Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau to star in PGA Tour vs LIV Golf match with superstar teammates
LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are about to take their rivalry onto TV screens.
revealed that pairs of the biggest name players from each rival tour will go head-to-head in a made-for-TV match later this year.
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Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will team up for the PGA to battle Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau for team LIV.
The publication says the match will be held in mid-December in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on TNT.
Besides a significant step in relations between the Tour and LIV Golf, it will also represent a chance for McIlroy to seek vengeance on DeChambeau after their US Open showdown in June.
McIlroy confirmed his participation in the even to Golfweek.
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“I’m thrilled to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December,” he wrote in a text message.
“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.”
Golf remains in a state of fracture, years after some of the sport's biggest names defected from the PGA Tour to join PIF-backed breakaway league LIV Golf.
This could perhaps signal a thawing in relationship between the two rivals.
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World No.3 McIlroy was previously a fierce critic of LIV Golf but recently softened his stance in the interest of bringing the game back together.
And McIlroy admitted he is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of movement over a deal.
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Speaking after his first round at the Tour Championship on last Thursday, the four-time major winner said: “I think if it doesn’t happen soon, then honestly, I think PIF and the Saudis are going to have to look at alternative options, right?
"I’d say that’s the next step in all this if something doesn’t get done.”
McIlroy added: “I think anyone that cares about golf, I think has to be frustrated.
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"I think anyone that cares about the PGA Tour has to be frustrated because we’re — we, the royal we — we’re not putting forward the absolute best product that we can because — I get the argument that these guys left and that was their choice and whatever.
“I just think that it’s gone on long enough. We’ve got to try to — I mean, I think everyone is trying to find a solution. It’s just a solution is hard to get to.
“I go back to — even though I was on the wrong side of things, like the U.S. Open with Bryson and I [LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau], you’re only really going to get that four times a year at most.
"I think the game of golf deserves having those sort of things happen more than just four times a year.”
It comes after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan failed to provide any concrete update on negotiations with the PIF last week.
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