At 18:00 on December 17th, Eastern Time, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Showdown will be staged! The PGA Tour will send out world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and popular superstar Rory McIlroy, while LIV will send out social media’s No. 1 online stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. Before the competition, Golf Digest took a group of “family photos” for the four superstars, and talked with several players about the PGA Tour and LIV, as well as their “personal grudges”. Let’s see what they said?

 "It's great to look you in the eye," said a posed Brooks Koepka to Bryson DeChambeau. "That's my favorite thing," replied Bryson DeChambeau, deadpan. "We've definitely been spending too much time together these days," chimed in a grinning Scottie Scheffler, referring to the "good times" the four golfing greats had recently spent together filming a film. That day, they were juggling other promotional videos and the cover shoot for Golf Digest. With the exception of Rory McIlroy, who was heading to defend his Race to Dubai title on the DP World Tour in a few weeks, the rest of the group was in the offseason. The shoot, which took place at Federer's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, began in the early hours of the morning and continued until sunset, when their fatigue began to show. Even Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, was not immune to the effects of "hangry fever." But there was little animosity between the four. Even the well-known feud between two LIV players, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, seemed to be as mellow as the guacamole served on the set. “It was nice to see the brotherly vibe between them and hear them tell each other some dirty jokes,” said Watt, who curated the shoot in hopes of creating a lasting image befitting the “mythical status” of the four men in the sport. “You can feel a sense of unity in that photo.” Of course, the split continues. As of this writing, negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (LIV’s financial backer)—intended to refine the infamous “framework agreement” and bring golf’s biggest stars together more often—have yet to result in a unified schedule. While there are rumors of increased funding to appease players loyal to the PGA Tour, any agreement would still need approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. LIV golf isn’t going away anytime soon. The long filming days have also helped improve relationships. "When we meet on tour or in majors, we are always in our own little worlds and spaces. But here, everyone just jokes and spends time together," said Scottie Scheffler. "This relaxed environment allows people to get to know each other better, which is also the fun part of the team competition." As for the Las Vegas one-day team competition mentioned above, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will represent the PGA Tour and face the LIV lineup of Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. This 18-hole duel will adopt three common formats in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup: four-person four-ball, four-person two-ball and singles. Among them, Rory McIlroy will face Brooks Koepka, while Scottie Scheffler will face Bryson DeChambeau. Rory McIlroy has previously participated in another golf series produced by TNT twice, The Match, but he thinks the atmosphere this time will be different. “With everything that’s happened in golf over the last two years, it’s made this tournament a little more interesting,” said Rory McIlroy. “It’s more competitive and less about the gimmick.” That’s exactly what the longtime producer of The Match and executive producer of The Showdown is looking for.

Since LIV was founded, the producer has been thinking about a new concept that would pit two opposing leagues against each other. A conversation with Rory McIlroy’s agent at the Dubai Invitational in January was the first step toward turning this idea into reality. The producer, whose credits include the TV series Ray Donovan, enjoys playing the role of “fixer” in the complexities of professional golf, just like the protagonist in the show. Initially, he proposed a one-on-one match between Rory McIlroy (a four-time major champion) and Brooks Koepka (a five-time major champion) for the ultimate honor of a major title. But after Rory McIlroy’s disastrous loss to Bryson DeChambeau at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, it seemed more logical to expand the match. With these golfing greats only competing in the four majors, it’s no surprise that both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have faced challenges in terms of television ratings. The LIV Championship Finals, won by former world No. 1 Jon Rahm in September, drew only 89,000 non-streaming viewers on the CW. Similarly, the August match between Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka at The Greenbrier drew half as many viewers as the same-day squash match on Fox Sports. Ratings for the PGA Tour’s limited-time, high-money series improved in early 2023, but by 2024, major tournaments including the Phoenix Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational were down more than 30%. Even the final round of the flagship Players Championship, where Scottie Scheffler defeated three top-10 players with a 64, was down 15%. Even Scheffler’s historic performance at the Masters and Sunday’s final round of victories over LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith was down 20%. Are golf fans tired of it? "The longer this drags on, the more likely the tours, without clear results, will lose viewers," Golf Digest's Jaime Diaz wrote recently. "Worse than frustration and anger, tired fans may stop caring and focus on something else." NBA legend Charles Barkley, who will be participating in the event on TNT, was more blunt in his displeasure: "I wish these guys would stop messing around, LIV and the PGA Tour," Charles Barkley said in an interview with SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio in October. "I don't know what they're doing. They're so stupid. These people are idiots."

