PALM HARBOR (Fla.) – Cole Hammer used to play in mixed-team events such as the AJGA’s Wyndham Cup and the Palmer Cup. The University of Texas had both men’s and female teams practice together at their home courses, so the prospect of playing alongside a fellow Longhorn at a co-sanctioned Grant Thornton Invitational on the PGA Tour and LPGA appeals to the 23-year old.
Hammer said, “I believe this has been long-awaited.” He ended his Texas career last spring with a national championship and teed it up at the Valspar Championship this week.
Hammer was earlier in the week when Brad Faxon spoke about his partnership with Karrie Webb, Innisbrook, for the JCPenney Classic. That year, they were grouped together with Kelli Kuehne and Tiger Woods.
Grant Thornton’s event will be the first co-sanctioned mixed-team event between the tours since John Daly & Laura Davies won 1999’s JCPenney Classic. It is notable that the event’s winners include many women.
The JCPenney was established in 1978. It was held at Innisbrook (site of the Valspar) from 1990 to 1999. Mixed events between tours date back to 1960 when the Haig & Haig Scotch Foursome hosted them. It was won twice by Dave Ragan and Mickey Wright.
As part of the Challenge Season, Grant Thornton will make its debut at Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida on Dec. 8-10. The 32-player field includes 16 PGA Tour players and 16 LPGA golfers competing for a $4,000,000 purse. For nine hours of live coverage, NBC and Golf Channel will broadcast the three-day event.
Only two teams have been announced so far, and all four are Grant Thornton ambassadors. Nelly Korda will be partnering with Tony Finau, while Jessica will pair with Rickie Fowler. The audit, tax and advisory firm also sponsors Cameron Champ and Mel Reid.
Justin Thomas, who plays in the PNC Championship every week with his dad Mike, stated that he isn’t sure what he will play in December. However, he felt that the LPGA would receive more exposure and that players would make cool friends along the way.
He laughed and said, “I mean I’m very close to Jess and I’m also not as close to Nelly as I am Jess,”
Stewart Cink and Emilee Klein, three-time LPGA champions, played six years in the JCPenney bag.
Cink said, “I’m always amazed by what other people do with their sport.” “In a sense, it’s different than our sport because they play a whole other set of courses and have different dynamics.”
Matt Fitzpatrick from England, 2022 U.S. Open Champion, has never played in mixed tournaments as an amateur, except with his mother at their home club.
He smiled and said that “She got many shots.”
Fitzpatrick stated that he will not be competing in Grant Thornton because he enjoys closing it down at this time of year, especially since the FedEx Cup is wrapping up in August.
He said, “It’s a poor season.” “I prefer it to be a PGA Tour/LPGA Tour event, get FedEx points, make it important.”
This event will be held on the same course as the CME Group Tour Championship of the LPGA. It is an extremely difficult decision for international players, who already have a short offseason.
Denny McCarthy, Nelly Korda’s playing partner, congratulates Nelly Korda after she putt during the opening round of the 2022 QBE shootout at Tiburon Golf Club. (Photo by Andrew West/The News Press
The Grant Thornton will replace the QBE Shootout. This team event, which last year saw two women participate in it as Lexi Thompson (Lexi Thompson) and Nelly Korda (Nelly Korda), took place at the Grant Thornton. Korda finished fifth with Denny McCarthy, her partner. Lexi and Maverick McNealy, her partner, tied for 10th.
McNealy stated that he would play again given the opportunity. The format and qualifications for the event have not yet been announced.
McNealy said, “Golfers love team activities.” It’s something that we don’t often get and something we haven’t had much of since college. It would be a wonderful experience, great fun, and a refreshing change of pace.
“A great way for all the top players in the world to be showcased simultaneously.”
