Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have revealed that convincing the PGA Tour to support next week’s high-profile exhibition match against LIV Golf stars Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau wasn’t a straightforward process.
The event, The Crypto.com Showdown, scheduled for December 17 in Las Vegas, promises a $10 million cryptocurrency prize and has been labeled as an unofficial LIV vs. PGA Tour contest.
McIlroy, a long-time critic of LIV Golf, and Scheffler, the current world No. 1, will face Koepka and DeChambeau, two of LIV’s most prominent defectors.
While the PGA Tour was initially hesitant about the match, McIlroy explained that it took several conversations to convince the governing body that it could be beneficial for the sport.
“It wasn’t all plain sailing,” McIlroy admitted.
“It took a few conversations to get them to see that this could be a positive thing in the long run. But in the end, they were very supportive.”
Reuniting golf through competition
Although the upcoming event has stoked the ongoing rivalry between LIV and PGA players, with Koepka and DeChambeau hinting at a potential Ryder Cup-style competition, Scheffler emphasized that the ultimate goal is unity in the sport.
“The most important thing is competition,” said Scheffler.
“We all want to get back to competing against the best players, wherever they’re playing. It’s not about the rivalry between LIV and PGA; it’s about bringing golf back together.”
With the current structure limiting players to competing with those from the opposite tour just four times a year, Scheffler expressed a desire for more frequent opportunities to play against the top talent.
“Ideally, we’d be able to do that 20 weeks a year instead of just four,” he said.
Both McIlroy and Scheffler made it clear that the long-term goal is to unite the sport and shift the focus back to golf’s core values, competition and the love of the game.
The event in Las Vegas may be a small step toward resolving the division, as players from both sides come together to showcase their skills in a unique and high-stakes setting.
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