Golf fans have a reason to circle their December calendar. The Grant Thornton Invitational returns for another edition of mixed-team competition, bringing PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour stars together on one leaderboard. This event isn't just another stop on the golf calendar. It's a genuine crossover moment where men and women compete side by side, as partners, for equal prize money.
If you've followed professional golf for a while, you know how rare that setup really is. Most tours run separately. Prize purses differ. Media coverage tilts one way more often than not. The Grant Thornton Invitational flips that script entirely, and that's exactly why it draws so much attention every year.
Below, you'll find everything worth knowing about the 2026 edition: dates, venue, format, prize money, past champions, broadcast details, and ticket information. Let's get into it.
Quick Facts Table: 2026 Grant Thornton Invitational
Now, let's break each of these down in detail.
When Is the Grant Thornton Invitational 2026?
On December 7 and 13, 2026, there will be the opening and closing of the tournament. The real contest, i.e. the competitive rounds, takes place on the 11th-13th of December. Look at the practice rounds, media exposure, and pro-am days prior to tournament weekend as practice time.
Saturday and Sunday will generally be the busiest. The fans should target those two days when they intend to go on a trip with the most important interest of watching the best pairings.
Where Does the Tournament Take Place?
It is again hosted in Naples, Florida. In particular, it is played at Gibraltar Golf Club and accompanied by a party at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Gibraltar. A kind of second home to the tournament has developed in this area of Southwest Florida and is a combination of lavishness at the resorts and the championship golf for a special ambience to the week.
The rugged course was designed by Greg Norman at the Tiburon Golf Club. It is a par-72 course, with differing reported yardage of between 6,500 and 7,238, depending on the location of the the tees. It is anyway a scenic, technical route, to be true to the ground and not necessarily to be as strong as it can become, which suits a mixed-format event.
Naples has a good month in December, too. Suppose on the grounds there are a couple of days of approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit daytime with light breezes.
What Makes the Format So Different?
Here's where the Grant Thornton Invitational really separates itself from a typical tour stop. Instead of 32 individual competitors playing solo, the field breaks into 16 two-person teams. Each team pairs one PGA TOUR player with one LPGA Tour player.
Three rounds, three completely different formats. That variety keeps strategy interesting and forces teams to adapt on the fly.
This rotation rewards chemistry as much as raw skill. A team that communicates well often outperforms a pair with more individual talent but less coordination. That's part of the charm, honestly. It levels the field in a way stroke play rarely does.
How Much Prize Money Is on the Line?
The total purse sits at $4 million, split evenly across men and women. That equal-pay structure is actually one of the defining features of this tournament. Few events in professional golf offer identical compensation regardless of gender, and the Grant Thornton Invitational has built its identity around that principle.
The winning duo takes home a combined $1 million, meaning each partner walks away with a hefty individual payday. Beyond the money, there's also equal television time, equal promotion, and equal billing on tournament materials. It's a full-package approach to parity, not just a check-the-box gesture.
Who Are the Defending Champions?
Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin enter as the reigning champions, having claimed victory at the previous edition with a score of -28, totaling 188 strokes across three rounds. That performance ties them with the 2024 winners, Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit, who also posted -27 totals in their respective championship runs.
Looking further back, Lydia Ko and Jason Day claimed the title during the 2022-2023 season, finishing at -26. The tournament's history shows a pattern: winning teams usually need to shoot well into the mid-20s under par to lift the trophy. Anything less typically won't cut it against a stacked field.
Who's Playing in 2026?
The full 32-player field usually gets finalized closer to tournament week. Both tours release updates through their respective entry pages as commitments roll in. Fans wanting the most current lineup should check the official PGA TOUR tournament hub or LPGA entries page directly, since rosters can shift right up until the event begins.
That said, given the tournament's growing prestige, expect several major names from both circuits to commit early, much like previous years.
How to Watch the Grant Thornton Invitational
Television coverage totals nine hours across the weekend, split between two networks. Golf Channel handles the bulk of Friday and Saturday broadcasts, while NBC takes over for Sunday's final round coverage. This split allows for extended weekday windows and a primetime-style finish on the closing day.
For viewers outside the U.S. or those wanting streaming options, check the official tournament website closer to the event, as regional broadcast partners sometimes get added.
Buying Tickets: What You Need to Know
Tickets for the event are available through two main channels: AXS and the official Grant Thornton Invitational tickets page. General grounds passes let fans walk the course and watch from various vantage points, while upgraded hospitality packages offer better seating, food and beverage access, and sometimes proximity to specific holes.
Gates typically open around 8:00 AM Eastern on competition days. Arriving early tends to pay off, especially if you want a good spot near the first tee or the practice range before groups head out.
A few tips worth mentioning:
Book hospitality packages early since they sell out faster than general admission.
Check the weather forecast the week of, since Naples can occasionally see rain shift schedules.
Bring comfortable footwear. The grounds cover a lot of walking distance across 18 holes.
Why This Tournament Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
It involves more than a golf event. The Grant Thornton Invitational is innovative in thinking about the matter of inclusion in professional golf. Possession of PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour talent under the same roof with an equal amount of money and the same spotlight conveys the message that transcends Naples, Florida.
The reason is that, in the house, young golfers are being introduced to an embodiment of the sport that does not face gender as an opportunity or an award. That matters. Sponsors, too, are awakening to this, though the greater value in sports and business that the tournament has continued to deliver in recent years is a sign that this model is profitable both on the playing field and in the business world.
Final Thoughts
The Grant Thornton Invitational has quickly become one of the more refreshing events on the golf calendar. Between its equal-pay structure, rotating team formats, and star-studded field pulled from both the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour, there's a lot to look forward to in December 2026. Whether you're planning to attend in person at Tiburón Golf Club or catching the action on NBC and Golf Channel from home, this year's Grant Thornton Invitational promises another entertaining chapter in a tournament that keeps redefining what mixed-gender competition in golf can look like.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly is the Grant Thornton Invitational 2026?
The tournament runs December 7–13, 2026, with competitive rounds taking place from December 11 through December 13 at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
What golf format does the tournament use?
It uses three different formats across three rounds: scramble on Friday, foursomes (alternate shot) on Saturday, and modified four-ball on Sunday.
How many players compete?
Thirty-two players compete in total, forming sixteen mixed teams that pair one PGA TOUR golfer with one LPGA Tour golfer.
What's the total prize money?
The purse totals $4 million, split equally between men and women, with the winning team sharing a $1 million top prize.
Who won the tournament last year?
Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin won the previous edition with a score of -28, and they'll defend their title in 2026.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available through AXS and the official Grant Thornton Invitational tickets page, including general admission and hospitality packages.
Which channels broadcast the event?
NBC and Golf Channel split coverage, totaling nine hours of live television across the tournament weekend.
What course is used for the event?
The Gold Course at Tiburón Golf Club, designed by Greg Norman, hosts the tournament as a par-72 layout in Naples, Florida.