The LPGA’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions is underway from the celebrated Lake Nona Golf Course in Orlando, Florida. Defending champion A Lim Kim, who secured her third career LPGA title at this location last year, will compete against the world’s top players, including No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul and No. 2 Nelly Korda, in a highly anticipated tournament.
Hard to believe that World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul will make her debut at the LPGA TOC this week. The seven-time LPGA winner was on the range with her caddie late in the day at chilly Lake Nona. pic.twitter.com/fObdiPYkhX
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) January 28, 2026
Star-Studded Field Draws Celebrities to Lake Nona
The Tournament of Champions isn’t just about the LPGA’s elite; a large group of sports and television personalities are vying for a share of the $500,000 celebrity purse in southeast Orlando. The competition promises to be fierce, with several recreational golfers boasting impressive plus handicaps.
What makes this celebrity field so competitive? Several participants have professional athletic backgrounds and remarkably low handicaps, making them serious contenders for the prize.
John Smoltz and Mardy Fish are considered frontrunners, holding handicaps of +1.9 and +3.1 respectively. Other notable competitors include Aaron Hicks, formerly of the MLB with a +1 handicap, and basketball legend Ray Allen at +1.2. Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, a Lake Nona resident since 2011, will tee off alongside LPGA Hall of Famers Lydia Ko and Annika Sorenstam on Thursday.
Pro football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson has lived in Lake Nona since 2011 and got the golf bug in 2017. On Thursday at the TOC, he’ll tee it up alongside two LPGA HOFers and Nona residents: Lydia Ko and Annika Sorenstam. pic.twitter.com/42Wv3GyNr0
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) January 28, 2026
The tournament begins tomorrow in Lake Nona, so be sure to catch all the action from Orlando, Florida.
- Jeeno Thitikul, the World No. 1, is making her debut at the LPGA Tournament of Champions.
- A Lim Kim is defending her title after winning the tournament last year.
- Numerous sports and entertainment celebrities are competing for a $500,000 prize.
- John Smoltz and Mardy Fish are considered the favorites in the celebrity competition.
Here’s a look at some of the other celebrities participating, along with their handicaps:
- “The Bachelor” TV personality Wells Adams 3.5
- Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen 8
- NBA champion Ray Allen +1.2
- Actor and comedian Brian Baumgartner 8.6
- FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Brandi Chastain 12.2
- Award-winning actor Don Cheadle 7
- NBC News meteorologist Dylan Dreyer 15
- Olympic tennis medalist Mardy Fish, +3.1
- “Dancing with the Stars” champion and “The Bachelor” TV personality Joey Graziadei 8
- MLB outfielder Aaron Hicks +1.3
- “The Bachelor” TV personality Ben Higgins 4.8
- Podcaster and content creator Hally Leadbetter +2.3
- Former NBA player Courtney Lee, 11
- Three-time World Series Champion Jon Lester 0.2
- Boston Red Sox World Series Champion Derek Lowe, 1
- MLB All-Star, defending tournament champion Jeff McNeil 0
- Sportscaster and former college football coach Urban Meyer 9.4
- Boston Red Sox World Series Champion Kevin Millar 3.5
- Former NBA player Chandler Parsons 10.9
- Actor, Michael Pena 3.5
- NHL All-Star Tuukka Rask 6.2
- NBA champion JR Smith 3.7
- Atlanta Braves World Series Champion John Smoltz 1.6
- Actor and comedian, Larry the Cable Guy 9.4
- AMA Motocross Champion James “Bubba” Stewart 9.7
- Wide receiver, Adam Thielen, 0.5
- Major League Soccer All-Star Taylor Twellman +1.5
- Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher 2.7
- Actor and singer Jack Wagner 2
- Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson 9.9
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