The Showdown 2024: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler beat Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka | golf news

Rory McIlroy and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler cruised to PGA Tour team victory 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 PGA Tour players have competed against LIV Golf players outside of majors and the Olympics, with DeChambeau and Koepka having been unable to compete on the PGA Tour since joining the circuit supported by Saudi Arabia. in 2022.

Scheffler and McIlroy never trailed and needed just 14 holes to win at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas.

With four total points available (two in singles), 2½ points were needed for victory and the final McIlroy/DeChambeau match was not played to completion as the much sharper PGA Tour duo , claimed victory in dominant fashion.

The format was one point for a six-hole four-ball match, one point for a six-hole four-ball match and one point for singles over the last six holes.

McIlroy came out firing and hit the match shot with a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five fourth hole with DeChambeau already within two. But then DeChambeau missed his eagle attempt and the PGA Tour side was on its way, winning in four holes.

“Rory got off to a great start for our team,” Scheffler said.

The quarters were tight and the match looked like it might end in a tie until DeChambeau sent a long birdie putt on the final hole to about 10 feet, and Koepka didn’t return it for a three-putt bogey that gave the PGA Tour. point I needed

Scheffler and McIlroy never followed through in singles and the match ended on the 16th hole without spectators getting a chance to see the signature par-three 17th at Shadow Creek.

What it showed was nothing but the rich getting richer. Scheffler and McIlroy each won $5 million in cryptocurrency, adding to Scheffler’s incredible year in which he earned just over $62 million. Scheffler and McIlroy were each coming off wins: Scheffler in the Bahamas two weeks ago, McIlroy at the European Tour finals in Dubai last month.

Neither DeChambeau nor Koepka had competed since LIV Golf ended its season on September 22.

“I would love to get another chance,” DeChambeau said. “It was a bit of a pillow fight for us.”

Could this help land a PGA Tour/LIV deal?

As the rift thaws between the dueling tours, there is some belief that the competition in the Nevada desert could end up being a precursor to a Ryder Cup-style match between the two tours played over a head of week

“Ideally, I think the ultimate goal here is to bring back the game of golf,” Scheffler said before the unprecedented matchup between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

In August, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said he was encouraged by “improved” negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but cautioned that no deadline had been set for agreeing a agreement

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF, funders of the LIV Golf League, signed a framework agreement in June 2023 that would combine the respective tours and seek to bring more than $1 billion of Saudi investment into the golf game

Nearly a year after the original Dec. 31 deadline, the PGA Tour and PIF remain in negotiations over the proposed deal, with Monahan unable to commit to a date when negotiations will conclude.

And the lack of timeline on a potential resolution seems to have caused players to act and set up something like The Showdown.

“It was really about taking this into our own hands a little bit and doing something outside of any of the tours, not just to give back to the fans, but to show them or at least let them know that we’re trying.” McIlroy said. .

“The players want to play together more often. I think we’re all in this holding pattern because of the negotiations and the deal, and it’s not really good for anybody.”

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