Clash of Titans

Clash of Titans: McIlroy, Scheffler, DeChambeau, and Koepka Face Off in Las Vegas

The confrontation between PGA Tour and LIV Golf athletes will be termed "The Showdown" and is scheduled for December 17 at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
Following a two-year anticipation, the LIV Golf and PGA Tour confrontation is finally imminent.
According to Golfweek, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have consented to compete against Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in a Ryder Cup-esque event in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The contest, confirmed for December 17, 2024, will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and commence at Shadow Creek Golf Club, the venue of the inaugural match between Tiger and Phil, ideal for prime-time exhibitions.
The previous nine iterations of The Match have been broadcast since its inception in 2018, when Phil Mickelson defeated Tiger Woods and earned $9 million. McIlroy, DeChambeau, and Koepka, all participated in prior iterations of The Match; however, producers intend to introduce a new series under a different brand name.
The format and timing have not yet been confirmed by any party; however, it is anticipated that a combination of medal/stroke play and match play would be employed between the two teams.

Here’s everything we know so far:

When is it?
Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas is set to host the match between Koepka-DeChambeau and McIlroy-Scheffler on Tuesday, December 17th.

What time is The Match
In an attempt to attract the widest possible US audience, the start time has not been announced yet, although it is anticipated that the players would begin their round in the early afternoon and finish in the evening. So, the start time for The Showdown for British fans is estimated to be between 7 and 9 pm GMT.

The Showdown Format
The format and other specifics are still up in the air, but organisers have stated that 18 holes will be the course of The Showdown. Match play has been used to score similar exhibition events in the past instead of stroke play, but the exact method has changed with each version.

Is McIlroy still critical of LIV Golf?
The golfer from Northern Ireland has said publicly that he thinks the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's backer, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, need to speed up their talks so the men's professional game can unite.
Before the PGA Tour and PIF revealed their "framework agreement" in June of last year, McIlroy was mostly sceptical of LIV Golf when it first launched in June 2022. However, after that, his attitude changed.
While Scheffler won the Masters and is now ranked one in the world, DeChambeau narrowly defeated McIlroy to win the U.S. Open. While McIlroy has four major championships and is placed third in the Official World Golf Ranking, Koepka has five, including last year's PGA Championship. Last month, after McIlroy had hinted at his displeasure with the sides reconciling, the news was revealed.

Are there any predictions available? 
Ahead of this year’s The Showdown exhibition match in Las Vegas, early predictions have been shared. The event will feature LIV Golf League players Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau facing off against PGA Tour players Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Currently, world-leading golfers Scheffler and McIlroy are the early favorites with a rating of (-188), while Koepka and DeChambeau, with a rating of (+138), are considered strong contenders. For those interested further details can be found on golf prediction platforms.

How much money will be made from The Match?
Not nearly enough to satisfy the four players regular incomes, but they aren't exactly stuck for cash anyhow, and the point is either to bring the game together or to earn tour bragging rights. The four players will reportedly earn an appearance fee from Golfweek, but they will not be competing for any cash prizes.

PGA vs. LIV: The Match early prediction
Scottie Scheffler has an impressive record this term. Have you seen it? He already has eight victories, more than Rory, Bryson, and Brooks, and put together. Although he has a less-than-stellar record in team competitions (1.5 points in his first eight Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup matches), he did help the United States to victory in the most recent 2023 Presidents Cup with three points from five outings.
Even though Bryson and Brooks are allegedly on good terms following their public feud a few years ago, it would be more interesting to witness Bryson and Rory square off following their US Open match at Pinehurst. At the time, Bryson expressed his regret at Rory's round ending, but I have no doubt that it will be a delightful teasing point in December.

This year, Rory has been a decent golfer overall, winning twice (including the Zurich Classic when he was teamed with Shane Lowry). Although his Major results have been the subject of speculation since the US Open, his status as a talent of his generation is undeniable.
It's likely that they'll be joined by their LIV Golf teammates as well, which might create an intriguing ambiance under the glittering Las Vegas lights.

Compared to DeChambeau and Koepka, who haven't always gotten along but have become nicer in recent years, McIlroy and Scheffler should have a little advantage and maybe a little more manageable on-course chemistry. Although format may still play a role, we still think the PGA Tour duo will come out on top in this one-off showcase.



Article Author: Nevena Kane, Freelance Writer. Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not to Where2Golf.com, its writers or editors. The author is speaking solely for himself, not for the company or as a formal representative of the company.