channel and NBC beginning with first-round action on Golf Channel from 1-4 p.m. ET on Friday. Saturday’s broadcast will be 2-3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel and 3-5 p.m. ET on NBC, while final-round action on Sunday will be broadcast from 1-2 p.m. ET on Golf Channel and 2-4 p.m. ET on NBC.
What are the teams for the Grant Thornton Invitational?
- 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