Jack Milko has been playing golf since he was five years old. He has yet to record a hole-in-one, but he did secure an M.A. in Sports Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.
The second edition of the Grant Thornton Invitational kicks off this week in Naples, Florida, where PGA Tour and LPGA stars will compete side by side.
This event is unlike any other in professional golf. One PGA Tour player and one LPGA player compete in a 54-hole event, with a different format each day. Day One features a scramble, in which the two players will play the better ball of their two shots throughout the round. Day Two is alternate shot and then Day Three is a modified four-ball -- both players hit their tee shots, and then they switch golf balls for their approach until their ball is holed.
Last year, tournament organizers, players, and networks all applauded this format, so the group decided to use it again.
Last year's tournament also marked the first mixed event in pro golf in 23 years. The JCPenny Classic ran annually from 1960 to 1999, but the stakeholders discontinued it at the turn of the millennium.
Over the past few years, both PGA Tour and LPGA officials have wanted to re-construct a mixed event again but were unsure of where it could be. Most players reside in South Florida, and the weather is always lovely this time of year, so Naples was the perfect location.
And Grant Thornton has become the perfect sponsor for this event.
"Grant Thornton had a shared vision to invest in an event with equal prize money and equal visibility," explained Tournament Director Rob Hartman.
"We started the conversation with both the tours, along with Grant Thornton, and we put together what turned out to be a really incredible event that exceeded all of our expectations and every metric we had."
Grant Thornton helped create a $4 million purse for this 32-player field. The winnings are split evenly between the two players. The victorious team will take home $1 million or $500,000 each. Luckily for the players, Grant Thornton has signed a contract to remain the title sponsor for this tournament through 2027. This mixed event, which has been well received by all, is going nowhere for the foreseeable future, a welcome sight in what is currently quite the fractured landscape in professional golf.
As for this year, tournament officials wanted to improve some things after their initial run last December. First, they wanted to ensure that some teams returned for promotional purposes and to help create continuity. Having names like Nelly Korda, Rickie Fowler, and Lexi Thompson always helps. But unfortunately, Tony Finau withdrew at the 11th hour, thus leaving Korda to play with Daniel Berger, who played on the 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Alas, only five teams remain the same from a year ago, but having 11 new teams is not the worst thing either.
Another key development this year is how tournament officials have enhanced the build-out around the first tee. When you think of team events like the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup, you immediately think of the opening tee shots and the pageantry surrounding the first tee box. Granted, the Grant Thornton Invitational may not have the passion of those biennial competitions. Still, last year's tournament saw an overwhelming number of fans crowd the first tee, forcing officials to build a structure this year.
The build-out will have 300 tip-up seats; many more fans can view the opening tee shots from the surrounding areas.
Grant Thornton has extended its presence off the golf course, too. Tournament officials and representatives from Grant Thornton have integrated live music into this week through Live Fest, a music festival that will commence on Saturday evening. Old Dominion is the headliner, while the Goo Goo Dolls and country singer Lauren Alania will also perform. The sets will be on the driving range; officials expect 10,000 people to attend the show.
The final round will kick off the following morning with its modified four-ball format. Perhaps Jason Day and Lydia Ko will be vying for another title -- this Australiasian duo won last year's event by one stroke over the all-Canadian pairing of Corey Conners and Brooke Henderson. Regardless of who wins, golf is in for one fun week in Southwest Florida.