Grant Thornton Invitational: Good for golf

In a week where men's professional golf has again taken headlines away and at the expense of the women's game, we're here to champion the Grant Thornton Invitational which is heading into its final day.

This unique co-sanctioned event has seen 32 players, 16 LPGA and 16 PGA Tour, come together in a mixed pairs team format. Something that hasn't been seen on tour since the 1990s.

A moment in time that should have been the main focus of media attention, an event to set the case for future collaborations between the tours. Mixed golf isn't new, we have the Scandinavian Mixed, Vic Open and previously Golf Sixes, to name a few, which all showcase men and women on the same stage, but none that put men and women in a team together.

It all sounds a bit dramatic but this week, although not part of either tour's main schedule, has provided the perfect platform to collaboratively pit the men against the women. The tired narrative of male pro golfers are better than women pro golfers has been put aside and it has been great to watch how some of the best players in the world have come together, many not even having met before this week.

Watch Second-Round Highlights from Grant Thornton Invitational

Due to the shear scale and size of the PGA Tour, it's women's golf that had the most to benefit from this tournament but the message that has been coming from the players is that it's actually golf as a whole that this is about, not even which team will take home the $1 million prize.

A point that is perfectly summarised by Lydia Ko, who currently takes a two-shot lead into the final round with her playing partner Jason Day, both former World Number 1 players:

"I think this is just a great experience for me and I hope a lot of juniors who are either here this week or watching on the TV get inspired and hope that one day they play on the PGA or the LPGA and they too are paired up with another fellow player on the other tour.

"This is why I think the outcome and result is secondary. I think for us, we don't really get to I guess cross paths that much with other tours. Jason's only the fourth PGA TOUR player I've played with. I think it's a great opportunity, something that I can learn a lot from.

"I think these kind of different formats, it really brings people in that may not necessarily really like to watch 72 holes, your standard event. I think this is a great movement, and for Grant Thornton to give us an opportunity like this for not only us but hopefully the future generations, it's an exciting place to be and I'm grateful to be a part of this inaugural event."

The final day will be a modified fourball, where both players tee off, and then they 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. This follows a first day with a scramble format and foursomes on Saturday.

Tactics, team work and expectional play (who saw Lexi's ace yesterday?!) will be on show and we for one hope this becomes a mainstay for both tours going forward.

Have you enjoyed the Grant Thornton Invitational? Let us know your thoughts here.