Getty Image / Kevin C. Cox
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy face off against Bryson DeChambeau and my fellow FSU alum Brooks Koepka today at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas in a de fact PGA Tour vs LIV Golf matchup. Bryson appeared to take the edge against his PGA foes yesterday when he took a swipe at Rory McIlroy on the range that had everyone laughing (video below) but this Scottie Scheffler trick shot on the range has me thinking the world’s #1 golfer has this match in the bag.
Scheffler was challenged to hit a trick shot where he would pop a water balloon hanging from a string about 20 feet away on the range and Scottie nailed it. In fact, it only took him 5 swings to pull off this feat that would take me, an exceedingly average golfer who has played an asinine amount of golf in his lifetime, a lifetime to pull off.
Upon popping the balloon that ask Scottie Scheffler if completing the trick shot was satisfying and the normally reserved Scottie didn’t hesitate to say it was. One can’t help but wonder if this is a preview of some of the challenges we might see in Tiger and Rory’s indoor golf league coming early next year. Here’s Scottie at this best:
The dude’s got skills, that’s for sure.
Now, with ‘The Showdown’ airing today (Tuesday, December 17th at 6 pm EST) on TBS/TNT/TruTV, the back and forth shenanigans began yesterday. Bryson DeChambeau shared a quick TikTok of him staring down Scottie Scheffler like two boxers before a bout and wryly refusing to shake Scottie’s hand as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf stars will square off for the first time in a proper PGA vs LIV matchup that isn’t just two golfers from competing tours paired together in a major:
There was also this moment on the range yesterday… LIV Golf shared the clip of Rory saying “I’d like to go up against Bryson to try and get him back for what he did to me at the US Open.” Bryson is hitting balls just a few feet away and claps back with a dagger to Rory’s heart as everyone laughs:
The trash talking already starting at Shadow Creek 😅#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/zB0bM3gWCn
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) December 16, 2024
This matchup is going to be SPICY. In terms of pure skill I’d take Scottie and Rory over Bryson and Brooks 9 times out of 10 but in a head-to-head matchup where shenanigans and trash talk are at play I’d say it’s an even matchup. As an FSU grad, it’s hard for me to ever root against Brooks. For curious minds, greens fees at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas where The Showdown will be held run about $1,250… It’s nice.
What do you guys think, does Scottie and Rory take it down or Bryson and Brooks? Let me know what you think in the Facebook comments!