Tournament of Champions to Kick Off LPGA Season
Hilton Grand Vacations Inc., the industry-leading global vacation ownership company, is proud to announce a multi-year partnership with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to bring the Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) Tournament of Champions to the renowned Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando on January 20-23, 2022.
This year’s tournament, which was formerly known as the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, reflects HGV’s recent acquisition of Diamond Resorts. The strategic combination unites the strengths of the largest independent timeshare company with HGV’s industry-leading brand, culture and premier resort network.
Nicknamed the LPGA’s “Party on Tour,” the tournament’s distinctive format brings LPGA Tour winners together with over 50 beloved celebrities, athletes and entertainers to play side-by-side for an event unlike any other. Past celebrity participants include superstars from entertainment and all major sports, including Jerry Rice, Brian Urlacher, Marcus Allen, Justin Verlander, Ray Allen, Grant Hill, Lee Brice, Ben Higgins, Alfonso Ribeiro and more. The event has quickly become one of the LPGA Tour’s most-watched tournaments of the season and has featured iconic moments like Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam’s return to the LPGA Tour and two-time LPGA winner Jasmine Suwannapura’s surprise engagement on the 18th green last year.
The Tournament of Champions is legendary for unique fan engagement opportunities and world-class experiences that extend beyond the course. HGV will be announcing new and exciting events this year, including three nights of private outdoor concerts, themed international food and drink stations and indulgent hospitality experiences. New faces and surprise guests will hit the links this year and the fun will continue off the course nightly within the award-winning Lake Nona community with live entertainment, luxurious accommodations and unmatched amenities. Past tournaments have featured performances from chart-topping artists like Boyz II Men, Lee Brice, Counting Crows and more.
The Tom Fazio-designed Lake Nona Golf & Country Club course is home to numerous professional golfers and world-class athletes. Noted as one of the top private golf and country clubs in the world, the picturesque, 600-acre Club is located within Lake Nona, a 17-square-mile community that is recognized among the fastest-growing and most innovative in the nation.
“We’re thrilled to grow this world-class event and are confident the Tournament of Champions will continue to reach new heights at its extraordinary new home, Lake Nona Golf & Country Club,” said Mark Wang, president and CEO of Hilton Grand Vacations. “As one of the LPGA Tour’s premier events of the year, we are committed to delivering the unique and action-packed golf tournament that is widely recognized by golfers and fans alike.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Hilton Grand Vacations to the LPGA family as our partner at the Tournament of Champions. This is one of the most exciting events on Tour, clearly earning its ‘Party on Tour’ nickname,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan, LPGA Commissioner. “Beautiful Lake Nona is sure to provide the perfect setting and I invite new and old fans to come out to see the best golfers in the world compete alongside some of your favorite celebrities.”
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome back the LPGA Tour for this one-of-a-kind tournament and launch the season in Lake Nona,” said Rasesh Thakkar, Senior Managing Director of Tavistock Group, owner and developer of Lake Nona. “We’re excited to establish a new home for the legendary Tournament of Champions and look forward to working with HGV to continue to elevate this signature event for years to come.”
The tournament exclusively features LPGA Tour winners from the previous two seasons competing for $1.2 million in official prize money on 72 holes of stroke with no cut. Celebrities join them on the course, competing for their own $500,000 purse in a modified format. Qualifying pro-am players compete along with the stars during official tournament rounds. Florida’s own Jessica Korda claimed the 2021 tournament’s professional title last year for her sixth career LPGA Tour win. The Celebrity Division title win went to former tennis pro Mardy Fish, the event’s first three-time winner.
The tournament will be hosted in compliance with all local, state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to protect the health of all participants.
Celebrity participants, LPGA Tour professionals and visiting guests will be hosted at HGV’s best-in-class Orlando resorts continuing the luxury experience away from the course. HGV’s acquisition of Diamond Resorts created the largest upper upscale and luxury timeshare operator, with a combined 154 resorts. The powerhouse combination of these two experienced operators promises Diamond’s proven track record of hosting an unforgettable tournament and experiential offerings with HGV’s trusted name in high-quality vacation ownership.
The tournament will once again be televised live, airing Thursday and Friday on Golf Channel and Saturday and Sunday on NBC. For more details and updates, visit: HGVLPGA.com.