Many teams at Grant Thornton got first look at each other's games during opening scramble

NAPLES, Fla. – Akshay Bhatia and Jennifer Kupcho met for the first time at a cocktail party on Tuesday at the Grant Thornton Invitational. The mixed-team partners didn’t see each other again until they warmed up next to each other on the range Friday. With tournament pro-ams scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday, there’s not much time to build team chemistry.

“Jennifer and I were texting yesterday trying to figure out like a team name,” said Bhatia. “That didn't work.”

The newness of it all, however, did nothing to dampen their success. Kupcho and Bhatia opened with a 13-under 59 at Tiburon Golf Club in the scramble format to sit one shot behind former UCLA players Patty Tavatanakit and Jake Knapp, who also met for the first time this week.

While this marks the second playing of the Grant Thornton Invitational, there aren’t many repeat teams from last year. In fact, of the 16 total teams, only three played together last year, including defending champions Lydia Ko and Jason Day. Canadians Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners, who finished second in 2024, and Lexi Thompson/Rickie Fowler round out the trio of returners.

“You know, you just don't want it to be awkward,” said Bhatia of teeing it up with a well-known stranger.

Cameron Young and Lauren Coughlin met for the first time on Monday and had dinner together on Thursday evening. They hadn’t played a round of golf together until Friday’s opening round, but Young knew of Coughlin's breakout season on the LPGA.

“It was a scramble, so we figured one of us would hit one good shot,” said Coughlin of the day’s strategy. Things are bound to get more complicated on Saturday, however, when the format changes to foursomes (alternate shot).

When asked what they learned about each other’s games on Day 1, Coughlin said, “He hits it really far and really straight.”

Young noted that he made Coughlin putt all the three- and five-footers first on Friday.

“Really nice kind of just leaning on my putter over there and watching her make those,” he said.

France’s Celine Boutier and Matthieu Pavon met for the first time at the Paris Olympics. Boutier arrived at the venue early to watch Pavon hit the first tee shot and was in shock by how many people were there. Pavon had never felt more emotional inside the ropes than he did that day.

The Grant Thornton provides a rare opportunity for the two compatriots to get to know each other.

“This is why I feel like it's a great tournament because I'm not sharing a lot of time during the year with Celine,” said Pavon, “and she's probably the best player ever in France. She won a major, she had a very, very successful career so far. It's all about like watching what she's got and what she does better than most other players, and that's very nice for me.”

As for the leaders, well, they met on Tuesday for a practice round. Tavatanakit had planned to only play nine holes but had so much fun with Knapp that she carried on after the turn.

“I feel like I haven't played golf like this free in a while,” said Tavatanakit, “so it is actually a really nice feeling. I feel very secure out there because I know I have a really good partner.”

The pair birdied every hole on the front nine to shoot 27. On the back, they finished eagle-birdie to post a 58 on a windy day in south Florida.

Their team name – Rocco’s on Thursday – is an ode to a favorite bar in Westwood. Last week, Knapp spent some time with another Bruin, Solheim Cup player Alison Lee, and got some insight on his new partner.

“She said she can get a little upset at times and get down on herself maybe,” said Knapp of what he learned, “so she was like just don't let her get that way. I was like, that's fine, I get upset, too.

“No, it was just kind of more so just like keep the conversation going and just make sure we have a good time between shots.”

“Basically, he's just babysitting me,” Tavatanakit replied with a smile.

The banter is already flowing.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Many teams at Grant Thornton play together for first time this week