The Pro Rivals Open, a new competitive golf tournament series launched on September 19, brings together pro athletes from the four major sports leagues. Active and former professional athletes from the worlds of basketball, baseball, football, and hockey will compete in four sport-specific golf tournaments over the next year to crown the best player from each league.
The Pro Cup, an annual team competition, brings all sports leagues together in a Ryder Cup-style match-play tournament to determine which league prevails on the course. The new league kicks off this year with the inaugural Pro Cup at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, FL, on December 9-14.
National Baseball Hall of Famer and World Series Champion John Smoltz, Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano and 14-year NBA veteran and former basketball analyst Jon Barry will captain their league’s respective teams in a three-day match play event that includes doubles and singles matches.
Full rosters for the event will be announced in the fall, along with the full five-tournament 2025 schedule.
BW Sports and Pure Sports Holdings own The Pro Cup and was co-created with Etzel, its management partner. It was designed specifically for athletes and sports legends who want the experience and competition of a professional golf tournament.
‘“Professional athletes of this caliber are never done competing,“ said Nick Clark, general manager of The Pro Rivals Open. “The Pro taps into the relentless competitive drive of professional athletes and gives them an opportunity to compete at a high level in a new arena. We’re bringing some of the top athletes in the world to America’s biggest sports cities to deliver a compelling golf experience for players and fans while making a positive impact in local communities by showcasing the transformative impacts of sports.“
The Pro format will mirror other professional golf events with two early-week practice rounds, a tournament Pro-Am that pairs four amateur players with one professional athlete and three days of competition.
“Throughout my playing career, I always found an outlet on the golf course and when I get the chance to compete, I take advantage of it,“ said Hall of Famer Smoltz. “I wanted to be a part of something that pushes me as an athlete, and The Pro does that in a new way. It will bring together some of the greatest professional athletes from across the world of sport, testing us in a completely new environment and format. This is such a unique and exciting concept, and it meets the ongoing passion and desire that we all have to compete at a high level.”
The Pro Cup is open to the public.
We are honored to be The Pro Cup’s inaugural host,“ added Bobby Barnes, GM of Innisbrook Resort. “Not only are we excited to see these incredible athletes challenge our renowned Copperhead Course, but it’s incredibly compelling to see them do so in a Ryder Cup-style format.”
For more information about The Pro, go here.
Image courtesy The Pro Cup
