The Crypto.com Showdown doesn’t start till Tuesday, however Monday’s driving vary session produced loads of fireworks.
Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion and LIV Golf celebrity, gave Rory McIlroy an all-time diss about his efficiency down the stretch at Pinehurst No. 2 this previous summer time. In the event you recall, McIlroy missed a pair of par putts from inside 5 toes on the sixteenth and 18th holes and in the end misplaced to DeChambeau by a stroke. McIlroy then left the premises in agony after DeChambeau made the most effective up-and-downs you’ll ever see to win. He then went on to parade across the property in a euphoric celebration.
Maybe that’s what makes this Showdown so intriguing. For the primary time since that unbelievable end, golf followers will see DeChambeau and McIlroy sq. off side-by-side. Becoming a member of DeChambeau can be 5-time main winner Brooks Koepka, as these two gamers will characterize LIV Golf.
Koepka’s most up-to-date main triumph got here at Oak Hill in 2023. The 34-year-old has received three LIV Golf occasions since then however has not posted a top-10 at a serious since his win in Rochester.
In the meantime, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will play with McIlroy on the PGA Tour aspect. Scheffler simply wrapped up a wonderful 2024 season with one other win on the Hero World Problem. He received 9 instances total, which incorporates come-from-behind victories at The Gamers and the Olympics. He additionally fended off loads of contenders round Amen Nook en path to his second Inexperienced Jacket in April. Scheffler added 4 Signature Occasion titles to his trophy room, additional cementing himself as the very best participant on this planet. No surprise why some have in contrast him to Tiger Woods.
The Showdown guarantees to be intriguing, an occasion that exhibits how these gamers lengthy for golf’s nice schism to return to a peaceable finish. Followers need that, too, as they solely see PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars tee it up collectively on the 4 majors. This occasion has turn into an exception to that, thus serving as the right made-for-TV occasion in a typical lifeless spot on {the golfing} calendar.
Event Data
Course: Shadow Creek Golf Course, Las Vegas, Nevada
Yardage/Par: 7,560 yards, Par 72
Architect: Greg Norman
Purse/1st Place: Greater than $1 million in Crypto
Format: Holes 1-6 (Fourball), Holes 7-12 (Foursomes), Holes 13-18 (Singles)
Odds
Pre-tournament odds for gamers to win supplied by FanDuel:
Scheffler/McIlroy -148
DeChambeau/Keopka +122
Learn how to Watch
Turner Sports activities will present dwell protection of The Showdown, which can be streamed on HBO MAX in the USA.
Tuesday, December 17: 6 to 11:00 p.m. ET (TNT/TBS/truTV)
The broadcast workforce for ‘The Showdown’ contains 2008 Masters Champion Trevor Immelman, who covers the PGA Tour, The Masters, and the PGA Championship for CBS Sports activities, David Feherty, former NBC Sports activities broadcaster who now works for LIV, two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson, and maybe probably the most well-known announcer at Turner Sports activities, Charles Barkley. Emmy-award-winning broadcaster Ernie Johnson will host the telecast.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. Comply with him on X @jack_milko.
