By Daniel Rapaport
It was the perfect day-after-Thanksgiving viewing. No one wants anything too serious when they’re still digesting the previous night’s feast, and this third edition of these made-for-TV matches—this one officially dubbed “The Match: Champions for Change”—never promised to be anything more than pure entertainment for wonderful causes.

It was certainly entertaining. Despite giving up some 16 shots in combined handicaps—at least allegedly, more on that in a second—the team of Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley dominated Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry on the type of cloudless late-November Arizona day that has you wondering why you don’t live out West.

Most importantly, the broadcast raised $5,455,000 for historically black colleges and universities, and will result in more than 3.7 million meals donated to those in need.

After losing the first hole, Team Barkleson won the next four in a row and never looked back, eventually cruising to a 4-and-3 victory at Stone Canyon just outside of Tucson. Here are six takeaways from a lighthearted afternoon.

Christian Petersen
Phil Mickelson putts on the second green as Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry look on.

PGA Tour pros are really, disgustingly, insanely good
This is not new information, of course. We know damn well that PGA Tour players are among the best golfers in the world. Moreover, we know that Mickelson is a legend of the game. And yet, Mickelson and Barkley were underdogs coming into this match. We’d guess the oddsmakers’ reasoning went something like this: The modified alternate-shot format (also known as Pinehurst) meant Mickelson would have to play more than a few of Barkley’s shots, and Barkley is an absolutely horrible golfer, while the other team features two pretty darned good golfers.

Turns out, if only one team in a golf match has a PGA Tour pro, you should back the team with the PGA Tour pro.

Mickelson did indeed have to play a number of Barkley’s shots, but it didn’t matter. He was able to limit the damage and often put Barkley in spots where he just had to lag a putt close enough for Phil to make it. Granted, Curry played pretty awfully for a plus-handicap, and Barkley did hit some good ones. And, of course, hindsight is 20/20. But looking back, those pre-match odds were something of a headscratcher.

Christian Petersen
Stephen Curry plays his shot from the 10th tee.

One bad round doesn’t mean Stephen Curry can’t play to his handicap
Curry did not play well. That much is indisputable. What’s also indisputable is that one round does not a golfer make. In other words, just because Curry played awful on Friday does not mean he’s some sort of vanity handicapper. Who knows how much he’s been playing lately? Recall that Curry broke his wrist just 13 months ago, and you have to think the doctor cautioned against playing a bunch of golf during the rehab process.

The odds are Curry hasn’t been playing as much as he had in the run-up to his two starts in professional events. In those events, he shot 74-74-71-86. He clearly has game, even it didn’t show up on Friday.

Christian Petersen
Charles Barkley was all smiles after he and Phil Mickelson defeated Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning in The Match.

If Charles Barkley doesn’t crack you up, check yourself

Charles Barkley is ready to call it before the turn. ? pic.twitter.com/RNjRV0YpmO

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 27, 2020

Barkley may be the funniest character on television. And it’s not just that he himself is funny, it’s that he inspires absolutely hilarious banter and trash talk from the people around him.

Some greatest hits from Friday:

—After going 4 up through 7, Barkley told the announcers to “Call Jeff Zucker and Craig Berry, tell them to get some of those ‘Law and Order’ re-runs ready in about five more holes.”

—Peyton Manning giving Barkley the following swing tip: “Open the fridge door, close the fridge door.”

—Shaquille O’Neal, who made one of a number of delightful cameo appearances on the broadcast, asking Charles, “If you can’t read words, how you gonna read the greens?”

But the funniest thing from the day, at least in this writer’s humble opinion, came courtesy of Curry’s former teammate/frequent playing partner, Andre Iguodala. After each of Curry’s many poor shots, Iguodala would simply whisper into his mic, “plus one.” That’s the kind of needling we always love to see on a golf course.

Teased unmercifully through the years for the terrible hitch in his swing, Barkley apparently has rid himself of it, and Mickelson figured out in a practide round that the best strategy was to have Chuck hit irons off of every hole, including par 5s. It worked especiallly well early, and Barkley also contributed a couple of times with impressive lag putts that were better than even Curry could manage.

Tiger was missed
There was one notable absence from this Match, as it relates to the first two: namely, Tiger Woods.

