Betting
timer

This event has expired. Please see other tips here

Grant Thornton Invitational Preview & Picks - Best Team Picks For Florida

gary-emmerson
05 Dec 2023
gary-emmerson
Gary Emmerson 05 Dec 2023
Share this article
Or copy link
  • Grant Thornton Invitational picks for December 8-10
  • Tournament takes place at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida
  • Preview, predictions, stats & form
Thirty-two of the world's premier golfers team in pairs to contest the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational at the Tiburon Golf Club in Florida. Which team will be crowned as the champions of this new tournament?

The Tiburon Golf Club previously hosted the QBE Shootout from 2017 to 2022 and currently hosts the CME Group Tour Championship on the LPGA Tour since 2011. 

Past and present major winners that will tee on Friday include Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, Jason Day, Lucas Glover, Justin Rose, Lilia Vu, Celine Boutier, Allisen Corpuz, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, and  Yin Ruoning. 

These are the four teams who could win the tournament this weekend. 

Ludvig Aberg and Madelene Sagstrom 


Ludvig Aberg has made a splash since turning professional in June, placing T14 at the Wyndham Championship, T4 at the D+D Real Czech Masters (DP World Tour and victory at the Omega European Masters (DP World Tour).

He then finished T10 at the BMW PGA Championship, T2 at the Sanderson Farms Championship, T13 at the Shriners Children's Open, and T10 at the World Wide Technology Championship before capturing his maiden PGA Tour title at the RSM Classic. 

Madelene Sagstrom has produced solid results on the LPGA Tour in her last eight starts, finishing T26 at the Portland Classic, T14 at the Kroger Queen City Championship, T8 at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, T64 at the BMW Ladies Championship, T40 at the Maybank Championship, MC at the Annika and T16 CME Group Tour Championship.

Other notable performances achieved by Sagstrom this year include finishing T14 at the HSBC Women's World Championship, T17 at the JM Eagle LA Championship, T10 at the Cognizant Founders Cup, T13 at the Mizuho Americas Open, 3rd at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, and T9 at the Women's Scottish Open.

Sahith Theegala and Rose Zhang


Sahith Theegala bounced back to form on the PGA Tour after some indifferent performances on the golf course between May and July by placing T13 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, T15 at the BMW Championship and victory at the Fortinet Championship.

He was then T19 at the ZOZO Championship before missing the cut at the World Wide Technology Championship and finishing T31 at the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (Japan Tour). 

Additional highlights from Theegala's year include finishing T4 at the Farmers Insurance Open, T6 at the Genesis Invitational, T14 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 9th at the Masters, T5 at the RBC Heritage and T23 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 

Theegala tasted success on debut at the Tiburon Golf Club when he paired with Tom Hoge to become the first rookie team to win the QBE Shootout since 2011. 

Rose Zhang made headlines in May when she won the Mizuho Americas Open, becoming the first player to win on their LPGA Tour debut since 1951.

Zhang maintained her level of play after her maiden victory, placing T8 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, T9 at the US Women's Open, MC at the Dana Open, and T9 at the Amundi Evian Championship.

The 20-year-old American's form plateaued after those results; however, she has rediscovered her touch in her last three starts, finishing T3 at the Maybank Championship, T15 at the Toto Japan Classic, and T13 at the CME Group Tour Championship.

Harris English and Celine Boutier


Harris English has enjoyed a better second half of the year on the PGA Tour, placing T13 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, T3 at the Wells Fargo Championship, T12 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, T8 at the US Open and T10 at the BMW Championship in 11 starts.

English had achieved only two notable performances before those results, finishing T12 at the Genesis Invitational and T2 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

English has an impeccable record at the Tiburon Golf Club, winning the QBE Shootout in 2013, 2016, and 2020, including two runner-up places in 2014 and 2015. 

Celine Boutier has had a superb year on the LPGA and LET, recording four tournament victories and achieving multiple top finishes.

Boutier secured titles at the LPGA Drive On Championship, the Amundi Evian Championship, the FREED Group Women’s Scottish Open, and the Maybank Championship. 

