Steve Palmer's free predictions for the Grant Thornton Invitational

Grant Thornton Invitational date, start time & TV info 

Date Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 14
Course Gold Course, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida
Start time 2.15pm on Friday
TV Live on Sky Sports Golf from 6pm on Friday

The Grant Thornton Invitational will see the return to competition of Jake Knapp, whose girlfriend died suddenly in September, so everyone will be rooting for the 31-year-old Californian at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida this week.

Knapp arrives as one of the defending champions, teaming up with Patty Tavatanakit, but it would be remarkable should he be able to perform at his best after recent events.

Steve Palmer's Grant Thornton Invitational predictions

Denny McCarthy & Nelly Korda
3pts each-way 11-2 BoyleSports

Steve Palmer's Grant Thornton Invitational preview

Top tip

Denny McCarthy and Nelly Korda 11-2

The stand-out pairing in the Grant Thornton is arguably the combination of Nelly Korda and Denny McCarthy, a Florida-based duo who can sparkle in their adopted home state from Friday through Sunday.

Korda is the best female golfer in attendance and she can boast course form figures of 5-10-8-5-3 from the CME Group Tour Championship. She closed with rounds of 64, 65, 68 at Tiburon last month and finished the LPGA Tour season strongly.

Korda looks primed for the Grant Thornton and has one of the best putters in the world as her partner this week. They should prove a devastating duo.

Korda and McCarthy played together in the QBE Shootout in 2022. They were the youngest team in that edition, both making their tournament debut, yet finished fifth. They tied for fourth in 2023 with different partners – Korda with Tony Finau and McCarthy with Megan Khang.

Korda's typically stellar approach-play in tandem with McCarthy's relentless solid putting means they have the best chance of reaching the super-low total which will be required to win the Grant Thornton in decent weather.

The main dangers are probably the 2023 champions, Jason Day and Lydia Ko, who have a fantastic chemistry. The Aussie and the Kiwi should go well together again, while the pairing of former Florida State stars Luke Clanton and Lottie Woad is exciting. Clanton has been struggling on the PGA Tour since turning pro, but maybe a home-state gig alongside the new LPGA Tour sensation will revive his fortunes.

Most firms have each-way terms of a fifth the odds, the first four places, but BoyleSports are offering a quarter the four, so they are the bookmaker to approach for the general 11-2 about McCarthy and Korda.

Read more top golf tips from Steve Palmer:

Grant Thornton Invitational: Tiburon Golf Club course guide, start time, odds and how to watch 

Steve Palmer's free Alfred Dunhill Championship predictions 

 Alfred Dunhill Championship: Royal Johannesburg course guide, start time, odds and how to watch 

WATCH NOW: The Sweet Spot | Alfred Dunhill Championship and Grant Thornton Invitational preview 

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