Grant Thornton Invitational golf tournament unveils three distinct formats for mixed-team play

16 two-person teams from PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour will compete for an equal purse of $4 million

NAPLES, Fla. — Officials today announced that the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational golf tournament will feature three distinct formats when it takes place from December 8-10, 2023, at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.

This unique and exciting multi-format approach will include Scramble, Foursome and Modified Four-Ball formats, each played in consecutive rounds of the three-day professional competition. As a result, the tournament’s 32-player field — which will be evenly comprised of PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour professionals playing in 16 mixed teams — will compete for an equal purse of $4 million, while also experiencing a different format each day.

Friday, December 8 — Opening Round — Scramble format

In this round, each player hits a tee shot and then the team selects the ball to be used for the next stroke. From there, both players hit their next shots from that spot. This process continues until the ball is holed. According to World No. 3 and Grant Thornton ambassador Nelly Korda: “Scramble on Friday is going to be full of scoring opportunities and I can’t wait to strategize with Tony on every shot.”

Saturday, December 9 — Second Round — Foursome (Alternate Shot) format

This is the most traditional of the three days, adhering to a format that is consistently featured in both the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. Each team’s players alternate hitting shots with the same ball until the ball is holed. One player will tee off on the odd-numbered holes, and the other tees off on the even-numbered holes. As World No. 21 and Grant Thornton ambassador Tony Finau put it: “Alternate Shot is a grind and probably the most challenging team format in golf. Nelly and I are going to need to bring our best on Saturday.”  

Sunday, December 10 — Final Round — Modified Four-Ball format

This final round will feature a format new to team play and a twist on traditional Four-Ball. In the modified format, both players tee off, and then they switch balls for their second shots and play that same ball until it is holed. The lower score of the partners is then counted as the team score for the hole. Six-time PGA TOUR winner and Grant Thornton ambassador Rickie Fowler sees the format as both challenging and unique: “Playing our partner’s tee shots is going to be the ultimate test of teamwork and I’m really excited to play this format, not having seen it before on TOUR.”  

“An incredible amount of thought and collaboration with players, broadcast partners and representatives from both tours went into developing these three unique formats,” said Rob Hartman, Grant Thornton Invitational Tournament Director. “We feel confident our approach will ensure a playing experience that is both highly competitive and equal for all players, while also maximizing interaction within the teams and the two tours. The result will be an entertaining product for our tournament fans, international television audience and corporate partners.”

When and how to enjoy the tournament

The Grant Thornton Invitational takes place from Friday, December 8, through Sunday, December 10, at Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Florida.

The Golf Channel will broadcast Friday’s first round competition live from 1-4 p.m. ET. Saturday’s coverage will begin from 2-3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, then switch to NBC from 3-5 p.m. ET. The final round coverage will air Sunday on Golf Channel from 1-2 p.m. ET and then switch to NBC from 2-4 p.m. ET.

Following Saturday’s round, Live Fest will once again be held on the Tiburon Driving Range from 5-10 p.m. ET. This year’s lineup includes Dierks Bentley, Little Big Town and Gin Blossoms.

For Grant Thornton Invitational tickets and additional information, visit the official tournament website grantthorntoninvitational.com.

About the Grant Thornton Invitational

The inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational will be played in Naples, Florida on December 8-10, 2023, at Tiburón Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. The invitational is a mixed-team Challenge Season event that will see 16 LPGA Tour and 16 PGA TOUR professionals compete together in a unique co-sanctioned tournament. The three-day tournament will be televised on NBC and Golf Channel and allows the 32-player field to compete for an equal prize and visibility — a format new to the current era of professional golf. The Grant Thornton Invitational supports a variety of worthy charities, including participants in Grant Thornton LLP’s Purple Paladins program, several historically black colleges and universities, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, Warriors of Collier County and Golisano Children’s Hospital.

About PGA TOUR

By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.

The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR Canada and administers PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry and PGA TOUR University. TOUR members represent the world’s best players, hailing from 24 countries and territories. Showcasing the biggest moments in the sport with history and legacy on the line, the PGA TOUR has long-term domestic distribution partnerships for broadcast coverage on CBS, NBC and Golf Channel and video streaming service on ESPN+. Internationally, PGA TOUR coverage is available across 200+ countries and territories in 26 languages via 44 broadcast and digital partners. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.64 billion.

Fans can follow the PGA TOUR on the new PGA TOUR app and PGATOUR.COM, and on social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram (in Spanish, Korean and Japanese), LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter (in English and Spanish), WeChat, Weibo, Toutiao, Douyin and LINE.

About the LPGA

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the world’s premier women’s professional golf organization. Created in 1950 by 13 pioneering female Founders, the LPGA, whose members now represent over 60 countries, is the longest-standing professional women’s sports organization. Through the LPGA Tour, the Epson Tour, a joint venture with the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Professionals, the LPGA provides female professionals the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the game of golf at the highest level. In addition to its professional tours and teaching accreditation programs, the LPGA features a fully integrated Foundation, which offers best-in-class programming for female golfers through its junior golf programming and LPGA Amateurs chapters, tournaments and membership. LPGA aims to use its unique platform to inspire, transform and advance opportunities for girls and women, on and off the golf course.

Follow the LPGA online at www.LPGA.com and on its mobile apps. Join the social conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About the LPGA Tour

The LPGA Tour is the world’s leading competitive destination for the best female professional golfers in the world. The Tour hosts more than 30 annual events across 12 countries and regions for over 200 Active Players, awarding total prize funds exceeding $100 million and reaching television audiences in more than 220 countries. Follow the LPGA Tour on its U.S. television home, Golf Channel.