They need more events against each other than the four majors. It's good for both tours." Bryson DeChambeau is optimistic that the two sides will soon resolve the issue. He also believes that events like The Showdown can build a bridge between the regular tour and his very engaged YouTube golf audience and become a catalyst that can make professional golf stronger. "Anything that is disruptive is ultimately positive." Bryson DeChambeau said. "It's finally a chance for the greatest golfers to get together for the first time in a long time. "While Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy and others have called for unity at the highest levels of golf, this "Sin City" match is likely to have a West Side Story-like Jets-Sharks flavor - even though the four players have overlap in sponsors, hometowns and even agencies, even though they are business partners on the TV show and even though the PGA Tour and LIV will eventually reach an agreement. In the face of all this, and even for some time to come, they will retain some of the tension. "It's a 'them versus us' mentality," Bryson DeChambeau said. "We've been looking forward to this kind of grudge matchup for a long time. Ironically, Bryson DeChambeau had a grudge match with Brooks Koepka on Season 5 of The Match. That 12-hole match was won by a landslide, ending a two-year feud in which the two exchanged barbs over topics ranging from slow play to who had better abs. Now, their newfound partnership seems genuine. "It's fun to team up with someone who... you know, someone who..." Bryson DeChambeau said, pausing to find the right words, "who didn't have a good relationship in the past. We came together and said, 'You know what? It's time to show everyone who we really are. ' "

"I think they're business people, and I think they realize the power of Bryson DeChambeau's YouTube fans," the producer said. "If they work together, it's more valuable than if they work against each other, so they help each other." Of course, as the golfers shuttled between video stations and studios on a busy driving range, faced multiple drones flying around, and agents and producers bickered, they could only help each other. Even a concept as naturally eye-catching as The Showdown needs marketing resources. In a challenge video produced by Bleacher Report, Brooks Koepka guides a blindfolded Bryson DeChambeau to almost make a 30-foot putt. "You're awesome, bro!" Brooks Koepka said, then gave Bryson DeChambeau a big fist bump. "I have to salute you, that's impressive." Soon after, they laughed together after watching a regular golfer who was playing on the course that day accidentally drive his golf cart near a swamp and get stuck. Hey, you can't blame a guy for being nervous after seeing four of the best players in the world on his doorstep. When asked to describe Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka didn't hesitate to answer: "Eccentric, opinionated, but very passionate, very driven, and a hard worker." Watch out, Brooks Koepka, you're putting Bryson DeChambeau to shame! "He's also a hard worker," Bryson DeChambeau fired back. "Funny thing, we have some of the same practice habits after tournaments. I've also seen him play two hours of golf." Shhh, Bryson DeChambeau!

The duel between the PGA Tour and LIV is in full swing. This is the top competition in the field of golf! Both sides have brought together many outstanding golf players. Every swing and every round of competition is full of suspense and highlights, and the intensity is beyond imagination. On the green field, the players present us with superb skills, excellent strategies and strong psychological qualities, presenting us with one wonderful game after another. It is a visual feast that golf lovers must not miss. Everyone must pay more attention to this peak duel to experience the unique charm of golf. At the same time, Galileo Sports, as a multinational company specializing in the development of golf nets, has also made remarkable achievements in helping golf lovers improve their practice experience. It has carefully created five major golf series products, namely tent style, popup style, wall style, chipping style and golf cage. These five series of products are very particular about the selection of materials, and only use high-quality raw materials to ensure the durability and stability of the products; and in terms of workmanship, they are even more meticulous, and every detail shows professionalism and ingenuity. With impeccable quality, they have won the heartfelt love of golf enthusiasts around the world. Friends, when we are immersed in the wonderful duel between the PGA Tour and LIV, don’t forget to practice golf at home, swing as much as you want, and release your love for golf without reservation! In order to support all friends who love golf, Galileo Sports has specially launched a very powerful promotion. Now you can enjoy a 17% discount when you buy its products! Don’t miss such a rare opportunity. If you are interested, take action quickly and go to Galileo Sports to buy your favorite golf products to make your golf time more exciting! Come and pay attention to the event, come and buy products, and embrace the beautiful world of golf!