The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions returns to Orlando from 21st to 24th January 2021 at the Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club in Lake Buena Vista, Orlando. The tournament will feature two simultaneous 72-hole competitions as the LPGA champions from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons will compete in stroke play for a $1.2 million purse, while a roster of world-class celebrity players compete for their own $500,000 purse using a modified Stableford format.
Sadly as the situation around the corona-virus pandemic continues to evolve, and to protect the health and safety of all Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions participants, the LPGA and Diamond Resorts have made the decision to strictly limit the capacity to tournament friends and family for the 2021 event. As such, the tournament will remain closed to spectators hoping to see their favorite players and celebrities.
More than 40 LPGA professionals have qualified to play to date, including defending champion Gaby Lopez, Nelly Korda, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Shanshan Feng and Diamond Celebrity ambassador Brittany Lincicome.
On the celebrity side, country music singer-songwriter Lee Brice, “Narcos: Mexico” actor Michael Peña, former star of ABC’s “The Bachelor” season 20, Ben Higgins, comedian and actor Larry the Cable Guy, actor and musician Jack Wagner, actor and comedian Brian Baumgartner, Network TV Chief Political Correspondent Bret Baier, former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, World Long Drive champion Maurice Allen, U.S. Davis Cup captain and Olympic silver medalist Mardy Fish, NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, MLB Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, 2-time MLB All-Star pitcher Mark Mulder, 2017 World Series Champion Brian McCann, MLB All Star Phil Nevin, MLB Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, former NFL linebacker Brian Urlacher, 2-time World Series Champion Tim Wakefield, MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz, 2005 World Series Champion A.J. Pierzynski, 3-time World Series Champion Jon Lester, 2004 World Series Champion Kevin Millar, country music singer-songwriter Cole Swindell, MLB network host Mark DeRosa, 7-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, 2-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip, 1987 World Series Champion Frank Viola, MLB veteran pitcher Bud Norris, model and television personality Blair O’Neal, 2-time NBA Champion Ray Allen, 2-time World Series Champion Joe Carter, CEO of Diamond Resorts Mike Flaskey, World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam, 2-time World Series Champion Josh Beckett and 3-time College Football National Champion Coach Urban Meyer are all scheduled to play.
The tournament began as a celebrity-only tournament called the Diamond Resorts Invitational in 2013 and in 2017, the tournament was made a PGA Tour Champions Challenge Season event. The 2018 event featured a field of 28 PGA Tour Champions and 4 LPGA Tour professionals, and 50 celebrity amateur golfers. The tournament was a no cut 54-hole event, and used the Modified Stableford scoring system. In 2019, the tournament debuted under its current name, Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, and over the years, the tournament has not only offered some great golf but has helped raise more than $3.7 million for Florida Hospital for Children.
Celebrity Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz (pictured above) will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins after convincing displays in 2019 and 2020. LPGA’s Gaby Lopez won the tournament in 2020 and has committed to play again in January.
One of the more interesting competitors in 2021 will be the return of LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam (pictured below) who will compete in the Pro-Am and celebrity division after several years away from competitive action. Annika, with 90 international tournaments in her sixteen years as the most successful professional female golfer, will also join the Diamond Resorts roster of celebrity ambassadors and participate in exclusive events for Diamond’s members in the coming year.
“I’m looking forward to competing in January with the celebrities alongside some of the best LPGA players in the world,” said Annika. “It’s so exciting to partner with Diamond Resorts because they share both my passion for golf and my commitment to giving back to the community.”
“When I started this tournament, raising awareness for LPGA golf and incredible female athletes was a big part of my vision,” said Diamond Resorts CEO and Tournament of Champions Founder Mike Flaskey (Pictured above). “Annika is the best female golfer in history and changed the way women’s golf was played, viewed and covered. We can’t wait to see her in action again in January and are proud to support her foundation and foster the next generation of women in golf.”
The tournament will again be televised live, with Thursday and Friday on the Golf Channel and Saturday and Sunday on NBC.