Now, the first iteration of this series was the $9 million match between Woods and Mickelson at Shadow Creek. That broadcast was dripping awkwardness, the golf was subpar, and it seemed the entire operation didn’t know if it was a serious golf match or entertainment. The second edition, which pitted Woods and Manning against Mickelson and Tom Brady, was a huge hit—largely due to Tiger.

Surely Woods brought at least half the eyeballs, because any time Woods plays, people watch. But it’s more than that—Woods’ interplay with Mickelson, his greatest rival throughout his career, was fascinating, as were his conversations with two of the best quarterbacks of all time. Plus, he played extremely well that day, which is always extra nice to see at this stage of his career. You can’t fault this broadcast for not having Tiger, but you couldn’t help wishing he was there.

A really wild golf course
In a commercial that ran during the broadcast, Mickelson put it simply: “I loved this club so much, I bought it.” What he bought was a dramatic piece of property and a somewhat bizarre golf course. Every shot seemed to be blind, there were long drives between seemingly every green and tee, and some of the tee boxes looked like genuine safety hazards.

This tee box at Stone Canyon. ? #CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/CPjxfVIhAG

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) November 27, 2020

In a way, it was the perfect venue for this distinctly un-serious event.

A fantastic cause
Golf’s long history of exclusion is no secret, so it’s terrific to see the game make an effort to reach and help people it has shunned for decades. And this follows Augusta National’s commitment to fully fund the woman’s golf program at an HBCU. Of course, it does not in any way mitigate golf’s ugly past on these issues, but it’s never too late to start doing the right thing. Finally, golf seems to have realised that.

The post The Match 3 entertained with chuckles more than great golf shots appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Dave Shedloski
In his first year as the head coach of the men’s and women’s golf programs at Howard University, which was also to be the school’s first in Division I, Sam Puryear didn’t get a chance to see his players compete, the fall season having been cancelled because of the ongoing pandemic.

Nevertheless, the year won’t be a total loss for his program and many others. In fact, Puryear expects it to end on a high note thanks to a golf event on the other side of the country.

Of great interest to Puryear and his players—and a lot of other college golfers—will be “Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Change,” which begins at 3 p.m. EST Friday on TNT. The entertainment value shouldn’t disappoint with a cast of Phil Mickelson, Charles Barkley, Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning competing at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Oro Valley, Ariz., outside of Tucson. The value to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and on a larger scale to minority participation in golf, has equally promising potential.

Proceeds from this third rendition of the “The Match” franchise will predominantly benefit HBCUs, with most funds directed towards supporting golf and sports journalism programs. WarnerMedia, parent of TNT and presenter of the event, has earmarked donations to Morehouse College, Howard University, Alabama A&M, Hampton University and Winston-Salem State University. Other recipients, as selected by the players, include Grambling State, Jackson State, Lane College, Southern University and Tuskegee University.

“To know that the impetus is to help HBCUs is, to me, pretty incredible,” said Puryear, who played golf collegiately at Tennessee State University and coached at Stanford and Michigan State before taking over at Howard, located in Washington, D.C. “The [financial] support is one thing, but what I think could be more meaningful is the exposure, the chance to showcase our programs and our schools and to show how strong they are structurally and educationally, as well as athletically.”

“It’s fun for me to take the game that has given me so much and to open it up to all people and to help create opportunities to those that haven’t had the same opportunities that I have had,” Mickelson said in August at The Northern Trust. “All sports have been exclusionary over the years, and every sport is trying to be inclusive now, and that’s phenomenal. And golf is no different. We have had moments in our past that we’re probably … that we’re not proud of, and we’ve all made a real effort to create opportunities for all people.”

Curry, a three-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, has had a head start on creating opportunities at Howard. Through his foundation, the golf enthusiast who has competed in a handful of Korn Ferry Tour events, recently committed an unspecified sum to support the golf program for six years as it moved from a Division II program to Division I. “Last year I had the incredible opportunity to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University through the game of golf,” Curry said in a statement. “I truly believe an investment in HBCUs is an investment in our future, and I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to support these great institutions.”

Jonathan Devich
Barkley says it’s important for minorities to learn to play golf so they can use it as a resource when they get into the working world. “It’s like a part of life skills. Listen, I’ve made so many deals on the golf course.”

Barkley, meanwhile, who has become a successful broadcaster for TNT following a Hall-of-Fame NBA career, is in the midst of a personal 10-year giving initiative that amounts to $1 million each for five HBCU schools in his native Alabama—Tuskegee, Alabama A&M, Clark Atlanta University, Miles University and Morehouse.

