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Teammates Charley Hull of England and Michael Brennan of the United States look on while playing the 13th hole during the first round of the Grant Thornton Invitational 2025 at Tiburon Golf Club on December 12.
The 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational got off to an explosive start Friday at Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida, as two mixed teams tied for the 18-hole lead in dramatic fashion. In the scramble format that kicked off this unique PGA Tour-LPGA Tour crossover event, both Charley Hull and Michael Brennan, and Lexi Thompson with Wyndham Clark, shot a tournament record 17-under-par 55 to share the top spot.
The performance didn’t just lead the leaderboard; it etched a new mark in the event’s short history. The previous best in the scramble format was 16-under, set in past editions, but Friday’s blistering scoring reset that benchmark at 17-under. Both leading duos combined aggressive iron play with opportunistic putting to take full advantage of ideal scoring conditions.
Hull and Brennan’s round featured an impressive run of birdies and eagles, including stretches of consecutive birdies that thrilled onlookers and brought early momentum. Meanwhile, Thompson and Clark caught fire on the back nine, matching the scoring exploits of their competitors and ensuring the two teams would share the spotlight heading into Saturday’s foursomes format.
Mixed Teams and Star Power Highlight Field
The Grant Thornton Invitational remains one of golf’s most compelling mixed-tour events, bringing together top PGA Tour and LPGA Tour stars in 16 two-player teams competing over three days.
Among the contenders were high-profile pairings like Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp, the defending champions; Lydia Ko and Jason Day, the inaugural victors from 2023; and Nelly Korda paired with Denny McCarthy, as well as Rose Zhang with Michael Kim.
One of the more intriguing storylines entering this year’s edition was the late shuffle in the field. Four-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Berger (originally set to team with Hull) withdrew earlier in the week, with Brennan stepping in as his replacement. Brennan, a rising PGA Tour talent fresh off his Bank of Utah Championship victory, wasted no time making an impact alongside Hull.
“It’s quite funny because actually I was changing my swing last week and I came on Tuesday and I could not even keep the ball on the planet. So I was actually pretty nervous today,” Hull said. “Actually, it worked out pretty well.”
The women’s presence looms especially strong in the field: 12 of the top 50 women in the world are competing, compared with seven of the top 50 men, underlining the depth and global reach of LPGA talent.
Standout Performances Beyond the Leaders
While the two co-leaders stole headlines with their record-setting 55s, several other teams delivered noteworthy performances in Round 1. Lauren Coughlin and Andrew Novak carded a 15-under-par 57 to sit just two shots off the lead, using a string of birdies to stake their claim on Sunday contention.
A trio of teams–Korda/McCarthy, Jennifer Kupcho/Chris Gotterup, and Zhang/Kim–all posted 14-under-par 58s, showing that depth of talent remains strong throughout the field.
Defending champions Tavatanakit and Knapp opened with a 59 (-13), placing them within striking distance. Meanwhile, past champions Ko and Day finished their opening round at 60 (-12), proving they can’t be counted out despite a slower start relative to the leaders.
Where the Field Stands
Here’s a look at the leaderboard after Round 1:
Pos.
Players
Score
T1
Hull / Brennan
-17
T1
Thompson / Clark
-17
3
Coughlin / Novak
-15
T4
Zhang / Kim
-14
T4
Kupcho / Gotterup
-14
T4
Korda / McCarthy
-14
7
Tavatanakit / Knapp
-13
T8
Yin / Hoge
-12
T8
Ko / Day
-12
T10
Lee / Horschel
-11
T10
Henderson / Conners
-11
T10
Vu / Finau
-11
T13
Stark / Shipley
-10
T13
Korda / Cauley
-10
15
Woad / Clanton
-9
16
Khang / Mitchell
-8
Event Format and What’s Next
The Grant Thornton Invitational features a unique three-format test designed to showcase teamwork and versatility. The tournament’s Round 1 scramble allows both players to hit every shot, with the team selecting the preferred ball after each shot. Round 2 (Saturday) transitions to foursomes (alternate shot), while Round 3 (Sunday) culminates in a modified four-ball, blending player strengths in different ways.
After Friday’s fireworks, the transition to alternate shot on Saturday will test precision and cohesion as teams are forced to alternate every stroke with a single ball. This format typically tightens leaderboards and elevates the value of smart strategy and course management.
With a $4 million purse on the line and several marquee names in contention, the tournament promises exciting action through the weekend. The leaderboard remains packed, and with formats shifting each day, momentum could swing quickly.
“The best way to grow the game is for us to come together and lift each other up [LPGA and PGA], support each other, and that’s what this tournament does,” Korda said.
“At the end of the day, it showcases the best women and men coming together and having fun and playing something different, something that we don’t get to do every single day.”
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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