Competitive golf made its return to television on Sunday with TaylorMade Driving Relief, a made-for-TV charity skins match benefiting coronavirus relief.
While it wasn’t exactly what fans expected, it was four hours of exactly what they needed: something new to watch with a positive outcome.
Current and former world No. 1s Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, respectively, took on fan-favorite Rickie Fowler and rising star Matthew Wolff at the famed Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida.
Fowler and Wolff, a pair of former college stars at Oklahoma State, led for most of the event. After a series of pushes on the back nine, six skins were on the line on the 18th hole worth a total of $1.1 million.
Wolff’s tee shot found a fairway bunker while Fowler, McIlroy and Johnson all found the fairway. McIlroy and Johnson stuffed their approaches while Fowler found a greenside bunker. Wolff had a lengthy putt for birdie and the win but couldn’t get it to fall. McIlroy didn’t really give his a shot, prompting Johnson to call his shot, saying “I’m going to roll this one in.”
He didn’t.
The tiebreaker is a closest-to-the-hole from 120 yards on the 17th, with the six skins and $1.1 million up for grabs.
“Rise to the occasion,” said Fowler to Wolff. “Show me something.”
Unlike in regulation, Wolff played the wind and found the green. Fowler did not. Johnson was next and he missed the green, once again relying on his partner. McIlroy wasted no time and found the green, tucking his shot pin-high and inside Wolff for the win.
Both teams started with $500,000. McIlroy and Johnson won 11 skins while Fowler and Wolff claimed seven. Wolff took the “Driving Relief” event title quite literally, winning both long drive contests on Nos. 2 and 14, totaling an additional $450,000 with just two swings. McIlroy and Johnson raised $1.85 million with Fowler and Wolff earning $1.15 million (skins only, long drive not included).
The fun doesn’t stop this weekend. Next week, Sunday May 24 at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida, Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning will square off against Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in The Match: Champions for Charity.