The divide atop men’s pro golf has been well-documented, but golf fans will get one more chance to see stars from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf compete against each other in 2024. And one Hollywood producer is promising some “serious golf.”
As first reported by Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are set to take on Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in a made-for-TV event in Las Vegas that will air on TNT in mid-December. A source familiar with the discussions confirmed to Golf Digest TNT’s involvement in the match between the four. (TNT and Golf Digest are both owned by Warner Brothers Discovery.)
TNT has previously broadcast nine editions of “Capital One’s The Match,” several of which have included McIlroy, Koepka and/or DeChambeau. Only Scheffler, the World No. 1 coming off a historic 2024 season capped by his dual Tour Championship/FedEx Cup victory on Sunday, has not been a part of that series.
However, Bryan Zuriff, a long-time producer of The Match and an executive producer of December’s event, told Golf Digest that this latest showdown is not a continuation of that series, but rather a new brand.
“We’re leaning towards making it more like a Ryder Cup to develop it into a series that’s completely separate from The Match,” said Zuriff, whose producer credits also include the TV series “Ray Donovan” and the film “Steve Jobs.”
Although the format is still being finalized, Zuriff anticipates elements from the Ryder Cup, which incorporates four-ball, alternate shot and singles matches. While he says The Match may still continue as more of a celebrity golf series, this new brand will be very different.
“This is intense, real golf,” Zuriff said.
DeChambeau and Koepka played against each other previously in a made-for-TV event – David Becker
Zuriff’s BZ Entertainment and EverWonder Studio will produce the prime-time event in December. Zuriff added that he first approached McIlroy with the idea in January at the Dubai Invitational.
“I’m thrilled to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December,” McIlroy 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.”
Aside from the obvious star power of four golfers who have a combined 13 majors, the draw here is the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf angle. The two leagues have battled against each other on the course, in the court room and over players the past few years. However, both sides—the PGA Tour and the Saudia Arabia PIF, which funds LIV—have been in negotiations since a framework agreement between the two was made public in June 2023.
“Golf is increasing in play and decreasing in viewership simply because there’s been a divide,” said Zuriff, who also emphasized DeChambeau’s sizable YouTube presence playing an important role in December’s event. “So my goal was to go to the biggest guys in the sport and say let’s use your star power to get people excited about golf and not just have to wait around for the majors to see you guys play against each other. And so it’s the first step in unifying the game.”
Main Image: Tom Pennington
