ORLANDO, Fla. — Whereas strolling round Lake Nona Golf and Nation Membership, you can not assist however discover an abundance of smiles from gamers, celebrities, followers, and attendees alike.
Not solely did the Hilton Grand Holidays Match of Champions mark the start of the 2025 LPGA season — a purpose to smile in and of itself — but it surely additionally holds a particular place in everybody’s coronary heart. Unsurprisingly, all concerned circle this event on their calendars each January.
“I haven’t missed one in all these,” mentioned NFL Corridor of Famer Brian Urlacher to SB Nation.
“I don’t miss this occasion,” added Atlanta Braves legend John Smoltz.
What makes it so distinctive is how among the greatest names in sports activities, music, and leisure descend upon Central Florida to play in a aggressive golf event alongside one of the best feminine gamers on the planet. It’s not a hit-and-giggle both. The celeb event includes a $500,000 purse, with the winner taking house $100,000. Former NHL star Joe Pavelski received this yr’s occasion in his debut.
“It’s competitors golf,” Urlacher added. “All of us assume we’re good at golf, after which we wish to put stress on ourselves for some purpose, however this competitors is enjoyable.”
When skilled athletes retire, many head straight to the golf course to play. They’re aggressive people, which helps clarify why they’d a lot success of their respective fields. Merely put, they’re constructed otherwise. Smoltz presently has a plus one-eight index and nearly certified for the PGA Tour Champions. Urlacher, in the meantime, carries a 2.9 handicap, proof that many of those celebrities not solely play however play effectively.
However right here is why this event has change into so profitable: after it concludes, every celeb returns to their respective locales and boasts concerning the event, the leisure, and every part else this occasion has to supply. They inform their celeb associates, attractive others to play and benefit from the enjoyable. Actor Don Cheadle, former NBA All-Star Blake Griffin, and U.S. Girls’s Soccer hero Brandi Chastain all made their debuts this yr, and every of them has associates who performed on this occasion beforehand.
Along with golf, Hilton Grand Holidays sponsors a live performance sequence for gamers, their entourages, and hospitality members. Relying on availability, Hilton Grand Holidays factors members also can attend. This yr’s reveals included Chicago and Three Doorways Down, and Luke Bryan capped it off on Saturday night time earlier than Sunday’s closing spherical.
“That is my favourite event due to the folks; primary, the ladies golfers are superb, after which the leisure. The live shows are badass, dude,” Urlacher added.
“It doesn’t get higher than this, proper?”
Thirty-two LPGA gamers teed it up on this yr’s subject, and solely those that have received an LPGA occasion over the previous two years qualify. Meaning solely the elite of the elite play on this event, and because it airs on community tv yearly, the LPGA emerges as the massive winner.
“Essentially the most outstanding half about that is we’re celebrating the feminine golfer, and these girls are unbelievable,” Chastain added.
“I’m in awe after they swing and hit the ball. It’s simply outstanding. So for me, to be right here to assist them, to say ‘I see you.’ They know that their inspiration is absolutely essential.”
Roughly 6,000 followers attended every day, cheering on their favourite LPGA stars and celebrities. World No. 1 Nelly Korda had the most important galleries daily, and rightfully so. She simply received seven occasions in 2024 and has emerged because the face of the game. Korda nearly got here from behind and stole the title away from A Lim Kim, too, however the 29-year-old South Korean made two clutch birdies on the sixteenth and 18th holes to shut out her wire-to-wire win in grand fashion.
“One of many coolest elements of this week is seeing the viewers that’s out right here, and the spectators out listed below are increasing, extra so than what you’ll see at a typical LPGA occasion,” mentioned event director Aaron Stewart, the son of the late, nice Payne Stewart who received the U.S. Open twice and the PGA Championship as soon as.
“Clearly, there are going to be the diehard followers which are following the tour and are going to be right here, but additionally having the celebrities helps convey out a brand new group of those who possibly don’t even actually play golf or like golf essentially, however their favourite basketball participant or actors, or Corridor of Famers from all walks of life are right here, in order that they’re .”
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.
