Monday night saw the marquee event in the league’s short history as Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club faced co-owner McIlroy’s Boston Commons Golf. Ahead of the match, Woods called out to his mother, Kultida Woods, to deliver a hilarious message.
Woods made good on his promise as his team defeated McIlroy’s 4-3 in overtime. Unfortunately for the fans watching at home, neither Woods or McIlroy participated in the overtime period, which was decided with a closest-to-the-pin competition.
Woods last appeared in a professional tournament at The Open Championship last summer. He participated in every major in 2024 but missed the cut in all of them except for The Masters, in which he finished 60th. Woods also participated in The Genesis Invitational earlier in the season but withdrew after Round 1.
Fans of the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup will recognize the formats but The Showdown will have them all in a condensed form.
The play at Shadow Creek will divided into three six-hole segments.
The first six holes will be best ball, also known as four-balls. In this format, each golfer plays his own ball and the lower score on each hole counts as the team score.
The middle six holes (Nos. 7 through 12) will be alternate shot, also known as foursomes, where the golfers take turns hitting the same ball all the way to the cup.
Holes 13 through 18, should the match go all 18 holes, will be singles.
It’s TBD for how these singles matches will be set.
According to a report, the event will be called the Crypto.com Showdown.
The Match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson featured a large pile of cash for the winner.
The latest rendition will have crypto being doled out to the champ.
This is all because the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf showdown featuring Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka has a title sponsor and according to a report, it’s Crypto.com.
The name of the upcoming event is the Crypto.com Showdown and it’ll be in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
The winners will receive a multimillion-dollar prize in CRO Cronos, which is the native token of Crypto.com. This marks the first instance of a major sports competition offering a prize purse entirely in cryptocurrency.
“This tournament demonstrates the potential of cryptocurrency to reshape the sports and entertainment industries,” Marzalek said in the story.
The event is organized by BZ Entertainment and EverWonder Studio.
Crypto.com currently partnerships with Formula 1, UFC and the World Cup.
The nominations were announced on Monday after the 2024 season’s conclusion at the RSM Classic.
A testament to just how consistent Rory McIlroy has been over the last decade — in a season where he said he’d give himself a B grade, the Northern Irishman was still one of the nominees for the PGA Tour’s Jack Nicklaus Award, which is given to the circuit’s player of the year.
The nominations were announced Monday after the 2024 season’s conclusion at the RSM Classic.
“It would be a pass, it wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors,” McIlroy had said of his year during the DP World Tour Championship earlier this month. “But, um, probably a B.”
The voting is currently open for the award, and all Tour players with at least 15 starts in 2024 are eligible to weigh in. Voting closes on Dec. 4 and the winner will be announced just before the year’s end.
Also in the running for the award are Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. Last year, Scheffler won the Nicklaus Award for a second straight time, becoming the first player to win Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons since Tiger Woods won it three straight years from 2005-2007 and 11 times overall. Scheffler said that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan called him to tell him that he had won the award and that he was one of less than a handful of back-to-back winners.
“So I looked to see how many times Tiger won it and there was years from like 2000 to 2008 where he won it almost every year. I think Vijay clipped it one year and that was it. So he’s got some pretty absurd stats like that,” Scheffler said. “Anytime you can be mentioned in the same breath with Tiger it’s very special. I grew up idolizing him as a player, and any time you can get mentioned with him is very special.”
“For me, personally,” Thomas said in August, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I would take Xander’s just because of two majors. But yeah, talk about a no-lose situation, those are two pretty good ones.”
Here’s a look at each of the three nominees and their accomplishments this season, per the PGA Tour:
Rory McIlroy, 35
Rory McIlroy walks to the sixth green during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports
Entered 19 events with wins (2) at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and Truist Championship
Finished No. 9 in the FedEx Cup
Finished sixth in scoring average (69.914)
Recorded a total of seven top-10s and missed one cut
Scottie Scheffler, 28
Scottie Scheffler celebrates winning the 2024 Tour Championship. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
Entered 19 events with wins (7) at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, The Players Championship, Masters Tournament (second career major championship title), RBC Heritage, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, Travelers Championship and Tour Championship
Winner of the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Winner of the 2024 FedEx Cup
Winner of the Byron Nelson Award for low scoring average (68.645)
Recorded a Tour-best 16 top-10s and did not miss a cut
Xander Schauffele, 31
Xander Schauffele kisses the Claret Jug on the 18th green in celebration of victory at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
Entered 22 events with wins (2) at the PGA Championship (first career major championship title) and Open Championship
Finished No. 4 in the FedEx Cup
Finished second in scoring average (69.137)
Recorded a total of 15 top-10s and did not miss a cut
For his efforts, McIlroy will bank $3,000,000 out of the $10 million purse.
