QBE Shootout field features two LPGA players, no Greg Norman

Steve Stricker, Lexi Thompson, and three-time champions Matt Kuchar and Harris English are among the fan favorites returning to Tiburon Golf Club for the 2022 QBE Shootout, Dec. 7-11.

One familiar face that won’t be in Naples, Florida this year is Greg Norman. In September, Norman announced he was asked not to attend the tournament he had hosted every year since its inception in 1989. The golf legend said it was because of his involvement with LIV Golf, the controversial alternative to the PGA Tour funded by Saudi Arabia that began its inaugural season this year.

QBE Shootout tournament director Rob Hartman said event organizers and Norman made a collective decision for Norman not to attend in order to keep the focus on the event’s charitable endeavors. This year that will include helping Southwest Florida in its recovery from Hurricane Ian. Hartman said all proceeds from ticket sales for the Shootout will be donated to local hurricane relief efforts.

The Shootout will feature 10 of the top-50 ranked players in the world including No. 16 Billy Horschel, No. 17 Cameron Young, No. 18 Max Homa, No. 27 Sepp Straka, No. 29 Kevin Kisner, No. 30 Corey Conners, No. 33 Tom Hoge, No. 35 K.H. Lee, No. 38 Brian Harman, and No. 50 Harris English.

For the first time in the QBE’s 34-year history, the tournament will feature two LPGA players. In addition to Thompson, who is making her sixth appearance, Nelly Korda will make her Shootout debut. Korda is currently No. 4 in the LPGA World Rankings, Thompson is No. 7.

Seven players competing for the Shootout’s $3.8 million purse combined for nine victories during the 2021-22 PGA Tour season and the recent start of the 2022-23 season. Homa won three times during that stretch, including successfully defending his Fortinet Championship title in September. Hoge, Horschel, Lee, Trey Mullinax, J.J. Spaun and Straka were also winners on Tour.

Collectively, the 24 players have accumulated 74 career PGA Tour  victories and 18 LPGA titles.

There are 11 players competing in the Shootout for the first time including Hoge, Korda, Denny McCarthy, Maverick McNealy, Keith Mitchell, Mullinax, Spaun, Scott Stallings, Straka, Sahith Theegala, and Young.

In addition to Kuchar and Harris, who teamed to win the QBE in 2020, as well as 2013, 2014, and 2016, the field includes three other former Shootout champions in Stricker (2009, 2017), Day (2014) and Harman (2018). Defending champions Jason Kokrak and Kevin Na, who won last…