Is There a Cut at the 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions? Format Explored

Champions, celebrities, and a season kick-off like no other. It’s the LPGA Tour’s season-opening event, the 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions! The 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions tees off from January 30 to February 2 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, one of the world’s premier private golf communities of par 72, 6,624 yards. As the LPGA Tour celebrates its 75th anniversary, this season opener is a star-studded spectacle!

Decked with only LPGA players who have won an LPGA Tour event two seasons before the event.  The event’s unique format is here to add flair and draw fresh eyes to the game. It’s the perfect jumpstart to the season. With Lydia Ko, the current brand ambassador of this tour, taking the title last year, the stage is set but with a heavy lineup. So, what’s the format of the HGV Tournament of Champions?

The Format of Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions

As mentioned, LGPA players who have won an LPGA Tour event in the last two seasons can participate. Each player gets four full rounds to chase the title—no cuts, no early exits! This setup means more friction, more birdies, and more chances for comebacks, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. It’s the perfect way to shake off the offseason rust and set the tone for a blockbuster LPGA season.

But there’s the extra element of entertainment. According to the official LPGA website, the celebrity and amateur division, which runs alongside the LPGA event, follows a modified Stableford scoring system instead of traditional stroke play. The Tournament brings an impressive $2 million purse for the professionals, with $300,000 going to the winner. Meanwhile, the celebrity purse stands at $500,000, offering $100,000 to the winning star with maximum points in the end. The format holds 0 points for a double bogey, 1 for a bogey, pars are given 2 and a birdie graces 3 points. An eagle brings 5, a hole-in-one delivers 8 points, while an albatross earns 10. The celebrity with the highest points will claim the victory while professionals will play the 72-hole

This format keeps the tournament exciting, allowing celebrities, athletes, and entertainers to remain in the mix throughout the weekend. As a season-opening showcase, the no-cut structure gives LPGA pros a stress-free start to build confidence and momentum, while we get to watch our favorite players compete all four days. So who are the champions that will grace this Tournament of Champions?

Who are the professionals and notables?

We couldn’t be more than ready to witness top-tier challengers take on Lake Nona this HGV Grand Tournament of Champions. Nelly Korda, after claiming her seventh LPGA Tour win on The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is confirmed as one of the brightest stars on the LPGA Tour. Added to the lineup are major champions, Ayaka Furue, Amy Yang, and Yuka Saso. Ahead, the field also welcomes 32 qualified LPGA Tour players, including 17 of the top 25 in the Rolex Rankings. Lydia Ko will also be coming back to defend her title from last year. First-time LPGA Tour Qualifiers are also stepping up to the tee. So, other stars on the course?

From a total of 51 celebrities, Brandi Chastain, the iconic soccer legend and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion; Don Cheadle, the award-winning actor and golf enthusiast; and actor and comedian, Anthony Anderson, who brings his love for golf to the course are all here. Annika Sorenstam, the 10-time major champion, and one of the most awesome LPGA players ever is also headed for the big Vacations Tour alongside the 6-time NBA All-Star and high-flying dunk master, Blake Griffin.

In this A-list galore, it’s a real hole-in-one type of energy, where everyone gets their chance to play and the action never stops. Who do you think will clinch the title this year? Let us know below.