The Showdown 2024: Dates, tee times, schedule, format and how to follow as PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars clash in LA
The Showdown is coming up next week as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy face off against LIV Golf rivals Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. The PGA Tour was bitterly divided in 2021 when LIV formally announced its arrival, backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. McIlroy and Scheffler are arguably the two biggest names in men’s golf at the momentGetty The introduction of this new tour saw many established top stars move away from the PGA Tour in lucrative deals. But talks between the rival groups are ongoing with the idea of a potential merger, and an event like this could be seen as another positive step towards the two tours rejoining. However, it should be noted that neither tour has any direct involvement in this event. Scheffler and McIlroy are set to represent the PGA Tour, while Koepka and DeChambeau will be there for LIV. The Showdown 2024: Date and how to follow This special one-off event is set to take place on Tuesday, December 17. It will be held at the Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas. The start time for the contest has yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected to get going in the early afternoon local time. This means in the UK, it’s likely to be between 7-9pm. The action will also be shown on TNT Sports, with a channel to be confirmed closer to the time. talkSPORT will have updates from the US throughout, and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction. To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. DeChambeau has enjoyed an excellent yearGetty The Showdown 2024: Format This match will see McIlroy and Scheffler join up and take on Koepka and DeChambeau. It is set to be played over 18 holes and will be scored via match play rather than stroke play. In match play, the duos will compete against each other on every hole, with the winner of that hole taking a point. The pair with the most points at the end wins. The Showdown 2024: Prize pot This is set to be the first major sports event to offer prize money entirely in cryptocurrency. Crypto.com has been named as the sponsor and the all-star quartet as set to fight it out for an unconventional $10million (£7.9m) prize. The winner will be awarded the multimillion-dollar prize in CRO, the token of Crypto.com, in an unprecedented move in sport. The prize money also exceeds the purse at most tournaments on the PGA Tour, with the exception of majors and signature events. Scheffler’s season has been outstanding and includes him winning an Olympic gold and The MastersGetty The Showdown 2024: What has been said? Koepka has suggested that a mouthwatering ‘Ryder Cup-style’ event between the stars of LIV and the PGA Tour may be on the cards in 2025. Ahead of The Showdown, the five-time major winner said: “I think this is a great showcase for bringing the two tours a bit together and I think we’re going to do [more] next year. “All of us can align and bring something bigger and better so we can have a couple more times where we can see most of the best players from both sides competing, more against each other. “I can promise you on the other side [PGA Tour players], they’re not sitting there wanting to lose. 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 show them who the best players in golf are. “I truly think you’ve got the biggest figure in golf in Bryson and then one of the [golfers with the] most majors. We’ve got a lot going on our side. We want to beat them, we want to showcase the world we’re the top two dogs.” Meanwhile, speaking after the event was announced, McIlroy said: “I’m thrilled to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December. “This isn’t just a contest between some of golf’s major champions; it’s an event designed to energise the fans. “We’re all here to put on a great show and contribute to a goodwill event that brings the best together again. “We all want to see more of the best golfers in the world going head-to-head, battling it out on the back nine of a tournament. “At a time where the professional game has felt divided, we believe this event can bring fans an incredible day of entertainment.”
The Showdown is coming up next week as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy face off against LIV Golf rivals Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.
The PGA Tour was bitterly divided in 2021 when LIV formally announced its arrival, backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
The introduction of this new tour saw many established top stars move away from the PGA Tour in lucrative deals.
But talks between the rival groups are ongoing with the idea of a potential merger, and an event like this could be seen as another positive step towards the two tours rejoining.
However, it should be noted that neither tour has any direct involvement in this event.
Scheffler and McIlroy are set to represent the PGA Tour, while Koepka and DeChambeau will be there for LIV.
The Showdown 2024: Date and how to follow
This special one-off event is set to take place on Tuesday, December 17.
It will be held at the Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas.
The start time for the contest has yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected to get going in the early afternoon local time.
This means in the UK, it’s likely to be between 7-9pm.
The action will also be shown on TNT Sports, with a channel to be confirmed closer to the time.
talkSPORT will have updates from the US throughout, and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
The Showdown 2024: Format
This match will see McIlroy and Scheffler join up and take on Koepka and DeChambeau.
It is set to be played over 18 holes and will be scored via match play rather than stroke play.
In match play, the duos will compete against each other on every hole, with the winner of that hole taking a point.
The pair with the most points at the end wins.
The Showdown 2024: Prize pot
This is set to be the first major sports event to offer prize money entirely in cryptocurrency.
Crypto.com has been named as the sponsor and the all-star quartet as set to fight it out for an unconventional $10million (£7.9m) prize.
The winner will be awarded the multimillion-dollar prize in CRO, the token of Crypto.com, in an unprecedented move in sport.
The prize money also exceeds the purse at most tournaments on the PGA Tour, with the exception of majors and signature events.
The Showdown 2024: What has been said?
Koepka has suggested that a mouthwatering ‘Ryder Cup-style’ event between the stars of LIV and the PGA Tour may be on the cards in 2025.
Ahead of The Showdown, the five-time major winner said: “I think this is a great showcase for bringing the two tours a bit together and I think we’re going to do [more] next year.
“All of us can align and bring something bigger and better so we can have a couple more times where we can see most of the best players from both sides competing, more against each other.
“I can promise you on the other side [PGA Tour players], they’re not sitting there wanting to lose. 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 show them who the best players in golf are.
“I truly think you’ve got the biggest figure in golf in Bryson and then one of the [golfers with the] most majors. We’ve got a lot going on our side. We want to beat them, we want to showcase the world we’re the top two dogs.”
Meanwhile, speaking after the event was announced, McIlroy said: “I’m thrilled to partner with Scottie in what promises to be an exciting duel against Bryson and Brooks in Vegas this December.
“This isn’t just a contest between some of golf’s major champions; it’s an event designed to energise the fans.
“We’re all here to put on a great show and contribute to a goodwill event that brings the best together again.
“We all want to see more of the best golfers in the world going head-to-head, battling it out on the back nine of a tournament.
“At a time where the professional game has felt divided, we believe this event can bring fans an incredible day of entertainment.”
