The 2024 showdown: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler beat Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka | Golf News

Rory McIlroy and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler won for the PGA Tour team against LIV golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in the first edition of “The Showdown.”

The first-of-its-kind competition marks the first time PGA Tour players have competed against LIV golfers outside of the majors and the Olympics, with DeChambeau and Koepka both unable to compete on the PGA Tour since joining the Saudi-led Arabia supported circuit in 2022.

Scheffler and McIlroy never trailed, needing just 14 holes to claim victory at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas.

With a total of four points available – two in singles play – 2 1/2 points were needed for victory and the final game between McIlroy and DeChambeau was not played to completion as the far sharper PGA Tour duo took the victory in dominant fashion.

The format was one point for a six-hole four-ball match, one point for a six-hole four-ball match and one point each for singles on the last six holes.

McIlroy came out firing, delivering the shot of the game with a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth hole while DeChambeau was already close in two holes. But then DeChambeau missed his eagle attempt and the PGA Tour team was on its way to winning on four holes.

“Rory’s great start was great for our team,” said Scheffler.

The foursomes were close and the game appeared to end in a draw until DeChambeau sent a long birdie putt from about 10 feet on the final hole and Koepka missed it as he came back for a three-putt bogey that gave the PGA Tour the win gave the point it needed.

Scheffler and McIlroy never trailed in singles play and play ended on the 16th hole without spectators having a chance to see the signature par-3 17th hole at Shadow Creek.

It turned out that the rich only got richer. Scheffler and McIlroy each won $5 million in cryptocurrency, adding to Scheffler’s amazing year in which he won just over $62 million. Scheffler and McIlroy each had victories – Scheffler in the Bahamas two weeks ago, McIlroy at the European tour finale in Dubai last month.

Neither DeChambeau nor Koepka had competed since LIV Golf ended its season on Sept. 22.

“I would like to get another opportunity,” DeChambeau said. “It was kind of like a pillow fight for us.”

Could this help close a PGA Tour/LIV deal?

As the rift between the dueling tours dissipates, there is a belief that the contest in the Nevada desert could be the precursor to a full-blown Ryder Cup match between the two tours, played over an entire weekend.

“Ideally, I think the end goal here is to get the game of golf back on track,” Scheffler said ahead of the unprecedented crossover duel between PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

In August, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said he was encouraged by “intensified” negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but cautioned that no deadline had been set for agreeing a deal.

The PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and PIF – financiers of the breakaway LIV Golf League – signed a framework agreement in June 2023 that would merge the respective tours and aim to bring over $1 billion in Saudi investment into golf.

Nearly a year after the original Dec. 31 deadline, the PGA Tour and PIF continue to negotiate the proposed agreement, with Monahan unable to set a date for completion of negotiations.

And the lack of a timeline for a possible resolution has apparently spurred players to act and create something like The Showdown.

“It was really about us taking matters into our own hands a little bit and doing something outside of either tour, not just to give back to the fans, but to show them or at least let them know that we do try,” McIlroy said.

“The players want to play together more often. I feel like we’re all in this holding pattern because of the negotiations and the deal and it’s not really good for anyone.”

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