“I think the main thing is it’s very important because I want these kids to play golf, No. 1,” Barkley said. “If they can make it to the tour, that would be a blessing. But the main thing, when you go into the business world, you need to play golf. It’s like a part of life skills. Listen, I’ve made so many deals on the golf course. I mean, that’s amazing.”

Puryear couldn’t agree more with that assessment. But currently there are only about 30 golf programs at HBCUs. “Developing good players is a start, but attracting good players is important, too,” he said. “I think this could definitely help because right now there’s a lot of talent that is coming out of the HBCU schools, and young players need to know that their talent can be developed. A lot of times that’s just never heard about. All of a sudden, you can get some of your best minority players who go to HBCU schools.

“What I really hope, though, is that this would help spearhead the creation of new golf programs at other places while rejuvenating older golf programs.”

The Washington Post
Curry stepped up in 2019 to help fund the Howard men’s and women’s golf team for six years.

But again, the larger goal is to expose more college-age minorities to the game at a higher level, “so that they have an acclimation to what is, really, a corporate game, and help them segue into relationships and opportunities in corporate America,” Puryear said.

“I think it’s really important to the fabric of our country to grow the game at the collegiate level for minorities,” he added. “That isn’t hyperbole. I’m just speaking numbers here. These students need a place to go. And when they get to that place, in addition to a solid education, they need some of the best arenas, the training facilities and golf courses, the best coaches to compete with the majority of schools. I think what Steph and Phil and Charles and Peyton are doing is fantastic—not just while these kids are attending college, but what they might have the opportunity to do afterwards with their lives.”

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By Dave Shedloski
Having been out of the broadcasting game for more than a year, Gary McCord can be excused for not knowing some of the finer details of his latest assignment as an on-course reporter for “Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Change” this Friday on TNT. For instance, he wasn’t quite sure if the third iteration of the franchise was to be played over nine or 18 holes.

Then he decided it didn’t really matter. “What the hell, you know me. I’ll talk for as long as they want me to talk,” the always-engaging septuagenarian said via phone from his home in Scottsdale.

Twitter would not find this fact in dispute.

For 35 years McCord was a wise-cracking one-liner machine for CBS Sports’ golf coverage until the network decided late last year to not renew his contract (or that of colleague and Scottsdale sidekick Peter Kostis). It was a sensational run for the former PGA Tour player who won twice on the PGA Tour Champions but truly found his calling once he stepped up to a microphone.

“The Match III” features five-time major champion Phil Mickelson teamed with TNT NBA commentator and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley against three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry and former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, a two-time Super Bowl winner. Proceeds primarily will benefit Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The first edition of “The Match” was staged the day after Thanksgiving two years ago when Mickelson defeated longtime rival Tiger Woods at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas in a $9 million winner-take-all event. In May, Woods and Manning teamed up in a second edition, beating Mickelson and Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady at Medalist Club in Florida that raised money for COVID-19 relief.

McCord, 72, said the offer to work this event, which will be held within driving distance of his home at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Oro Valley, Ariz., “came way out of left field.” He agreed to participate for one simple reason. “Well, I’m doing OK, I’m not dead, but I am kind of bored,” he said. “I’ve had a year off, so … you know that whole deal. This should be entertaining.”

McCord still plays plenty of golf, mainly at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, a haven for tour players and current and former athletes. But he can’t help but think his gift for gab should be the gift he keeps giving. McCord will co-host a one-hour program next year on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. He also is teaming with Kostis and a few others on another entertainment project that he is not yet at liberty to disclose. His role, naturally, is to be “the creative guy.”

Well, of course. And he will try to be as creative as possible on Friday when Mickelson and crew are not trash talking to one another.

“That’s what we’re waiting to hear,” McCord said. “You know Phil is going to be in the middle of it. I was texting Charles during the telecast in May [Barkley was part of the broadcast crew] and told him he nailed it when he said, ‘We all have that friend who’s annoying; that’s Phil.’ So my deal is to prompt Phil when Charles drives into the desert and then just let him go.

“I’m not there to tell you, ‘Wow, he’s got an 8-iron from 180 yards.’ I’m there to step into the chaos and keep it going. I can still do that. I can do that all day.”

