Mixed-team event Grant Thornton announces first teams, including this Canadian duo - Golfweek

Last year at the Grant Thornton Invitational, Andrew Novak called Lauren Coughlin the most reliable golfer he's ever played with.

The victorious pair each took home a $500,000 paycheck at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, the largest check of Coughlin's career. Their 28-under total set a record for the event after a closing 63 in the modified four-ball format. Coughlin and Novak birdied five of the last six holes.

This year the winning duo will return to defend their title, Dec. 11-13, in Naples, Florida. Event officials released the first batch of team pairings on Wednesday and all three are returning partnerships. In all, there will be 16 two-person teams of one PGA Tour player and one LPGA player.

This will be the fourth playing of the Grant Thornton.