LPGA’s HGV Tournament of Champions continues to amaze stars, celebrities alike

The season-opening event on the LPGA continues to be a can’t miss event for everyone involved.

ORLANDO, Fla. — While walking around Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, you could not help but notice an abundance of smiles from players, celebrities, fans, and attendees alike.

Not only did the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions mark the beginning of the 2025 LPGA season — a reason to smile in and of itself — but it also holds a special place in everyone’s heart. Unsurprisingly, all involved circle this tournament on their calendars every January.

“I haven’t missed one of these,” said NFL Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher to SB Nation.

“I don’t miss this event,” added Atlanta Braves legend John Smoltz.

What makes it so unique is how some of the biggest names in sports, music, and entertainment descend upon Central Florida to play in a competitive golf tournament alongside the best female players in the world. It’s not a hit-and-giggle either. The celebrity tournament features a $500,000 purse, with the winner taking home $100,000. Former NHL star Joe Pavelski won this year’s event in his debut.

“It’s competition golf,” Urlacher added. “We all think we’re good at golf, and then we want to put stress on ourselves for some reason, but this competition is fun.”

When professional athletes retire, many head straight to the golf course to play. They’re competitive individuals, which helps explain why they had so much success in their respective fields. Simply put, they’re built differently. Smoltz currently has a plus one-eight index and almost qualified for the PGA Tour Champions. Urlacher, meanwhile, carries a 2.9 handicap, proof that many of these celebrities not only play but play well.

But here is why this tournament has become so successful: after it concludes, each celebrity returns to their respective locales and boasts about the tournament, the entertainment, and everything else this event has to offer. They tell their celebrity friends, enticing others to play and enjoy the fun. Actor Don Cheadle, former NBA All-Star Blake Griffin, and U.S. Women’s Soccer hero Brandi Chastain all made their debuts this year, and each of them has friends who played in this event previously.

In addition to golf, Hilton Grand Vacations sponsors a concert series for players, their entourages, and hospitality members. Depending on availability, Hilton Grand Vacations points members can also attend. This year’s shows included Chicago and Three Doors Down, and Luke Bryan capped it off on Saturday night before Sunday’s final round.

“This is my favorite tournament because of the people; number one, the women golfers are amazing, and then the entertainment. The concerts are badass, dude,” Urlacher added.

“It doesn’t get better than this, right?”

Thirty-two LPGA players teed it up in this year’s field, and only those who have won an LPGA event over the past two years qualify. That means only the elite of the elite play in this tournament, and since it airs on network television annually, the LPGA emerges as the big winner.

“The most remarkable part about this is we are celebrating the female golfer, and these women are unbelievable,” Chastain added.

“I’m in awe when they swing and hit the ball. It’s just remarkable. So for me, to be here to support them, to say ‘I see you.’ They know that their inspiration is really important.”

Roughly 6,000 fans attended each day, cheering on their favorite LPGA stars and celebrities. World No. 1 Nelly Korda had the largest galleries every day, and rightfully so. She just won seven times in 2024 and has emerged as the face of the sport. Korda almost came from behind and stole the title away from A Lim Kim, too, but the 29-year-old South Korean made two clutch birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to close out her wire-to-wire win in grand style.

“One of the coolest aspects of this week is seeing the audience that’s out here, and the spectators out here are expanding, more so than what you would see at a typical LPGA event,” said tournament director Aaron Stewart, the son of the late, great Payne Stewart who won the U.S. Open twice and the PGA Championship once.

“Obviously, there are going to be the diehard fans that are following the tour and are going to be here, but also having the celebrities helps bring out a new group of people that maybe don’t even really play golf or like golf necessarily, but their favorite basketball player or actors, or Hall of Famers from all walks of life are here, so they’re interested.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.