The Aon Risk Reward Challenge is a new season-long competition across both the PGA and LPGA tours that scores player performances on some of the most strategically challenging holes on tour. The par 5 hole 15 at Thornberry Creek at Oneida is this week’s Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole.
Players will take their best two scores from each Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole, with the winners having the best average score to par at the end of the regular season. One winner from the PGA tour and one winner from the LPGA tour will each take home an Aon trophy and $1,000,000. Lee-Ann Pace is the current leader from the LPGA heading into the Thornberry event.
Aon Risk Reward Challenge Explained
.
Stacey Collins, LPGA Senior Vice President of Tour Operations, enjoys the prize parity. “What we think is the coolest thing about the Aon Risk Reward Challenge is that the PGA tour and the LPGA tour are playing for equal prize money,” said Collins.
How does the tour pick their featured holes? “We pick holes that absolutely provide risk and reward. This year here at Thornberry it’s number 15. It’s a par 5, if the player is aggressive, they can get there in two.” Said Collins. With water on three sides of the green, two is the risk as opposed to laying up and getting on in three.
If you are taking in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic this week, spend a little extra time at 15 where there is now an extra wrinkle added to player strategy.