Can the PGA Tour Pros Face-off Against the LPGA Players at the 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational?

The Grant Thornton Invitational is the latest event on the horizon for the collaboration between the LPGA Tour and the PGA Tour. 16 LPGA and 16 PGA golfers will be paired in a team and will go head to head for the $4 million prize purse. Remarkably, the two tours will be merging for the first time since 1999’s JC Penny Classic.

With less than 24 hours left for the event and the unique set of format, curiosity got the best of us in asking if PGA Tour golfers will have a chance to be face-to-face against the LPGA pros.

The unique format of the Grant Thornton Invitational

The Grant Thornton Invitational is inaugurating the mixed team event on the 4th of December. The event will have 16 pairs of LPGA and PGA pros going against each other in a unique format. The event, spanning over three days, will have Round One of Scramble, Round 2 of Foursome (Alternate shot), and Round 3 of Modified Four-Ball.

In a scramble, each golfer on the team will hit a tee shot. The best of the two will be chosen for the next shot and both will hit it again from the same place. Foursome will be similar to the one in Ryder Cup where each player on the team will alternate hitting shots on the same ball until it is holed.

In this round, there is a chance of an LPGA and PGA pro going against each other, as the format calls for it. However, at the actual event, the circumstances may not be as ideal as expected. The last day will be of modified Four-Ball, where each player will tee shot with their balls, and for the next shot, the balls will be exchanged. The players will continue to play the same ball until it is holed and the lowest of the two scores will be carded as the team’s score.

With such an exciting event coming up, here’s all the information you need before you can tune in to root for your favorite team!

The Grant Thornton Invitational tee times and teams

The invitational is sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour. It is set to begin on 4th December following the practice session and two days of Pro-Am. It will end on 6th December after three rounds as the players will compete at the Tiburon Golf Club, Florida.

Read More: After The USGA Announcement, Will the LPGA Tour and the LET Get Affected By the Controversial Ball Roll Back Policy?

The 16 teams featuring in the event have 11 major champions and 141 career victories among them. Notably, golfers from 9 different countries are coming together to participate in the iconic event. Here are all the 16 teams that you should be looking out for:

The tee times for the first and last rounds will be 9:00-11:00 am and that for round two will be 11:30 am-1:00 pm (Local time). Viewers will be able to watch the broadcast live on the Golf Channel and NBC.

Are you excited to witness the camaraderie between the LPGA and PGA Tour pros?

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