Rory McIlroy is ending the season on top.
The 35-year-old captured the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday, winning the season-ending event for the third time in his career. More impressive is the win secured the season-long Race to Dubai title for the sixth time in McIlroy’s career, tying him with legend Seve Ballesteros for second-most all-time in DP World Tour history.
For his efforts, McIlroy will bank $3 million out of the $10 million purse.
Here’s a look at the prize money payouts for every golfer at the DP World Tour Championship.
“He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
A tumultuous year for Rory McIlroy has ended on top.
The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland birdied two of his final three holes Sunday at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai to win the 2024 DP World Tour Championship for the third more. Even more significant, McIlroy’s win gave him the Race to Dubai title for the sixth time, tying him with Seve Ballesteros for the second most in DP World Tour history. Colin Montgomerie has the most with eight.
“I’ve been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024,” McIlroy said. “You know, yeah, look, I’ve persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn’t able to get it done.
“So the to be able to get over the line, you know … really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day and got it done.”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland smiles with his Wife, Erica Stoll and Daughter, Poppy McIlroy alongside the DP World Tour Championship trophy and the Race to Dubai trophy on the 18th green following victory on day four of the DP World Tour Championship 2024 at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 17, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
McIlroy earned $3 million for the victory, finishing at 15 under for the week and topping Rasmus Hojgaard by two shots. McIlroy was the only golfer in the field to shoot in the 60s every round, and closing in 69 was enough for his biggest win of the year.
And on top of everything, matching Ballesteros’ record is something that brought McIlroy to tears when discussing.
“Yeah, it’s really cool,” McIlroy said. “I think everyone know what is Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players. European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve. We had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played. He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
Shane Lowry and Adam Scott were in a group that finished T-3 and four shots back. Tyrrell Hatton came in solo sixth at 10 under.
But the day, and the season, belonged to McIlroy. And if he’s still winning season-long races during what many would believe to be an “off” year, who knows what’s to come for world No. 3.
“It’s been a long year, my 27th tournament, which is a lot to me,” he said. “Looking forward to a little bit of downtime. Have a lot of friends and my family here in Dubai, so I’m sure we’ll have a good night tonight.”
“Hopefully, things fall my way and I’m able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.”
With 18 holes remaining in Dubai, Rory McIlroy is among the co-leaders at the season-ending 2024 DP World Tour Championship. With a win — or an 11th-place finish or better — McIlroy will claim his third straight Race to Dubai title and sixth overall. (The Race to Dubai is the DP World Tour’s equivalent of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup.) Rasmus Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner are tied with the Northern Irishman at 12 under.
During a pre-tournament press conference earlier this week, McIlroy was asked to grade his season: “It would be a pass, it wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But, um, probably a B.”
Now, he has a chance to finish the year with another win and maybe improve his grade a bit.
“It’s a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note,” McIlroy said. “Going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I can and hopefully things fall my way and I’m able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.”
The world No. 3 poured in six birdies on Saturday, along with two bogeys, to sign for a 4-under 68. He had a chance to enter the final round with the outright lead, but his birdie bid rudely lipped out on the par-5 closer.
Hojgaard made six birdies in a seven-hole stretch on his front nine to make the turn with a 6-under 30. However, he made nine pars on the way home and signed for a 66. Rozner’s finish was a little more dramatic, as he struck his second shot to eight feet on the par-5 18th and drained the eagle putt to finish off his 3-under 69.
“I think the eagle on (the) last helped me big time,” Rozner said. “I’m happy with my day overall. I didn’t produce my best golf of the week so far but I was always hanging in there. I managed to hole a couple putts on the back nine that were big for me.”
Two LIV Golf members, Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton, are in the mix heading into the final round. Niemann is 10 under and tied for fourth, while Hatton is 9 under and alone in sixth.
