This is no April Fools’ Day joke. More legends than ever before will be swinging into The Woodlands on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Held annually in conjunction with the Insperity Invitational, the Folds of Honor Greats of Golf competition will feature the Patriot Parachute Team executing a flag jump on the driving range of The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course.
WELCOME THE COMPETITORS
Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Annika Sorenstam will once again be the featured group, but they are bringing a handful of new World Golf Hall of Famers–Sir Nick Faldo, Curtis Strange and Mark O’Meara–with them for the tenth edition of the Folds of Honor Greats of Golf at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course.
With the commitment from three of golf’s best in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the annual golf exhibition will now showcase 20 of golf’s most dominant performers from the last seven decades during the second round of the PGA TOUR Champions event.
“We feel very privileged to add a new generation of great names–Sir Nick Faldo, Curtis Strange and Mark O’Meara–to this group of legendary golfers when they come back to The Woodlands later this month,” said Bryan Naugle, Executive Director, Insperity Invitational.
2024 Insperity Champtionship Winner Scott Dunlap | Photos Courtesy of Todd Korol
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
The new trio of players bring an additional 10 major titles (Sir Nick Faldo – 1996, 1990, 1989 Masters/1992, 1990, 1987 Open Championship; Mark O’Meara – 1998 Masters, 1998 Open Championship; and Curtis Strange – 1989, 1988 U.S. Open) along with 42 PGA TOUR wins with them to the group of 20 legends of the game who have all combined for 329 PGA TOUR victories, 156 LPGA TOUR victories, 95 major championship titles, and 174 PGA TOUR Champions wins.
Eight of these players have won four or more major championships: Jack Nicklaus (18); Annika Sorenstam (10); Gary Player (9); Tom Watson (8); Juli Inkster (7); while Pat Bradley, Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo claimed (6).
TIME TO TEE IT UP
The world class group of the game’s greatest players will tee it up on the 10th hole (approximately 2:00 p.m.) after the last group in the official PGA TOUR Champions competition makes the turn onto the back nine and following an impactful opening ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on the driving range that will include the Patriot Parachute Team flag jump, National Anthem and Presentation of Colors.
The 20 players will be grouped in teams of five and play a scramble format. Each group will feature one of the greatest women’s golfers ever to play the game.
| Team Majors | Team Hall of Fame | Team Legends | Team Greats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annika Sorenstam* | Pat Bradley* | Nancy Lopez* | Juli Inkster* |
| Jack Nicklaus* | David Graham* | Dave Stockton | Ben Crenshaw* |
| Gary Player* | Tony Jacklin* | Larry Nelson* | Bill Rogers |
| Lee Trevino* | Tom Kite* | Hale Irwin* | Andy North |
| Tom Watson* | Sir Nick Faldo* | Mark O'Meara* | Curtis Strange* |
*Denotes World Golf Hall of Fame Member
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Fans are encouraged to wear red, white and blue during Folds of Honor Saturday as an outward display of unity and an inward commitment to meeting sacrifice with hope for the families of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders.
“Folds of Honor Saturday promises to provide entertainment and a lifetime of memories for our fans, players, sponsors, volunteers and staff at this year’s tournament,” added Naugle. “We are thrilled to showcase the largest group of golf’s legends that we have ever assembled at this year’s tournament while paying tribute to the men and women who protect our country.”
Photo Courtesy of Todd Korol
John Daly Grip It And Rip It Long Drive Competition
INSPERITY INVITATIONAL PARTNERS WITH WORLD LONG DRIVE
There will be a whole lot more than just bragging rights on the line at the 2025 Insperity Invitational John Daly Grip It and Rip It Long Drive Competition, held May 2 on the driving range at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course following first-round play.
The Insperity Invitational has partnered for the second-straight year with World Long Drive, providing the winner of the annual John Daly Grip It and Rip It Long Drive Competition a spot to compete as an amateur in the World Long Drive Championship. Due to rain, this award-winning event was not able to hold the contest during tournament one year ago when the partnership was established.
CLIMBING THE LADDER
The Insperity Invitational held qualifying events throughout southern Texas this spring–making stops in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and The Woodlands–to determine the 12 contestants who will each have three chances to grip it and rip it. Contestants' hitting order will be determined at a Meet and Greet with John Daly prior to teeing it up on the driving range.
“We are grateful to John, who has been a wonderful champion for our tournament since he joined the PGA TOUR Champions in 2016, and to World Long Drive for providing amateurs in Texas with this truly unique qualifying experience for the World Long Drive Championship,” added Naugle. “We are continuously trying to improve the fan experience at the Insperity Invitational and this event is always a favorite, filled with laughter while giving spectators the chance to witness some of the longest hitters in the Houston area. This year, there is a little bit more on the line and will be fun to watch.”
THE FINAL ROUND
The winner of the John Daly Grip It and Rip It Long Drive Competition will then head to the 2025 World Long Drive Championship in September at Bigfoot Turf Farm in La Salle, Colorado, September 24-28, to compete as an amateur.
The Insperity Invitational offers free grounds only admission tickets courtesy of Insperity, Woodforest National Bank and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. For the most up-to-date information, fans are encouraged to visit the Insperity Invitational website.
ABOUT FOLDS OF HONOR
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Beginning in 2022, it expanded its mission to include first responders. Their educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available.
Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded about 44,000 scholarships totaling about $200 million across all 50 states. Among the students served, 41 percent are minorities. With 91 cents of every dollar donated going to scholarships, Folds of Honor is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on GuideStar. It was founded by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to make a donation, please visit the Folds of Honor–South Texas website.
