A new mixed-team pro golf event is to take place in Florida in December that will see LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR players compete together in a unique co-sanctioned tournament.
The Grant Thornton Invitational will take place December 4-10, 2023, at Tiburón Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón.
What the Tours refer to as a ‘precedent-building’ event will allow players from the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour to compete for an equal prize and visibility.
The ISPS HANDA World Invitational, created in Northern Ireland by Modest! Golf has in fact been running since 2019. The US$3 million event is a tri-sanctioned event between the DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour.
Two separate tournaments (144 men and 144 women) compete on the same courses, at the same time and for two equal prize funds of US$1.5 million.
The 32-player field in the US will be comprised of 16 PGA TOUR and 16 LPGA Tour professionals competing for a $4 million purse – with additional format details in development. The three-day tournament will be televised on NBC and Golf Channel in the United States and on Sky Sports in Britain and Ireland.
“As we look to capitalize on the growing interest in the game of golf, the addition of a mixed event to the calendar has been a priority, and we greatly appreciate title sponsor Grant Thornton for their support in delivering an event that will make our sport more appealing and welcoming to all,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan
“We look forward to partnering with the LPGA as we deliver first-class entertainment and competition to our fans and the residents of Southwest Florida, who have embraced the PGA TOUR for the past 22 years.”
“We could not be more excited to add the Grant Thornton Invitational to our 2023 schedule,” added LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan.
“By joining forces with the PGA TOUR to host a mixed event where the top male and female golfers in the world compete alongside each other, we’re going to deliver a memorable and entertaining experience for all golf fans, showcasing our players’ incredible skills in a new context to a new audience.”
“This is an important step forward for golf, women’s golf and the LPGA. We’re incredibly grateful for the leadership of our partners at the PGA TOUR and Grant Thornton, and we look forward to producing a best-in-class event that inspires, elevates and advances opportunities for golfers around the globe.”
“At Grant Thornton, we believe golf can bring people together – to be their very best, to eliminate barriers to achievement and to help build inclusive communities,” said Grant Thornton CEO Seth Siegel.
“That’s why we are working with the PGA TOUR and the LPGA Tour to create a tournament where the world’s best golfers, both men and women, can compete head-to-head on a level playing field. We know that players and fans alike will enjoy this singular event and what it represents for sports and society.”
Grant Thornton, which is an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR, currently sponsors a roster of golf ambassadors who are leading change both on and off the course. They include sportscaster Michael Wilbon and professional golfers Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda, Mel Reid, and Cameron Champ, whose Mack Champ Invitational tournament hosts the game’s best junior golfers of diverse backgrounds.
The firm also operates an initiative to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities grow the game of golf and create new opportunities for student athletes.
“PGA TOUR athletes playing alongside the best athletes from the LPGA Tour is going to be incredible for our fans,” said Tony Finau, PGA TOUR professional golfer and already commited to play the new event.
“They’ve been wanting something like this for a long time. Our fans deserve it and seeing Grant Thornton stepping up to help the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour put together this tournament, I think is very special.”
“The Grant Thornton Invitational really is about being inclusive and showing people that golf can be accessible for everyone, no matter what way you play,” added Nelly Korda
“This is going to be the perfect opportunity for me to do something important in helping to grow the game and inspire the next generation.”
