Could Tiger-Rory vs JT-Spieth Be The Best Version of 'The Match'?
It’s hard to believe we are on the 7th edition of TNT's The Match. To be honest, it has been a hit-or-miss event through the years. One of the main reasons is simple: Tiger Woods hasn’t been there. And for golf fans and casual onlookers, Tiger is the main draw, whether he is playing against NFL QBs or other professional golfers. You take the ‘Big Cat’ away and eventually you end up with Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen hacking it around (no offense to those athletes, but if I wanted to watch mediocre golf, I’d just head to my local muni). But now the Cat is back, and he’s got three of the biggest names in golf with him in Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Tiger and Rory will take on JT and Spieth in a 12-hole match play event under the lights at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida and you can watch the event Saturday Dec. 12, starting at 6pm ET on TNT with Sling Blue or Orange. Here’s more on the format and four reasons why this could be the best version of The Match yet.
The Format
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This version of The Match is simple: Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will take on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in 12-hole, best ball match play. That means each player will play their own ball from beginning to end with the best score counting for the team. For example, if Tiger hits par on hole #1 and Rory has a birdie, they will take Rory’s score for the team, and so on. The team with the lowest score will win the hole. The players will also contribute to charities helping with Hurricane Ian relief through different challenges taking place during The Match.
This Time It’s Professional Golfers, and It’s the Elite
Listen, the allure of watching Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes hit it all over the park was fun at first, but after a while you find yourself wondering why you’re watching it. Without Tiger, The Match tried to keep the buzz going, by adding controversial athletes like Bryson DeChambeau, Aaron Rodgers and Brooks Koepka. But the reality is, those guys just don’t have the pull. Now Tiger is back, and he’s got three of the biggest names in golf with him in JT, Jordan and Rory. One could argue that even if Tiger wasn’t in this version and you replaced him with say, Jon Rahm or Collin Morikawa, golf fans would still watch, because it’s the best-of-the-best playing against each other. When you throw Tiger in the mix, well…
The Cat!
It’s game over! No matter if he’s hobbling around or riding in a golf cart, the reality is that when Tiger Woods is playing golf, people will watch. This is the first time Tiger will play publicly since The Open Championship, and he will also be playing next weekend in the PNC Championship with his son Charlie. So golf fans and sports media alike will all be tuned into these events.
They Are All Friends, Which Will Make For Some Good Trash Talk
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas are well-documented friends of Tiger Woods, while it’s known that Spieth is friendly with him. JT and Jordan go all the way back to their junior golf days, so these guys are all comfortable with each other. JT is known for his trash talk and will definitely throw some jabs at Tiger along the way, which should make for some good moments. And who can forget Rory confessing his love for Dominos in an exhibition with Justin Thomas?
Under the Lights
It’s not a normal to golf when it’s dark out, so this event being under the lights adds a fun wrinkle to The Match. Aesthetically, it will make for some good TV (we think) and Pelican Golf Club is a good course that is a staple on the LPGA. There will also be fun one-off challenges that include Hole-in-One’s and playing an entire hole with one club.
Ranking Every Version of The Match
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- The Match 2: Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning vs Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady
- Maybe it was because it came during the heat of COVID and we were starved for competition, but this version of The Match was the most entertaining. The rivalries can’t be understated. Brady was terrible until he hooped one for eagle, and the banter didn’t disappoint.
- The Match 1: Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson
- The first version was boring at times, but it was still fun to watch these two battle it out at a fun course like Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
- The Match 3: Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley vs Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning
- This one was just ridiculous. Barkley added a great element not only with his personality, but because he actually played well!
- The Match 5: Brooks Koepka vs Bryson DeChambeau
- The Match tried to take advantage of the animosity between these two, but it didn’t really move the needle.
- The Match 4: Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers vs Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady
- I can’t comment on this one as I watched a couple holes and just couldn’t get into it.
- The Match 6: Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers vs Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen
- Stick to football.
To watch The Match live on TNT, use the link below to sign up for Sling Orange + Blue!