Bryson-Brooks face off with Scheffler-McIlroy in The Showdown

Bryson DeChambeau has emerged as the most high-profile member of the LIV Golf roster and will partner Brooks Koepka against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in a matchup at Las Vegas in December. Image courtesy LIV Golf.

By Rahul Banerji

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will take on Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in a made-for-TV match over 18 holes titled “The Showdown,” at Las Vegas on December 17.

With unity talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf all but stalled, the only time eligible golfers from either side have met have been at the majors. Inevitably the question of how more such clashes could pan out has come up repeatedly.

To cash in on this, BZ Entertainment announced last week that the match would be played at the Shadow Creek Golf Course, which also hosted the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson exhibition in 2008.

McIlroy, who has of late been speaking up for unity between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, said the exhibition could be a forerunner for what was possible if negotiations resumed progress.

“We wanted to create something exciting for golf fans, something beyond the usual four majors,” the Northern Irishman said recently.

Showing the way

“We’ve got Scottie, the best in the world, alongside Bryson and Brooks, both major winners in recent years. I’m thrilled to be part of it — it’s a chance to show what could be possible going forward.

“I wouldn’t say it’s meant to send a message. It’s more we wanted to do something that, I guess, all golf fans could get excited about.”

World number one Scheffler won eight titles this season including The Masters and Olympic gold while McIlroy is a four-time major champion and third behind Scheffler and Xander Schauffele in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Against them will be two-time US Open champion DeChambeau, who beat out McIlroy at this year’s tournament in Pinehurst, and five-time major winner Koepka.

DeChambeau and Koepka are the only two members of the LIV Golf roster to have won a major after joining the Saudi-backed league from the PGA Tour three years ago.

Since the OWGR does not recognise LIV Golf events, those participating in the league’s tournaments do not earn ranking points.

Slow progress

Merger talks between the two sides have made cursory progress since a unity bid was announced two years ago.

The Las Vegas exhibition, led by BZ Entertainment, is expected to air on the Warner Brothers Discovery-owned TNT channel and follows the Woods-Mickelson game that was billed as “The Match”.

Nine editions of The Match have been broadcast so far, and McIlroy, DeChambeau, and Koepka have all appeared in the celebrity exhibition.

However, a report in Golf Digest said the Showdown would be more competitive with elements of the Ryder Cup format being incorporated.

All four players will reportedly have a stake in the match, which is expected to be an annual feature with events alternately in Las Vegas and overseas.

Also, there is no prize money at stake but appearance fees and a share of proceeds from “The Showdown” with each player reportedly earning $4 million from the event.

McIlroy said the event would offer fans a taste of top-level match-ups especially with the golf season worldwide winding down towards the year end.

 “December is usually a quiet time in the golf world, so we thought this would be a great way to get people excited ahead of the new season,” McIlroy added.

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