The Showdown is here in what is the latest attempt by the world’s best golfers to modernize the sport in the middle ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIFwhich finances LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will join forces to form a PGA Tour team, with LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka as opponents in this match.
The event is an evolution of “The Match”, launched by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2018.
Now, four of the game’s biggest stars have joined forces to generate revenue separate from traditional touring, while TGL, founded by Woods and McIlroy, is also expected to launch in 2025 to further shape the future of the golf landscape.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Showdown:
When and where does The Showdown take place?
This unique event will take place at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas on Tuesday, December 17th. Tee times for players are scheduled for 11:00 p.m. GMT (6:00 p.m. ET) to kick off the 18-hole event.
Is The Showdown on TV?
The event is not broadcast on UK television, but there is a US simulcast on TNT, TBS, truTV and Max’s B/R Sports Add-on.
What is the format?
McIlroy and Scheffler take on Koepka and DeChambeau over 18 holes with three different forms of golf. The first six holes will be played as a four ball, also known as best ball, the middle third will be foursomes or alternating shots where one teammate tees off on odd holes and the other takes the odd holes peers. The final six holes will consist of singles, although the exact combination has not been revealed. Each segment will be assigned a points value, with the team winning two of the three segments being crowned champions. In the matchplay format of golf, the winner of each hole earns one point.
What is the prize money?
The event pays out prizes in cryptocurrency through its sponsor Crypto.com, with Golf Monthly reporting that the pot is worth “at least $10 million (£7.9 million)”.
The winning team will cash in their prize in CRO, the Crypto.com token. The price will be higher than most PGA Tour events, although major and marquee events, as well as LIV Golf events, offer more four- and three-day tournaments. Scheffler earned $3.6 million (£2.8 million) for winning this year’s Masters at Augusta National.
Reports suggest that each player will also receive an appearance fee.
What form are McIlroy, Scheffler, DeChambeau and Koepka in?
Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, has had an incredible year, winning seven times on the PGA Tour, including the Masters, and winning the season-ending FedExCup, in addition to Olympic gold in Paris. The American’s sensational form carried over into team golf with Team USA triumphant in victory at the Presidents Cup and his dominance extended to the defense of his Hero World Challenge title earlier this month -this.
McIlroy also had a successful 2024, with four world victories. Most recently, he shone during the DP World Tour tour of the Middle East, winning the DP World Tour title for the sixth time and the Race to Dubai season title for the sixth time in late November.
McIlroy’s major drought, dating back to 2014, continues, however, with his second-place finish behind DeChambeau at the US Open particularly painful.
DeChambeau, meanwhile, had one of the best years of his career, winning a second career major on the No. 2 course at Pinehurst and climbing back into the world’s top 10. DeChambeau’s Crushers GC dominated the regular season team standings, but failed to defend their team championship crown, ultimately finishing tied for seventh.
Koepka was fifth on LIV’s individual points list this year, picking up wins at LIV Golf Singapore and Greenbrier, although his Smash team finished a disappointing 13th place in the team championship.
What was said about the event?
Koepka: “I think it’s a great showcase to bring the two tours together a little bit and I think we’re going to do (more) next year.
“We can all line up and bring something bigger and better so we can have a few more times where we can see most of the best players on both sides compete, more against each other.
“I can promise you that on the other side (PGA Tour players), they don’t sit there wanting to lose. Rory no, Scottie doesn’t want to lose to us and there is no chance (we want to lose), we are too competitive on our side.
“We don’t want to lose. It’s not just about being competitive and wanting to beat these guys and show them who the best players in golf are.
“I really think you have the biggest character in golf in Bryson and then one of the (golfers with) the most majors. We have a lot on our side. We want to beat them, we want to show the world that we are the two top dogs.
McIlroy: “I’m excited to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December.
“It’s not just a competition between some of golf’s greatest champions; it’s an event designed to energize fans.
“We are all here to put on a great show and contribute to a goodwill event that brings together the best again.
“We all want to see more of the world’s best golfers compete, compete over the final nine matches of a tournament.
“At a time when professional football seems divided, we believe this event can provide fans with an incredible day of entertainment. »
