Showdown Between PGA Tour and LIV Golf: Four Stars in a Duel
09/05/2024 by Johanna Lakämper
It is reminiscent of “The Match”, but is set to herald a new series of competitions: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler take on Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in December.
Four giants of golf: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau (from left). (Photo: Getty)
The establishment of the Saudi Tour has split the professional golfing world: Since some of golf’s biggest stars have gained a foothold on the LIV Golf League, the players who have remained loyal to the PGA Tour only encounter them in exceptional circumstances such as the four Major tournaments. As a result, golf fans only very rarely get the chance to see the best players in the world compete for a title.
However, as part of a new TV event produced by BZ Entertainment and EverWonder Studio, there will now be a showdown between four of the most successful faces in golf. Two of them migrated to LIV Golf, two of them remained loyal to the PGA Tour. It is to be expected that the duel will be about more than just the better golf game.
PGA Tour and LIV Tour: McIlroy/Scheffler vs. Koepka/DeChambeau
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler form the “PGA Tour” team. Scottie Scheffler was almost invincible in the 2024 season and recently crowned his countless successes with victory in the FedEx Cup. He has developed into a protagonist of the PGA Tour in recent years. The second face representing the PGA Tour is none other than Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman stood up for his home tour, the PGA Tour, like no other during the trouble on LIV Golf and is therefore an indispensable player in the duel between the tours.
On the opposing side, two players who once faced each other in “The Match” are teaming up. LIV stars Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, who have already been known as brawlers. The two players have several major titles and other successes between them and regularly compete for the top positions on the leaderboard on the LIV Golf League. Together they want to face the power of the PGA Tour stars and win the duel.
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“Intense golf” at a ”great show”
The constellation is reminiscent of the format “The Match”, in which selected golf stars – including Koepka and DeChambeau – have already dueled several times. However, the new duel clearly differs from this format. “We’re leaning towards making it more like a Ryder Cup to develop it into a series that’s completely separate from The Match,” Bryan Zuriff, longtime producer of The Match and executive producer of the December event, told Golf Digest. Viewers can expect “real, intense golf”.
In addition to the sporting competition, Rory McIlroy is also looking forward to the setting of the event: “I’m thrilled to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December,” he wrote in a text message to Golfweek. “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.”
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