Brooks Koepka lays down challenge to Rory McIlroy and co as he hints at Ryder Cup-style match between LIV and PGA Tour stars
A mouthwatering ‘Ryder Cup-style’ event between the stars of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf may be on the cards. Even better, it could take place as soon as 2025. We could see similar scenes in an event between LIV Golf and the PGA TourGetty Golf fans will be treated to a condensed version of the mooted rivalry match between the two tours when LIV duo Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau go up against the PGA Tour’s Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler in ‘The Showdown’ on December 17 in Las Vegas. Despite the event not officially sanctioned by either tour, the respective PGA Tour and LIV Golf ties for the four players involved has many branding it as somewhat of a rivalry. If all goes well, Koepka hinted the field could easily expand into a scenario that will have golf fans salivating. “Let’s be real — wouldn’t you want to see a LIV versus PGA Tour Ryder Cup-style thing,” Koepka said. “That is what it is. This is growing into a big thing. That’s what will draw the fans.” Koepka added: “I think the showdown is a great, a showcase for bringing the two tours a bit together and I think we’re going to do next year. “All of us can align and bring something bigger and better so we can have a couple more times where they can or just at least one more time where we can see most of the best players from both sides competing, more against each other.” On paper, ‘The Showdown’ is a friendly exhibition given the 2024 PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf seasons are in the books. However, Koekpa believes the competitive juices will certainly be flowing in Vegas when the two teams square off. “I can promise you on the other side, they’re not sitting there wanting to lose,” Koepka said. Koepka believes a Ryder Cup-style event between LIV and the PGA Tour would be huge for golf fansGetty “Rory doesn’t, Scottie doesn’t want to lose to us and there’s no chance (we want to lose), we’re too competitive on our side. “We don’t want to lose. This isn’t anything other than just us being competitive and wanting to beat those guys and, and show them who, who the best players in golf are.” Given the exhibition nature of the event, the format of ‘The Showdown’ is rather unique in that it is divided into three six-hole segments. Across the first six holes, it will be the best ball – also known as four-balls – which means each player has their own ball. Whichever teammate has the lowest score on the hole will go towards the team score. The middle six holes, which comprises the seventh through to the twelfth, will be alternate shot, also known as foursomes. McIlroy and Scheffler will represent the PGA Tour in ‘The Showdown’Getty In this format, players take turns hitting the same ball through to the hole. The final six holes will be singles format. Should a Ryder Cup-style event between the two tours transpire, it would represent a major turnaround from the bitter divide brought on from when LIV Golf loudly announced itself. However, the guns were lowered in the sport’s civil war in June 2023 when the Tour announced a shock framework with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). There has been little progress made regarding the merger, but an event between the tours in the mould of the Ryder Cup would represent a major stride forward.
A mouthwatering ‘Ryder Cup-style’ event between the stars of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf may be on the cards.
Even better, it could take place as soon as 2025.
Golf fans will be treated to a condensed version of the mooted rivalry match between the two tours when LIV duo Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau go up against the PGA Tour’s Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler in ‘The Showdown’ on December 17 in Las Vegas.
Despite the event not officially sanctioned by either tour, the respective PGA Tour and LIV Golf ties for the four players involved has many branding it as somewhat of a rivalry.
If all goes well, Koepka hinted the field could easily expand into a scenario that will have golf fans salivating.
“Let’s be real — wouldn’t you want to see a LIV versus PGA Tour Ryder Cup-style thing,” Koepka said.
“That is what it is. This is growing into a big thing. That’s what will draw the fans.”
Koepka added: “I think the showdown is a great, a showcase for bringing the two tours a bit together and I think we’re going to do next year.
“All of us can align and bring something bigger and better so we can have a couple more times where they can or just at least one more time where we can see most of the best players from both sides competing, more against each other.”
On paper, ‘The Showdown’ is a friendly exhibition given the 2024 PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf seasons are in the books.
However, Koekpa believes the competitive juices will certainly be flowing in Vegas when the two teams square off.
“I can promise you on the other side, they’re not sitting there wanting to lose,” Koepka said.
“Rory doesn’t, Scottie doesn’t want to lose to us and there’s no chance (we want to lose), we’re too competitive on our side.
“We don’t want to lose. This isn’t anything other than just us being competitive and wanting to beat those guys and, and show them who, who the best players in golf are.”
Given the exhibition nature of the event, the format of ‘The Showdown’ is rather unique in that it is divided into three six-hole segments.
Across the first six holes, it will be the best ball – also known as four-balls – which means each player has their own ball.
Whichever teammate has the lowest score on the hole will go towards the team score.
The middle six holes, which comprises the seventh through to the twelfth, will be alternate shot, also known as foursomes.
In this format, players take turns hitting the same ball through to the hole.
The final six holes will be singles format.
Should a Ryder Cup-style event between the two tours transpire, it would represent a major turnaround from the bitter divide brought on from when LIV Golf loudly announced itself.
However, the guns were lowered in the sport’s civil war in June 2023 when the Tour announced a shock framework with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
There has been little progress made regarding the merger, but an event between the tours in the mould of the Ryder Cup would represent a major stride forward.
