Fantasy Golf Sleeper Report – 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational

Grant Thornton Invitational Fantasy Sleeper Report

When Hideki Matsuyama won The Sentry back in January, he was perhaps hoping – or assuming – it wouldn’t be his last PGA TOUR title of the year.

And he’d be proven correct… although boy, didn’t he leave it late!

The Japanese ace failed to record a single PGA TOUR top ten finish in 2025 after his victory in Hawaii, and yet at the Hero World Challenge, Matsuyama was able to pull one last rabbit out of his hat.

Embed from Getty Images

Driving the ball much better than he has for much of this year, Matsuyama got himself into a strong position and then accelerated on Sunday: his round of 64 seeing him leapfrog Sepp Straka and Scottie Scheffler to the top of the leaderboard.

There was a catch, however. Alex Noren matched Matsuyama with a 64 of his own, which left the pair locked at -22 and in need of a playoff.

Matsuyama is absolutely nails in these situations – his playoff record on the PGA TOUR reads 4-1, and once again he came up with the goods at the right time: hitting a beautiful approach shot on the first replayed hole to inside three feet.

Technically, the Hero World Challenge doesn’t count as a PGA TOUR title. But you sense that Matsuyama, who received a shiny new trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods, couldn’t give a hoot – he had, better late than never, doubled up to bookend his campaign with silverware.

And that’s pretty much it for 2025, folks, apart from one final dance: the Grant Thornton Invitational.

Sixteen pairs, made up of PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour pros, will do battle for the title, which was won in fine fashion by the team of Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit 12 months ago.  There’s no world ranking points available, but there is a prize purse of $4 million to help concentrate the minds of the players.

Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida is on hosting duty. The Gold Course, designed by El Tiburon himself in Greg Norman, is a wide-open Par 72 that is a bundle of joy to play – all 18 holes averaged under par here in 2024.

There are sand traps and water hazards, but the emphasis is on low scoring in what is supposed to be a fun, ‘school’s out’ kind of event. This week, even the Florida weather looks set to play ball, so winning scores of -26 and -27 here in 2023 and 2024 – from 54 holes of golf, no less – could be matched or bettered this week.

The action gets underway on Friday with a twist on the best ball format. Both players in the pair tee off, before the best ball is selected and a free drop – one club length away – granted. The hole is then played as normal, but this is a day for some majorly low scoring.

Saturday sees the return of classic foursomes golf: this is the alternate shot format you may have seen at the Ryder Cup. This favors the pairs that boast solid all-round games.

Sunday sees the tournament closed out with four-balls… again, with a twist. Both players tee off before switching balls; the lowest score is then recorded.

So don’t be fooled: the Grant Thornton Invitational is an intriguing event that is to be enjoyed. From a betting perspective, it’s not the easiest to decipher, as there’s only 16 pairs and – for the men at least – there’s not a great deal of recent form in the book.

Even the outsiders are short odds to win, so we’ve compiled a handful of win-only selections in our 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational sleeper shortlist.

Chris Gotterup & Jennifer Kupcho

Chris Gitterup finally got his act together on Sunday at the Hero World Challenge, posting a final round of 67 while ranking second in the field for ball striking.

He should take plenty of confidence from that effort, ahead of conditions that will surely play into his hand as a mammoth driver.

Jennifer Kupcho should get plenty of nice irons and wedges to play courtesy of Gotterup’s power, and she herself is no slouch off the tee – that driving ability aiding her to a fourth LPGA Tour win earlier this year.

Kupcho and Akshay Bhatia finished third in this event 12 months ago; she can go close once again with Gotterup by her side.

Andrew Novak & Lauren Coughlin

There are 16 male players in this event, and you’d be hard pressed to name a handful that have either a) had a good year, or b) their career appears to be in the ascendancy.

That accusation can’t be levelled at Andrew Novak though, who has enjoyed a breakout season – six finishes of T11 or better – and heads to Florida as a pairs winner this year, having landed the Zurich Classic alongside Ben Griffin.

Lauren Coughlin is also progressive, having won twice on the LPGA Tour in 2024. The world number 16 bagged two major top-20 finished this year, too.

Luke Clanton & Lottie Woad

Here’s an intriguing pairing that knows how to win.

Luke Clanton and Lottie Woad both went to Florida State University together, ascending to the ranks of world number one amateur amongst a catalogue of fine achievements.

They were both winning machines at the grade, and while Clanton has only shown glimpses of his best in 2025, Woad is another matter entirely.

She won on her maiden LPGA Tour start, and is ranked eleventh in the world rankings after barely six months as a professional.

If Woad can inspire Clanton to recapture his best form, they could take some stopping.

Want more of this week’s fantasy predictions? Check out our full fantasy preview for the Grant Thornton Invitational here.

Cover photo via Instagram