LIV Golf duo Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will have to settle with being the pre-match underdogs when they face off against PGA Tour double Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler in Las Vegas.
The event, dubbed ‘The Showdown’, is scheduled for Dec. 17 at Shadow Creek. It will see PGA Tour stars McIlroy and Scheffler go up against two of LIV’s biggest names in DeChambeau and Koepka in a matchplay showdown.
This crossover matchplay event will give golf fans opportunity to witness two of the biggest names from each side of golf’s recent divide compete head-to-head for the very first time All four golfers are formidable opponents on their best days.
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Currently, Scheffler has established himself as the world’s top player, closing out 2024 with the Players Championship title, the Masters title, Olympic gold, and as FedEx Cup champion. McIlroy, arguably the greatest player of his generation, always draws crowds – and usually delivers high-quality golf.
On the LIV side, it’s hard to overlook both Koepka and DeChambeau. The former is a five-time major champion, while the latter is one of the most in-form players globally, fresh from his U.S. Open win in June. While it might be difficult to pick a winner, a favorite has emerged two months ahead of the event.
According to UK bookmaker Betway, McIlroy and Scheffler are the favorites to win, with the bookmaker pricing them at -150 to claim bragging rights for the PGA Tour. Koepka and DeChambeau’s ego will have to settle for second best in the betting, with the LIV duo being slight underdogs at +120. According to experts, a glance at the world rankings would suggest even slimmer chances for the LIV pair.
Rory McIlroy will play with Scottie Scheffler (
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Betway spokesperson Mike Reading told Mirror Sports: “On paper it’s the world No. 1 and 3 against the world No. 9 and 65. Based on that information the odds for Scheffler and McIlroy should be much shorter, but because of the LIV world ranking situation, DeChambeau and Koepka should be far higher in the world rankings. ”
However, for now, the advantage still lies with McIlroy and Scheffler. “This contest will be much closer than the rankings suggest, with the PGA players, Scheffler and McIlroy, holding a slight advantage,” he added. One person eagerly anticipating the match-up is McIlroy, who is keen to give golf fans a preview of what could come from a potential peace deal between the PGA Tour and LIV bosses.
“You’ve got the best player in the world,” he remarked at the Irish Open last month. “You’ve got two guys in Bryson and Brooks that have won majors in the last two years. You’ve got me in there who-I haven’t done what those guys have done the last couple years but I’ve definitely been I feel one of the best players in the world.
“It’s a way to show golf fans in the world that this is what could happen or these are the possibilities going forward. I’ve been saying this for a long time. I think golf and golf fans get to see us together more than four times a year.”