Rory McIlroy and world No 1 Scottie Scheffler took victory for the PGA Tour team against LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in the first edition of ‘The Showdown’.
The first-of-its-kind competition marks the first time that PGA Tour players have competed against LIV Golf players outside of the majors and the Olympics, with DeChambeau and Koepka both unable to feature on the PGA Tour since joining the Saudi-backed circuit in 2022.
Scheffler and McIlroy never trailed and needed only 14 holes to take victory at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas.
With four total points available – two in singles play – 2 1/2 points were needed for the victory and the final McIlroy/DeChambeau match was not played to completion, as the far-sharper PGA Tour duo claimed victory in dominant fashion.
The format was one point for a six-hole fourballs match, one point for a six-hole foursomes match and one point each for singles over the last six holes.
McIlroy came out firing and delivered the shot of the match with a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five fourth hole with DeChambeau already in tight in two. But then DeChambeau missed his eagle try and the PGA Tour side was on its way, winning in four holes.
“Rory getting off to a great start was big for our team,” Scheffler said.
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Watch the story of Scottie Scheffler’s final round as he claimed a second green jacket at Augusta National with a four-under-par 68, his second Masters win in the last three years
The foursomes was tight and the match looked as though it might end in a draw until DeChambeau sent a long birdie putt on the last hole about 10 feet by, and Koepka missed it coming back for a three-putt bogey that gave the PGA Tour the point it needed.
Scheffler and McIlroy never trailed in singles and the match ended on the 16th hole without viewers getting a chance to see the signature par-three 17th at Shadow Creek.
Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka pictured alongside victorious pairing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, as handshakes and high-fives are exchanged on the 16th green at Shadow Creek Golf Course
What it proved was nothing more than the rich getting richer. Scheffler and McIlroy each won $5 million paid in cryptocurrency, adding to Scheffler’s amazing year in which he won just over $62 million. Scheffler and McIlroy were each coming off victories – Scheffler in the Bahamas two weeks ago, McIlroy in the European tour finale in Dubai last month.
Neither DeChambeau and Koepka had competed since LIV Golf ended its season on September 22.
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Bryson DeChambeau nailed an amazing hole-in-one over his house after 16 days of trying at the 134th attempt!
“I’d love to have another opportunity,” DeChambeau said. “It was a bit of a pillow fight for us.”
Could this help towards getting a PGA Tour/LIV deal done?
As the rift thaws between the duelling tours, there is some belief that the competition in the Nevada desert could end up being a precursor to a full-blown Ryder Cup-style match between the two tours played over an entire weekend.
“Ideally, I think the end goal here is to get the game of golf back together,” Scheffler said ahead of the unprecedented PGA Tour versus LIV Golf crossover clash.
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Scheffler says he isn’t at all frustrated by a lack of progress over a deal being struck between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment fund
In August, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said he had been encouraged by “enhanced” negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but warned no deadline has been set for a deal to be agreed.
The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF – financers of the breakaway LIV Golf League – signed a framework agreement in June 2023 that would combine the respective tours and seek to bring over $1bn of Saudi investment into the game of golf.
Almost a year on from the original December 31 deadline, the PGA Tour and PIF remain in negotiations over the proposed agreement, with Monahan unable to commit a date on when negotiations will conclude.
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Rory McIlroy believes the new US President-elect Donald Trump could help broker a deal to merge the PGA Tour and LIV Golf
And the lack of timeline on a potential resolution has seemingly prompted the players to act and set up something like The Showdown.
“It was really about us taking this into our own hands a little bit and do something outside of either tour, to not only give back to the fans, but to show them or at least let them know we’re trying,” McIlroy said.
“The players want to play together more often. I feel like we’re all in this holding pattern because of the negotiations and the deal, and it’s not really good for anyone.”
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