In a stunning display of skill and teamwork, Lexi Thompson and Wyndham Clark surged to the top of the leaderboard at the Grant Thornton Invitational, sharing the lead with Charley Hull and Michael Brennan. It was a Friday filled with exceptional play, as both teams blazed through the course, setting a new scoring record. But how did they achieve such a feat? Let's dive in!
The event, held in Naples, Florida, saw Thompson and Clark, along with Hull and Brennan, each card an incredible 17-under 55. This remarkable score was achieved in a scramble format, where the teams made only three pars. The ideal conditions at the Tiburon Golf Club certainly played a part, allowing for such impressive performances.
Michael Brennan, who stepped in for Daniel Berger, and Charley Hull were on fire, achieving birdies or eagles on 13 consecutive holes! Hull, despite having made some recent swing adjustments, expressed her surprise at how well things turned out. "It's quite funny because actually I was changing my swing last week and I come on Tuesday and I could not even keep the ball on the planet. So I was actually pretty nervous today," she confessed. "Actually, it worked out pretty well."
Meanwhile, Thompson and Clark were equally impressive, making birdie or eagle on nine of their last ten holes! Clark highlighted their strategic advantage, noting, "I feel like we kind of have similar games. She hits it really far off the tee, and if one of us is in play, we're significantly past kind of the competitors and we have our advantage there."
And this is the part most people miss... The record-breaking score of 55 surpassed the previous record by one stroke at this mixed-team event, which is only in its third year.
Trailing closely behind were Lauren Coughlin and Andrew Novak, just two shots back. Other notable teams, including Rose Zhang and Michael Kim, Nelly Korda and Denny McCarthy, and Jennifer Kupcho and Chris Gotterup, were also in contention, just three strokes behind the leaders.
But here's where it gets controversial... The format shifts to foursomes for Saturday, a more challenging format where players alternate shots with a single ball. Sunday's final round will be modified fourballs. Defending champions Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit are also in the mix, finishing the day four shots behind the leaders.
What do you think about the scramble format? Does it highlight the best of teamwork, or does it take away from the individual skill of the players? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