Sunday’s winner will earn $3 million and 2,000 Race to Dubai points.
“But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour.”
On Wednesday, The Telegraph in London reported that members of Team USA at the Ryder Cup will be paid roughly $400,000, and that figure is likely to be ratified. That lines up with what Golfweek reported last month, which was players on the team are set to be paid for next year’s biennial bash at Bethpage Black in New York.
When asked about this report, European stalwart Rory McIlroy said he’d pay his way to participate in the storied battle.
“I personally would pay for the privilege to play on the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy told BBC Sport after the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where the Northern Irishman is tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton through 18 holes. “The two purest forms of competition in our game right now are the Ryder Cup and the Olympics, and it’s partly because of that, the purity of no money being involved.”
McIlroy then argued there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year to make money on the golf course.
“I don’t think any of the 24 players on either team needs that 400 grand,” he said. “Every two years, there are 104 weeks and 103 weeks you can play golf and get paid.”
He does, however, understand the issue, as the Ryder Cup is one of the largest revenue generators in the game.
“I can see the other side of the argument because the Ryder Cup does create a lot of revenue. It is one of the probably top five biggest sporting events in the world. So I get the argument that the talent should be or could be getting paid.
“But the Ryder Cup is so much more than that, especially to the Europeans and to this tour.”
Luke Donald celebrates with Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and teammates of Team Europe after winning the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome, Italy. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The 26-time PGA Tour winner did reveal that members of Team Europe have spoken with captain Luke Donald about the situation and have determined that the money could be used in different and more beneficial ways.
“We have all had a conversation with Luke about it over the past few weeks because we obviously heard,” he said. “The common consensus among us is that $5 million would be better off spent elsewhere on the DP World Tour to support other events or even to support the Challenge Tour.”
The Ryder Cup has long been about emotion and playing for not only your teammates but country. McIlroy doesn’t want the money to change that.
“I think we would all welcome money if it didn’t change the dynamic but the money really would change the dynamic,” he said.
“That’s why I think everyone is like, let’s not do that.”
McIlroy needs just an 11th-place finish to win the season-long race.
To win his third straight DP World Tour Race to Dubai title, Rory McIlroy needs just an 11th-place finish at this week’s DP World Tour Championship.
After the first day of play at Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course, it certainly appears the world’s third-ranked player won’t settle for a finish that low.
Showing off a revamped backswing he spent weeks working on, McIlroy kept his misses to a minimum in posting an opening-round 67 and is tied for the lead after the first day of the event with Tyrrell Hatton at 5 under.
Saying the course played a bit more difficult than in recent years, McIlroy had one bogey on the front but cleaned things up on the back with three birdies and no blemishes. He said the recent work he’s put in will help him in situations just like this one, where missing the fairway is truly punitive.
“I think it’s a little bit more consistency. I think my start lines will come in a little bit so even my misses will become a little bit better. I think the criticism of my game over the past 18 months is that the misses had become a little too wide and they were getting me into trouble,” McIlroy said. “So we’re not going to hit perfect golf shots all the time.
“But if you can minimize the misses and make sure that they’re not destructive, that’s always a good thing.”
“I should be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I’m not. So that, that stings.”
Rory McIlroy is in Dubai this week for the DP World Tour Championship, seeking his third straight Race to Dubai — the DP World Tour equivalent of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup — title and sixth overall.
Despite another strong season from the world No. 3 that included his 25th and 26th PGA Tour wins — Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship — McIlroy answered “B” when asked what he’d grade his season.
“It would be a pass, it wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But, um, probably a B.”
The one glaring stain was yet another close call at a major championship, this time at Pinehurst No. 2 at the U.S. Open. McIlroy controlled the tournament on the back nine on Sunday but bogeyed three of his final four holes to allow Bryson DeChambeau to swoop in and win his second major title (2020 U.S. Open, Winged Foot).
“Incredibly consistent again,” McIlroy said when asked to describe his year. “You know, I think I’ve been really proud of that (consistency) over the last few years. But then at the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got away. I should be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I’m not. So that, that stings.”
“I should be sitting here with a fifth major, that stings”
Rory McIlroy says he’d give himself a B rating for his season but still rues missing out on winning the US Open pic.twitter.com/3BTeNJl2Fg
