PGA Tour superstars Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler showed their superiority against LIV Golf pair Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in a lit exhibition billed by some as a grudge match between the rival factions.
With the PGA and LIV forming each side in golf’s so-called civil war, “The Showdown” was a rare opportunity to see four of the world’s most recognizable golfers go head-to-head.
Performed on a dark and increasingly cold evening in Las Vegas, with the stars carrying microphones for the benefit of an American television audience, there was the promise of a different form of golfing entertainment.
However, the one-sided nature of the contest – and the lack of consistent, insightful interaction between players – meant there wasn’t much to really get excited about.
Northern Irishman McIlroy, 35, and American world number one Scheffler, 28, never trailed in an 18-hole match play that mirrored the Ryder Cup format.
“We’re very happy to get the win. It’s a great way to end the year,” McIlroy said.
“Scottie and I got off to a pretty good start and from there it was just about trying to keep the momentum going.”
LIV Stars Have a ‘Pillow Fight’
Opportunities for the top quartet to compete in the same field have been limited by the PGA Tour banning LIV defectors.
The four major tournaments in men’s golf – the Masters, the US Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship – are primarily the arenas where PGA and LIV players can compete.
The Showdown therefore offered the chance to see four of the biggest names in the sport – who have a total of 13 major victories between them – compete in an innovative format.
The first six holes were played with better ball – where each player plays their own ball and the lowest score on each hole is used as the team score – with McIlroy and Scheffler taking the winning point after only four holes played.
Foursomes followed over the next six holes, with each player on the team taking turns shooting. The PGA pair took a 2-0 lead when McIlroy holed a winning putt at the 12th.
Head-to-head singles – McIlroy facing DeChambeau and Scheffler facing Koepka – were played over the final six holes.
Needing just one half to secure bragging rights, Scheffler holed a birdie putt on the 16th – going up two with two holes to play against Koepka – to claim the victory.
“It felt like it was a pillow fight on our part,” DeChambeau said.
The Scheffler enigma crypto price
Players wearing microphones throughout the event held out the prospect of entertaining exchanges on the course.
The bar was set the day before the event when DeChambeau delivered a cutting dig at McIlroy over his stunning collapse at the US Open in June.
McIlroy blew a two-shot lead with five holes remaining at Pinehurst, missing a golden chance to end his 10-year major drought and presenting the title to DeChambeau instead.
On the driving range, McIlroy tried to increase the excitement by saying he wanted to face the American in singles and avenge the punishing experience.
“I would like to face Bryson and try to get him back for what he did to me at the US Open,” he said.
DeChambeau sensed his opportunity without missing a beat. “To be honest, you kind of did it yourself,” came the deadpan response.
Perhaps the funniest moment on the day itself was when McIlroy and Scheffler received their winnings: a $10 million cryptocurrency purse from the event’s sponsors.
“What are you going to do with yours,” McIlroy asked with a smirk of Scheffler, who won more than $29 million in prize money during his superb 2024 season.
“I don’t know,” Scheffler said, perplexed.
The Masters champion added: “You know, I don’t know much about cryptography, but it’s good motivation to do some research and understand what’s going on.”
What does this mean for the future?
The competition between four of the sport’s biggest names comes as the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – which funds LIV – continue to discuss a merger.
Negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF have been going on for more than a year in an attempt to end a split in the game.
It remains unclear when a deal will be reached.
Relations have undoubtedly thawed, however, as evidenced by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan playing alongside PIF Governor Yassir Al-Rumayyan at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship pro-am event in october.
Although the PGA Tour initially greeted “The Showdown” with some skepticism, there is no denying that it is another step toward unity.
McIlroy said the purpose of the exhibition was not necessarily to act as a catalyst, but that there was a feeling that the players were taking matters into their own hands.
He said: “We want to let the fans know that we are trying to give them entertainment, that the players want to play together more often.”
