Claire Rogers
Matt Kuchar and Jason Day at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
Getty Images
Hello, friends, and welcome to a Gulf Coast edition of the Rogers Report! I’m currently at the Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, the second stop on my own personal “Florida Swing”. I started my week at GOLF’s Top 100 Teachers Summit at Cabot Citrus Farms, where I got to meet (and seek advice from) the best golf instructors on the planet. Then I made the three-and-a-half hour drive to Naples to attend the second iteration of (and my first-ever) Grant Thornton Invitational.
Major season may be long over, folks, but please allow me to explain why the next two weeks are some of the best in golf. But before we get that, some personal news: The TGL broadcast team was announced on Thursday morning, and I’ll be serving as a digital host for the league! I’m so excited for it, and of course, you’ll get the full debrief right here at the Rogers Report come January.
The Grant Thornton Invitational-PNC Championship back-to-back: the most underrated weeks in golf?
I know, I know, it’s the “offseason.” The CME Tour Championship and Tour Championship are behind us. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the golf. This week, LPGA and PGA Tour pros are teaming up at the Grant Thornton, meaning we will get a ton of good content, like when Disney Channel had those crossover episodes when we were kids. As much as I love watching PGA Tour events and LPGA Tour events on their own, there’s something special about players from each coming together for a week. It’s definitely a competitive atmosphere at Tiburon, but a big part of it leans into bonding and fun.
The pros’ personalities are going to be on display in ways we aren’t usually used to over the next few weeks. Team events tend to bring these out, and the Grant Thornton is no exception. Same thing with the PNC Championship. The pros may be at work, but in a “bring-your-kid-to-work” kind of way. It’s more about the shared experience than anything else. So make sure you’re paying attention to social media over the next 10 days or so, because I have a feeling we are going to get some hilarious, wholesome and fun content from both he Grant Thornton and the PNC. (Remember, Tiger’s “big dog” meme originated at the PNC.)
This last note really only applies to those who attend the Grant Thornton and/or PNC Championship, but I’ve learned there are few things I enjoy more than being at a Ritz-Carlton golf course, especially near the holidays. There are endless places to explore, and you can’t beat the food or clubhouse.
Kuch and Kang’s hilarious quiz
Remember when I said we’d get some great crossover content this week at the Grant Thornton? Megan Khang and Matt Kuchar kicked things off with an incredible back-and-forth while 27-year-old Khang quizzed her 46-year-old teammate on some Gen-Z slang. Do yourself a favor and check out this hilarious video.
Kuchar delivered; he’s is the ultimate dad in this video, excitedly putting his own spin on every phrase despite being spectacularly wrong. I’m actually impressed that while Kuchar went zero-for-six here, he was able to come up with an answer for each and every term. Kuch, it might be time to ask for some Gen-Z slang lessons from your sons. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help you out.
A wholesome press conference
My favorite part of Thursday at the Grant Thornton Invitational was Lydia Ko and Jason Day’s press conference. It’s clear the defending champions are giddy to be back, but it’s even more clear how much Day and Ko respect and admire each other.
A few excerpts from the transcript:
Day: I’ve heard numerous — actually, a lot of stories about how she’s one of the nicest people on the LPGA and obviously I think a lot of people know that by now. Pure class on and off the golf course.
Ko: I remember Jessica Korda was like, oh, you’re playing with Jason, right? She was like, you’re playing with the nicest person in the world, you guys are going to be the nicest team.
Ko: When I played the Tour Championship a few weeks ago, I was like, man, it would be nice if I had a partner like Jason, it would just make my life a lot easier.
Day: I’m a massive fan of Lydia and her game. More so as a person as well, she’s tremendous.
Ko: I actually told multiple people this, of all the players I’ve played with, Jason’s game, whether it was ball-striking, with the driver, iron, wedges and putting overall was actually the best player I’ve seen.
Folks, find a golf partner who will hype you up the way Jason Day and Lydia Ko hype you up. Even if you don’t have a fraction of the talent they do.
Claire Rogers
Golf.com Editor
