The Showdown 2024: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler beat Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka

Rory McIlroy and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler claimed victory for the PGA Tour team against LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in the first edition of 'The Showdown'.

The first-of-its-kind tournament marks the first time PGA Tour players have competed against LIV golfers outside of the majors and the Olympics, with DeChambeau and Koepka both unable to participate on the PGA Tour since joining the Saudi sponsored tour. in 2022.

Scheffler and McIlroy never gave up and needed just 14 holes to claim victory at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas.

With four total points up for grabs – two in singles play – 2 1/2 points were needed for victory and the McIlroy/DeChambeau final match was not played to finish, as the two far superior short of the PGA Tour claiming victory in dominant fashion.

The format was one point for a six-hole four-ball match, one point for a six-hole four-ball match and one point each for singles over the last six holes.

McIlroy came out firing and delivered the match shot with a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five fourth hole with DeChambeau already in two over. But then DeChambeau missed his eagle attempt and the PGA Tour side was on its way, winning in four holes.

“Rory had a great start for our team,” Scheffler said.

The foursomes were tight and the match looked like it might end in a draw until DeChambeau holed a long birdie putt on the last hole about 10 feet back, and Koepka missed it coming back for a three-putt bogey that the PGA Tour was the missing point.

Scheffler and McIlroy never went head-to-head in singles and the match ended on the 16th hole without spectators getting a chance to see the signature par-three 17th at Shadow Creek.

What he proved was nothing more than the rich getting richer. Scheffler and McIlroy won $5 million each in digital currency, adding to Scheffler's incredible year in which he won just over $62 million. Scheffler and McIlroy had victories – Scheffler in the Bahamas two weeks ago, McIlroy at the European Tour final in Dubai last month.

DeChambeau and Koepka had not competed since LIV Golf ended its season on September 22.

“I would love to get another chance,” DeChambeau said. “It was a bit of a pillow fight for us.”

Could this help land a PGA Tour/LIV deal?

As the separation between the dueling rounds, some believe the tournament in the Nevada desert could be a precursor to a full Ryder Cup style match between the two rounds played over an entire weekend.

“Ideally, I think the ultimate goal is to bring the game of golf back together,” Scheffler said ahead of the unprecedented PGA Tour vs. LIV golf tournament.

In August, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said he was encouraged by “improved” talks with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but cautioned that no date had been set for a deal to be agreed.

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF – the funders of the bankrupt LIV Golf League – signed a framework agreement in June 2023 that would merge the individual tours and seek to bring in more than $1bn of Saudi investment to the game of golf.

Almost a year on from the original Dec. 31 deadline, the PGA Tour and PIF are still in talks about the proposed deal, with Monahan unable to commit to a date on which the talks will conclude.

And it seems that there is a lack of a timeline on a mission that could have inspired the players to take action and establish something like The Showdown.

“It was really about taking this into our own hands a little bit and doing something out of the box every time, not just to give back to the fans, but to show them or at least tell them that we're trying,” McIlroy said.

“The players want to play together more often. I feel that we are all in this holding pattern because of the negotiations and the agreement, and it is not very good for anyone.”

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