It was an open secret that sooner or later we were going to have a duel of these characteristics. We just had to find the right date and figure to convince the protagonists. The first direct duel between PGA Tour and LIV Golf players is now a reality. It will be played in mid-December and will pit Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. The show is on. In Las Vegas, of course. This was announced by Golfweek this Wednesday.
The news was confirmed by Rory McIlroy. “I am delighted to join Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Las Vegas this December. This is not just a test between some of the great golf champions, it is an event designed to connect with fans. We are all here to provide a great show and contribute to a goodwill event that brings together the best again”. Show, Rory, show. No need to add any extra varnish.
Similarly, it was confirmed by Blake Smith, the agent of Scheffler and Koepka. “Brooks and Scottie are very excited to be part of this unique event and look forward to sharing more in the future”. In short, it is a new edition of The Match, but with the added spice of pitting PGA Tour golfers against those of LIV Golf. An exhibition.
In the past, nine The Match have been organised. It debuted in 2018 with Tiger Woods against Phil Mickelson. NFL stars such as Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes, as well as Charles Barkley, Lexi Thompson or Rose Zhang have passed through. It is an event where competition takes a back seat and the television spectacle is sought, almost always very artificial, with players with a microphone and little else…
Some, the most optimistic, talk about this match as a sign that the positions between the Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour are getting closer. At the very least, it should be quarantined, as it sounds more like pure and hard business than anything else.
This special, which will be broadcast in prime time, of course, will be produced by BZ Entertainment, by Bryan Zuriff, who developed the series The Match, and EverWonder Studio, founded last year by Ian Orefice and financed by RedBird IMI and former CNN boss Jeff Zucker. According to two sources, the players will receive remuneration for their participation, but will not compete for cash prizes. The PGA Tour declined to comment on the event.
