As the PGA and LPGA Tours converge in Naples for their unique mixed-team showcase, the buzz is less about who is teeing it up and more about the conspicuous gaps on the roster. While the Grant Thornton Invitational boasts 16 teams, including Nelly Korda and Denny McCarthy, Lydia Ko and Jason Day, and defending champions Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp, three of the biggest names are missing from the event.

Launched in 2023, the event features teams playing 18 holes each of Scramble, Foursomes, and Modified Four-Ball. The real story might be in the star power left on the sidelines. This year’s lineup at Tiburón includes golfers with 137 combined wins across the PGA and LPGA, competing head-to-head for an equal $4 million purse split evenly between partners.

Even then, the absence of Rick

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