The Diamond Resorts Invitational, a pro-am golf tournament, is a Challenge Series event played on the Champions Tour. The popular event is contested at Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons in Orlando, Florida to benefit the Florida Hospital for Children.
THE SKINNY
Tournament: Diamond Resorts Invitational Benefiting Florida Hospital For Children
Dates: Jan. 12-14, 2018
TV Network: GOLF Channel
Course: Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons
Where: Orlando, Florida
Distance: 6,968 yards, Par 71
Architect: Seth Raynor
Field/Format: 54-hole, Modified Stableford
Pro Purse: $750,000/$125,000
Celebrity Purse: $500,000/$100,000
Defending Champion: Woody Austin and Mark Mulder
THE FIELD
PGA TOUR Champions: John Daly, Mark Calavecchia, Jeff Sluman, Lee Janzen, Larry Mize, Billy Mayfair, Scott Hoch, defending champion Woody Austin.
LPGA Players : Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome
Celebrities: Marcus Allen, Ray Allen, Justin Verlander, Brian McCann, Roger Clemens, Mardy Fish, Tom Glavine, Chris Harrison, Terry Francona, Michael Waltrip, Jack Wagner, Greg Maddux, Mike Modano, Mark Mulder, Blair O’Neal, Alfonso Ribeiro, Lee Brice, Jeremy Roenick, Mark Rypien, Brian Urlacher, and Larry the Cable Guy.
Player Focus: Retired U.S. Army Cpl. Chad Pfeifer, who has pursued a professional golf career despite losing his left leg to an IED explosion in Iraq, is a three-time winner of former President George W. Bush’s Warrior Open and has won multiple national and international amputee tournaments. Pfeifer is the first U.S. Army veteran amputee to compete on the Web.com Tour and is a Diamond Resorts Celebrity Ambassador.
THE COURSE
Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
3451 Golf View Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL
The Tom Fazio-designed, par 71, 6,901-yard layout is surrounded by spectacular Florida wildlife conducive to a high quality playing and spectating experience.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
Professionals: Woody Austin, $125,000 (43-30-31 – 104)
Celebrities: Mark Mulder, $100,000 (26-21-30 – 77)
TELEVISION & ONLINE
(Golf Channel, EST)
Round 1: Fri, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Round 2: Sat, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Round 3: Sun, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Twitter: @Diamondresorts
Instagram: @Diamondresorts
Facebook: @DiamondResortsInternational
Hashtag: #DRIGolf
MODIFIED STABLEFORD FORMAT
The tournament will be contested under a Modified Stableford scoring system awarding six points for eagle, three for birdie, one for par, zero for bogey and minus-two for double bogey and higher.
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINER
Cole Swindell, standout country music artist for Warner Bros. Records Nashville, will be the featured entertainment during tournament week in Orlando, FL, continuing the country appeal from last year’s event that starred Jake Owen and Jana Kramer.
TITLE SPONSOR
Diamond Resorts International® (Diamond Resorts) is a worldwide leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries with a network of more than 370 vacation destinations located in 35 countries throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Australasia and Africa.
CHARITY BENEFICIARY
The tournament has raised more than $2.3 million for Florida Hospital for Children since 2013.
Florida Hospital for Children is one of the premier children’s hospitals in the nation, setting standards for innovation, quality and comprehensive care.
Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images
