2024 Grant Thornton Invitational: Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp win

Making their Grant Thornton Invitational debuts, Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp paired up perfectly to claim the second playing of this unique mixed-team event. With different formats each day, Sunday was a Modified Four-Ball, where both players tee off, switch balls for their second shots and play that same ball until it is holed. The lower score of the partners is then counted as the team score for the hole.

Team “Rocco”, combined again on the final day to shoot a seven-under-par 65 to go wire-to-wire and claim the title by one shot from Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim.

Both players reflected on the experience, expressing gratitude for the partnership and the chance to finish their seasons on a high note.

“A cherry on top” for Tavatanakit

For Tavatanakit, the win capped an emotional and transformative season. “It was nice to put the cherry on top of my 2024 season to win my last event of the year,” she shared. Despite battling inconsistency and experimenting with eight different putters throughout the season, the Major winner rediscovered her touch just in time. “I feel like my game was really up and down, but to cap it off and play good golf on this course that I didn’t two weeks ago was a really good feeling.”

When asked about her remarkable putting during the event, Tavatanakit humbly credited the unpredictability of the game: “I’m not sure. It just comes. I guess that’s just golf.”

Knapp: A Rookie Year to remember

Jake Knapp, a rookie on the PGA TOUR, described the week as an ideal way to conclude his first season. “It’s a great way to end the year before Christmas,” he said, emphasising the unexpected yet seamless dynamic he formed with Tavatanakit. “I feel like I couldn’t have gotten a better partner. We just got along perfectly - energy was the same. It was a really, really fun week.”

Knapp also spoke about the rare camaraderie forged through the event. “You don’t get to play in many tournaments like this,” he reflected. “Hopefully, it’s safe to say we’re going to play again next year.”

A friendship built on trust

The pairing, which only met for the first time earlier in the week, quickly evolved into a supportive and cohesive team. Knapp noted that his usual intense approach softened during the event. “I treat golf very seriously, but a week like this felt on the opposite end of the spectrum. Let’s just make sure we enjoy it.” He praised Tavatanakit’s encouragement throughout the tournament, saying, “Even when I hit a bad one, she was the first one patting me on the back.”

Tavatanakit added humour to the mix, joking that Knapp earned the “Best Babysitter of the Year Award” for his role in helping her stay relaxed, thanks to some insight he received from Tavatankit’s fellow LPGA star Alison Lee.

A milestone year

An intriguing subplot emerged as the pair realised they had previously won on the same day earlier this year. “It was you, me, and Bronte [Law] on the same week this year,” Tavatanakit revealed. Knapp acknowledged the coincidence, adding, “It was definitely in the back of my head, but until we finished the round today, I had no idea.”

Looking ahead to 2025

Both players are eager to carry this momentum into the 2025 season. Knapp aims for greater consistency, saying, “This was my rookie year, so there was a lot of new courses and things like that. Now, I feel more settled in.”

Tavatanakit, meanwhile, expressed optimism about her game’s direction. “I feel like I have a very clear idea of what I need to work on. I’m excited to take some time off and get back to work in January.”

The 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational does not necessarily get the column inches it deserves, mainly due to its place at the end of a busy year of golf. But there is no doubt that an event like this is a very welcome addition to both the LPGA and PGA Tours.

As Knapp put it, “Winning is fun, but building another close friendship in this sport is pretty sweet.”

The unique mixed-team format continues to highlight the unifying power of golf, and with dynamic pairings like Tavatanakit and Knapp, its future looks bright.

View the full Grant Thornton Invitational leaderboard here.