Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler win The Showdown, LIV duo

Posted : 18 December 2024

In a dramatic contest in the desert, the PGA Tour triumphed over LIV Golf as Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler secured a 2 1/2-point victory in "The Showdown" on Tuesday in Las Vegas. The competition saw the PGA duo outplay LIV's Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, earning their points across three different 2-on-2 formats with six holes each.

The first match was a best-ball format, and McIlroy and Scheffler wasted no time in asserting their dominance. After just four holes, they won the opening contest, with McIlroy playing a key role in the early success. The next round, an alternate-shot competition on holes 7 through 12, saw the PGA pair again emerge victorious, thanks to precise shots and a few mistakes from their LIV opponents.

The final segment of the event took place in a singles format over the last six holes. Scheffler, playing as the world's No. 1 player, sealed the win for the PGA Tour with a strong performance. He gained a decisive two-hole advantage over Koepka with just two holes remaining, ensuring the team would secure the necessary 2 1/2 points for the victory.

With four points available in total, including two points from the singles matches, the PGA Tour only needed 2 1/2 points to clinch the win. The match between McIlroy and DeChambeau was left unfinished, as the result was already decided. The victory marked another win for the PGA Tour in its ongoing rivalry with LIV Golf.

This high-stakes competition at Shadow Creek Golf Club might signal a future showdown between the two tours on a much larger scale. There are whispers of a potential Ryder Cup-style event, which could feature a full weekend of competition, further intensifying the rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

McIlroy's strong performance in the best-ball segment was pivotal in the PGA Tour's early success. He made birdies on the first two holes, setting the tone for the competition. Later, McIlroy sank an impressive 50-foot putt to clinch the point for his team, while DeChambeau struggled with a short putt that could have leveled the score.

In the alternate-shot round, McIlroy and Scheffler took full advantage of DeChambeau's putting woes. A missed putt from DeChambeau on the ninth hole handed the advantage to the PGA pair, and McIlroy's clutch 4-foot putt at No. 12 sealed the session and gave them a 2-0 lead. LIV Golf failed to secure a hole until the 11th, further highlighting the PGA Tour’s dominance.

The final nail in the coffin came on hole 16. DeChambeau and Koepka both made wayward drives, and Scheffler capitalized on the opportunity with a birdie. Koepka then missed a birdie putt that could have tied the singles match, allowing McIlroy and Scheffler to claim the win and the $10 million prize, which was paid in cryptocurrency, adding a modern twist to the victory.

Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler win The Showdown, LIV duo

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