Additionally, Boutier placed T4 at the Honda LPGA Thailand, T11 at the HSBC Women's World Championship, T13 at the Lotto Championship, T14 at the Chevron Championship, T5 at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play, T10 at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, T13 at the Ascendant LPGA, T5 at the BMW Ladies Championship, T16 at the CME Group Tour Championship and T7 at the Open de Espana. 

Corey Conners and Brooke Henderson


Corey Conners hit top form after his second victory at the Valero Texas Open, placing T8 at the Wells Fargo Championship, T12 at the PGA Championship, MC at the Memorial Tournament, T20 at the RBC Canadian Open and MC at the US Open.

He then finished T9 at the Travelers Championship, T19 at the Genesis Scottish Open, T52 at the Open Championship, T6 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and T10 at the BMW Championship before finishing 26th at the Tour Championship and T44 at the RSM Classic.

Other prominent performances achieved by Conners on the PGA Tour this year include placing T18 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, T12 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T21 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T17 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

Brooke Henderson has been playing well on the LPGA Tour since she missed the cut at the AIG Women's Open, placing T13 at the CPKC Women's Open, T34 at the Portland Classic, T23 at the Kroger Queen City Championship, T22 at the BMW Ladies Championship, T6 at the Maybank Championship, T19 at the Annika and 12th at the CME Group Tour Championship. 

Other noteworthy results achieved by Henderson this year include a victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament,  and placing T11 at the Lotte Championship, T15 at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, 12th at the Women's US Open and 2nd at the Amundi Evian Championship.

The Format


The Grant Thornton Invitational is contested from Friday to Sunday, comprising two golfers per team.

Friday - Round one is the Scramble format. Each golfer drives off the tee, and then the team decides on the best shot of the two. Both players will then play their second shot from this position and so forth until the completion of the hole.

Saturday - Round two is the Foursome (Alternate Shot) format. Players rotate tee shots (one player will tee off on even-numbered holes and the other on odd-numbered holes) and strokes with the same ball until the ball is holed.

Sunday - Round three is the Modified Four-Ball format. Both players tee off and then switch balls for their second shots and play that same ball until it is holed. The lower score of the pairing is counted as the team score for the hole. 

Verdict

Aberg and Sagstrom were on the winning teams of the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup and will fancy their chances to secure the title in Florida.
 
Theegala and Zhang have played well throughout the year and have every chance to lift the trophy at the Tiburon Golf Club come Sunday.
 
English and Boutier have claims for the Grant Thornton Invitational title, as the former has won multiple times on this course, and the latter has been in excellent form.
 
Conners and Henderson are a strong team pairing and offer an excellent each-way bet this weekend.

Best Bet: Aberg & Sagstrom Each-Way @600.00 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Value Bet: Theegala & Zhang Each-Way @1000.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Value Bet: English & Boutier Each-Way @1200.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Value Bet: Conners & Henderson Each-Way @1200.0 at Stake.us - 1 Unit
Aberg & Sagstrom
Each-Way
@600.00 - 1 Unit
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes NY,NV,ID, KY,WA, MI.

Bet at Stake.us
Theegala & Zhang
Each-Way
@1000.0 - 1 Unit
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes NY,NV,ID, KY,WA, MI.

Bet at Stake.us
English & Boutier
Each-Way
@1200.0 - 1 Unit
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes NY,NV,ID, KY,WA, MI.

Bet at Stake.us
Conners & Henderson
Each-Way
@1200.0 - 1 Unit
55 Stake Cash no deposit & 550,000 Gold Coins & 5% Rakeback
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Sign up with the code NEWBONUS. When you verify your account get 25 Stake Cash for free PLUS 250,000 Gold Coins and 5% Rakeback! No deposit required. Login each day for the next 30 days and get an additional 30 Stake Cash AND 300,000 Gold Coins. 21+ only. T&Cs apply. Excludes NY,NV,ID, KY,WA, MI.

Bet at Stake.us