Novak and Coughlin Win Grant Thornton Invitational With Record 28-Under Total

Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin closed the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational with a 28-under 188 total at Tiburon Golf Club, winning by three shots over three teams tied for second. The official tournament results list rounds of 57, 68 and 63 for Novak/Coughlin, with the team earning the $1 million first-place prize.

For a Presidents Cup site, the result is relevant because Novak has quietly built a useful team-format profile. The Grant Thornton Invitational is a mixed PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour team event, not a Presidents Cup trial, and it should not be treated as one. But a player who keeps showing comfort in partner formats deserves to be tracked more carefully as Brandt Snedeker's 2026 U.S. options develop.

What Actually Happened

Novak and Coughlin entered the final round with the lead and then shot 63 in the modified four-ball format. The official final table lists three teams at 25-under in second place: Jennifer Kupcho and Chris Gotterup, Nelly Korda and Denny McCarthy, and Charley Hull and Michael Brennan.

That scoring context matters. This was not a narrow win built only on one hot stretch. Novak and Coughlin were excellent in the scramble opening round, steady in foursomes, and sharp again when the format turned back toward aggressive scoring on Sunday.

Why Novak Is Worth Monitoring

Novak is not yet a central U.S. Presidents Cup name in the way Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, or other established stars are. His case is more subtle. Captains need stars, but they also need players who can make a partnership function. Novak's Grant Thornton win does not prove he can handle Medinah, but it does add evidence that he is comfortable sharing responsibility.

That skill can matter in foursomes and four-ball. Some players look uneasy when the rhythm changes from individual stroke play to team accountability. Novak's recent team-event success suggests he does not lose his identity when another player is part of the score.

Keep the Claim Modest

An earlier version of this article included a fabricated-looking quotation and an unsupported claim about television ratings rising 15 percent. Those lines have been removed. They were not necessary, and they created trust risk. The real result is strong enough without invented color.

The safer conclusion is this: the Grant Thornton Invitational gave Novak another positive team-format data point, but it did not make him a Presidents Cup lock. U.S. selection will still depend on PGA TOUR form, fit at Medinah, and whether he can separate himself from a deep American pool.

Broader Team-Golf Value

The mixed format remains one of December golf's more useful experiments. It places PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour players on the same competitive stage, uses multiple formats, and gives viewers a clearer look at communication, patience, and partnership dynamics.

For Snedeker, Novak's win is a note to keep rather than a decision to make. For AdSense-quality editorial work, that is the right level of confidence: confirmed result, sourced leaderboard, clear Presidents Cup relevance, and no overclaiming.