The post Gary McCord knows his role as he returns to golf broadcasting: ‘I’m there to step into the chaos and keep it going’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
The third iteration of “The Match” is reportedly in the works. But it is missing a big, big name.

According to Sportico, a website that covers sports business, Turner Sports is moving forward with another made-for-TV exhibition on Thanksgiving. Dubbed “The Match 3: Champions for Change,” Phil Mickelson is returning for his third appearance in the series. Joining the five-time major winner is Peyton Manning, who played with Mickelson in May’s Match event.

However, Tiger Woods is not expected to be part of the Thanksgiving gathering, according to Sportico.

Woods had battled Mickelson in the first Match in 2018 at Shadow Creek (site of this week’s PGA Tour event, the CJ Cup, in Las Vegas) and in May at Medalist in Hobe Sound, Fla. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, who was also involved in the Medalist foursome, will not play due to its conflict with the NFL season.

Substituting for Woods and Brady will be Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and NBA Hall-of-Famer and TNT broadcaster Charles Barkley. Curry is a scratch golfer who has competed in Korn Ferry Tour events, is in talks to host his own PGA Tour event and has funded the golf program at Howard University. Barkley was part of Turner’s broadcast team for the Match’s first two competitions.

Capital One is expected to return as a title sponsor, with historically black colleges and universities the likely beneficiary of the money raised by the event.

The post Report: Phil Mickelson returning for third iteration of ‘The Match’; Tiger Woods out appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Mike Ehrmann

It also made the day week month for golf fans everywhere. Not since Tiger Woods winning the freaking Masters last year has Golf Twitter been so together, so positive and so downright giddy. Same time, same place next week, guys? Seriously, this Sunday is going to be a real letdown. Anyway, let’s talk about The Match and everything else (still) going on in golf.

WE’RE BUYING

Tiger Woods: It had been nearly 100 days since we saw Tiger playing golf and boy, was it worth the wait. The 15-time major champ looked healthy and locked in, especially off the tee. Check out this absolute stripe show of Woods working it both ways on command:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAprozmHgYC/?utm_source=ig_embed

This guy wasn’t going to lose on his home turf. And he certainly wasn’t going to lose to Phil again. The majors can’t get here soon enough.

Peyton Manning: Why was this so much better than other recent made-for-TV golf events? Because it was so much different than them. Obviously, having two NFL legends compete was the main reason for this, but it was Peyton’s presence that seemed to lighten the mood and continually keep the conversation going. I didn’t think this guy could be any more popular, but then he nearly made a hole-in-one to win the entire country a six-pack of beer. That would have definitely done it. Thanks for the effort, Peyton.

Charles Barkley: We knew he’d be awesome in the booth, because the guy is tougher on players than Johnny Miller ever was. We also knew Barkley would never make bogey on that charity challenge hole. That being said, it was a good effort, and the dramatic/hideous hitch in his swing looked like it was gone, so we’re happy for the Round Mound of Rebound. But if the NBA isn’t coming back for a while, we’d love to hear this guy in the 18th tower more.

Charles Barkley after Tiger smokes a driver, says “that looks just like me.”

“I meant we’re both black.”? https://t.co/e71GZI9DMB

— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) May 24, 2020

Justin Thomas: The former World No. 1 drew rave reviews for his TV debut as an on-course reporter and rightly so. Thomas was at ease on camera and never overdid it. Of course, it helps when you’re friends with everyone, but his insight and his humour (especially when he called Barkley a “fat ass”) were a refreshing addition to Turner Sports’ coverage. Obviously, JT shouldn’t quit his day job, but when he finally does quit his day job—or just goes into a huge slump—it’s good to know he’s got a gig waiting for him.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAog_I1hDpb/?utm_source=ig_embed

WE’RE SELLING

Tom Brady’s raingear: As a Giants fan, there’s a lot I could get on Tom about. His brutal play to start (Was that the worst six holes ever televised? Is Tom a SYSTEM QUARTERBACK?!), him not knowing the rules for taking a drop (He’s never been much of a “rules” guy), and his audio magically going out when he was struggling (Kinda like it does for opposing teams in Foxboro). But I won’t, because I’m a good guy and I appreciate Tom putting his pride on the line to do this for charity, especially with Shot Tracer. I will knock his raingear, though, because it didn’t seem to do him much good. From the rain gloves—don’t wear them if you’re not used to wearing them!—to his pants that split after he finally hit a great shot. Although he may have saved Under Armour’s stock from tanking with this tweet:

Next time I’ll make sure to be wearing my @UAGolf pants ?‍ #LessonLearned https://t.co/GauGM9ZLdl

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 25, 2020

Smooth. Funny, Tom was playing in the Super Bowl the last time a wardrobe malfunction this bad happened.

