The PGA Tour offseason, the “silly season” of Golf, continues with a primetime showdown called The Optum Golf Channel Games. Hosted on December 17, the event will air on Golf Channel and the USA Network.
In this showdown, two of the biggest golfers on the planet, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, will face off as captains at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. Both teams will have four members, including captains.
Scottie Scheffler’s team will include Sam Burns, Luke Clanton, and Keegan Bradley. These four will face off against Rory McIlroy and his team, Haotong Li, Shane Lowry, and Luke Donald. One thing to note is that Donald captained McIlroy and Team Europe in the recently concluded Ryder Cup. At that time, they defeated Scheffer, Burns, and the USA team captained by Keegan Bradley. However, this event is completely different from what they’ve previously played.
Both team captains showed their excitement about the event. Here is what Scheffer said about it. “I think it’s going to be a fun way to compete at the end of the year for us, in a time where there’s not a ton of stuff on the golf calendar.”
The other team captain compared the event with all-star games in sports. Here is what he said.
“Just the opportunity to showcase our game in a different way. Sort of lean into other sports in a way, like the NFL combine or the 3-pointer contest in basketball or the Home Run Derby in baseball. It’s just a chance to try something new.”
Both of the captains have been promoting the event through various media calls. They even recounted their childhood golf games. Scheffer even listed some of his favorites from childhood.
The Optum Golf Channel Games aims to follow the template of an all-star game, as we’ve seen in other sports. The event will not have traditional golf; it will feature fast-paced and strategy-based challenges.