The term "Patriot Day tournament" functions as a compound noun or noun phrase. The core element, or head noun, is "tournament," which is modified by the preceding words. This entire phrase acts as a single grammatical unit to name a specific event.
In this construction, "Patriot Day" is a proper noun that serves as a noun adjunct, which is a noun used to modify another noun. Its function is adjectival, specifying the type or theme of the tournament. It answers the question, "What kind of tournament is it?" The relationship is hierarchical: "tournament" is the general class of the object, and "Patriot Day" provides the specific context, linking the event to the U.S. observance of September 11th.
Recognizing the term as a noun phrase is crucial for its application in writing. It should be treated as a single entity that can act as the subject, direct object, or object of a preposition within a sentence. This understanding ensures grammatical correctness and clarifies that the article's central focus is the event (the tournament) itself, with its name providing the essential thematic context.
