For the first time outside of professional golf's four major championships, players from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will go head-to-head against each other in the same event.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, two of the biggest stars on the PGA Tour, will take on Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koekpa, perhaps the two most prominent players signed with the rival LIV Golf League, in a prime-time TV event in Las Vegas. The match will be streamed on TNT and is currently set for mid-December.
“I’m thrilled to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December,” McIlroy told Golfweek via text message. “This isn’t just a contest between some of golf’s major champions; it’s an event designed to energize the fans. We’re all here to put on a great show and contribute to a goodwill event that brings the best together again.”
Representatives for the other three players also confirmed their involvement in the event to Golfweek .
“Brooks and Scottie are very excited to be a part of this unique event and look forward to sharing more soon,” said Blake Smith, who represents Koepka and Scheffler.
Brett Falkoff, DeChambeau's agent, said: “Bryson looks forward to competing in Las Vegas this December in an event that is sure to provide great entertainment for the fans.”
TNT previously broadcasted nine editions of The Match, with McIlroy and fellow PGA Tour player Max Homa most recently taking on LPGA stars Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson on Feb. 24. The Match debuted in 2018 with Tiger Woods infamously battling Phil Mickelson, while NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen have also competed in the event. Four previous editions of The Match were held in Las Vegas, with three at Wynn Golf Club and one at Shadow Creek.
On Tap Reaction
Considering the PGA Tour and LIV Golf still have not agreed upon terms to unite professional golf, it's disappointing (yet unsurprising) to see the two sides use their rivalry to generate more revenue. Sure, this duel between two of the best players from each circuit will be intriguing, but it comes across as another cash grab for all parties involved, in my opinion. And that's precisely what professional golf has become -- a cash grab for high-profile players.
The framework agreement between the two sides was announced over 15 months ago, and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan's lackluster presser (another shocker) at the TOUR Championship last week was another signal the merger isn't coming soon. It's been since June of 2023, for crying out loud. LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are again expected to operate independently in 2025, and fans continue to grow annoyed over the uncertainty of the sport's future.
I'll give credit where credit is due. I believe this event will garner more attention than most of the previous editions of The Match, but it's still falling short of what the fans want. That's the problem with the entire state of the PGA Tour. They DO NOT KNOW what the fans want. It's not Scheffler & McIlroy vs. DeChambeau & Koepka. It's all of the best players in the world united under one circuit for more than four tournaments per year. It's a shame that's what we've been limited to for over two years.
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