The PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour are to jointly stage a new mixed team event later this year that will see players from both tours compete together in a unique co-sanctioned tournament.
The Grant Thornton Invitational is set to be held in Florida from December 4-10, 2023 at Tiburón Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples.
The last time the two tours held a mixed-team competition was in 1999, when John Daly and Laura Davies won the final edition of the JCPenney Classic.
The Grant Thornton Invitational’s 32-player field will be comprised of 16 PGA TOUR and 16 LPGA Tour professionals competing for a $4 million prize fund, with additional format details in development.
“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,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan said. “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.”
LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said: “We could not be more excited to add the Grant Thornton Invitational to our 2023 schedule. 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.”
Grant Thornton CEO Seth Siegel commented: “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. 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 is an Official Marketing Partner of the PGA TOUR and currently sponsors a number of tour players on the PGA and LPGA Tours, including Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda, Mel Reid, and Cameron Champ. The firm also operates an initiative to help colleges and universities grow the game of golf and create new opportunities for student athletes. It currently supports golf programs at Alabama State, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, Prairie View A&M, Tennessee State and Texas Southern.