The 2023 season’s inaugural event, the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, will celebrate its fifth anniversary this week with a wide variety of star power. Since 2019, LPGA winners and celebrities have converged in Orlando for the fun-filled event that always promises excitement.
Field of Champions
Everyone in the 30-player field earned their spot in this week’s competition with a win on the LPGA Tour in the past two seasons, packing the event with a ton of top talent. The group is headlined by No. 2 Nelly Korda, who has made it to the top 10 in every iteration of the event. Also joining Korda from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings top 10 is last year’s runner-up No. 7 Brooke Henderson and No. 10 Nasa Hataoka.
Danielle Kang to Defend
After losing in 2021 to Jessica Korda in a playoff, Daniel Kang came to Lake Nona in 2022 on a mission. Kang fired a final round 4-under 68 to lock down her fifth LPGA win by three strokes over Henderson. This win came just a few months before Kang was sidelined for much of the summer with an injury. Kang returned to the tour in the fall and carded three straight top-20 finishes to end the season. Though her game has seen a marked transformation, Kang’s riding a huge wave of momentum into 2023 and is poised to defend her title this weekend.
2022 Rolex First-Time Winners to Debut
Last season saw a record 11 Rolex First-Time Winners, which means there are a whopping 10 players making their debut at this year’s Tournament of Champions: Jennifer Kupcho, Leona Maguire, Andrea Lee, Ayaka Furue, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Ashleigh Buhai, Nanna Koertz Madsen, Paula Reto, Gemma Dryburgh and Maja Stark. Maguire rolls into the new year with plenty of energy after a runner-up finish at the CME Group Tour Championship, powered by a third round 63. Dryburgh also found success late in 2022, winning the TOTO Japan Classic and carding at T7 finish at the CME Group Tour Championship.
Star Power
A number of celebrities will be competing alongside the LPGA’s best for a chance at golfing glory. LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam will hit the range at Lake Nona alongside several current and former athletes including Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, Vince Carter and Roger Clemens. But the field spans stardom, with everyone from actors Michael Pena and Brian Baumgartner to Larry the Cable Guy joining in on the fun.
Committed to Orlando
Hilton Grand Vacations’ HGV Serves program is a give-back initiative intended to bolster Orlando-area charities through the Tournament of Champions and beyond. This year HGV Serves will focus on youth development and the tournament will benefit 40 clubs affiliated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and the ANNIKA Foundation. On Saturday, kids will have the opportunity to tour behind the scenes at the tournament as well as watch world-class athletes.
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