‘The Match’ has been a staple of golf events since it started airing in 2018. It has featured prominent athletes, media personalities, and obviously numerous elite golfers. The 2024 edition of the made-for-TV tournament will be the first of its kind though, featuring a foursome of golfers representing different brands.
Bryson DeChambeau, the 2024 U.S. Open champion, will team up with former rival Brooks Koepka, a five-time major winner, to represent LIV Golf. On the other side, 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler will compete with four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, representing the PGA Tour.
Here’s everything to know about ‘The Showdown’ on Tuesday.
Who is competing in ‘The Showdown’?
The showdown will feature four of golf’s best this Tuesday, pinning two LIV Golf members – Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka – against two PGA Tour members – Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler, who won the 2022 and 2024 Masters tournament, is the world’s No. 1 ranked golfer and just won PGA Tour Player of the Year in a landslide vote. McIlroy, currently ranked No. 3, won the PGA Champonship in 2012 and 2014, the U.S. Open in 2011 and the British Open in 2014.
DeChambeau won the U.S. Open earlier this year after winning it for the first time in 2020. Koepka has won the PGA Championship three times (2018, 2019 and 2023) and the U.S. Open twice (2017 and 2018). But it could be a large hill to climb for DeChambeau and Koepka to stand a chance. The pair currently rank 10th and 86th, respectively.
Koepka and DeChambeau’s feud
Anyone familiar with golf over the last few years knows about the feud between ‘The Showdown’ teammates Koepka and DeChambeau a few years ago. Emotions between the two started running high after Koepka criticized DeChambeau’s play at the 2019 Dubai Desert Classic.
The pair continued taking subtle jabs at one another throughout the 2020 season, with the most viral moment coming after Koepka appeared visibly annoyed with DeChambeau after the latter walked through the former’s interview and said something that the cameras couldn’t pick up, but Koepka clearly heard. Their feud came to a head in 2021 after DeChambeau was showered with ‘Brooksie’ chants throughout the PGA Tour season. It got so bad that the PGA Tour itself had to get involved, threatening to eject fans who taunted DeChambeau.
Their differences have reportedly been squashed since, and the pair’s decision to each sign with LIV Golf certainly helped them look past their grievances.
When is ‘The Showdown’?
The match will take place at the Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 17, with coverage starting at 6 p.m. ET. The official tee time for the foursome has not yet been announced.
The golf event will be available for viewing on TNT. It will also stream on MAX.