Concerned tour pros: Add Adam Scott to the list of tour pros worried about playing so soon on the PGA Tour and about the protocols being put in place during these unprecedented times. Scott is a former winner at Colonial, where the season is scheduled to restart next month, but he told the AAP’s Evin Priest he might not return for the first two months. Listen, you can’t blame him. This is a very personal issue for every golfer, and it shows that this won’t be a simple flip-the-switch-back-on situation for the PGA Tour. What we’re really selling here is the angst that every player is going to be facing in the next few weeks.

Kevin Na keeping secrets: I’ve been a huge Kevin Na fan since he came on the Golf Digest Podcast a couple years ago and candidly spilled his guts about everything I asked him. But I’d be worried about him spilling his guts if I were to ever tell him a secret. In an interview with Sky Sports, Na revealed a rumour he’d heard that Tiger Woods will captain Team USA at the 2022 Ryder Cup, and then revealed his source was one of Woods’ friends, just digging his hole even deeper. Kevin is like Elaine opening the vault in Seinfeld—except he doesn’t need any peach Schnapps.

ON TAP

Sadly, not much. I’ll have to find something else to watch on Sunday while I enjoy my chips and salsa. At least for the next couple weeks before the PGA Tour (fingers crossed) returns June 11 for the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial.

Random tournament fact: Kevin Na is the defending champ of the Charles Schwab Challenge. And he reminded everyone of that with the most adorable TikTok of quarantine:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAbpfuIgXw4/?utm_source=ig_embed

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

—Charles Barkley will ever play in The Match: 1 MILLION-to-1 odds
—Tiger Woods will ever tell Kevin Na a secret: 10 MILLION-to-1 odds
—Justin Thomas has a future in golf broadcasting: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Love this look at Tiger grinding away in the rain:

Mike Ehrmann

What a legend. Maybe I should practice in the rain? Nah …

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Playing golf with this dude: Tiger, Phil, Peyton and Tom did a lot this weekend to improve golf’s street cred. This guy did not:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAiqa2HnhIf/?utm_source=ig_embed

THIS WEEK IN TOUR PRO PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION

Brooks Koepka and Jena Sims celebrated a big anniversary! Yay!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAljs5Wgpfs/?utm_source=ig_embed

Brooks didn’t post anything commemorating the big occasion. He must still be ticked off about that haircut Jena gave him.

THIS WEEK IN CELEBRITY GOLFERS (NOT NAMED PEYTON OR TOM)

Things really fell apart on 11 pic.twitter.com/l0TNwWIAYJ

— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) May 22, 2020

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Do you want me to use one of my U.S. Open medals?” —Tiger Woods after Phil Mickelson asked him to mark his golf ball. Poor Phil.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAnBnpGFB3n/

THIS AND THAT

The Match was the most viewed golf telecast in cable TV history. No big deal. . . . A signed scorecard from a round at Seminole in which Ben Hogan shot 61 sold at auction for $33,715. Imagine what Hogan’s set of golf clubs from that day would fetch? … Speaking of golf clubs, Justin Rose officially split from Honma. Let’s just say his clubs during that partnership would fetch less than Hogan’s clubs. … Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson and Morgan Pressel will participate in ESPN’s Pro-Athlete All-Star Ride on Peloton this Saturday. Time for all of Rory’s quarantine training to really pay off. … And finally, with a postponed Masters, I needed my personal Amen Corner more than ever this year:

Eat your heart out, Augusta National.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Who will be in the next The Match?
When is the next The Match?
Why didn’t I bet my house on Tiger winning?

The post Tiger Woods’ all-time dagger, Tom Brady’s embarrassing wardrobe malfunction and a TV star is born appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Tod Leonard
Four big sports stars and America’s hunger for live sporting events added up to big numbers for Sunday’s The Match: Champions for Charity.

According to a press release distributed on Monday by Turner Sports, the second edition of The Match, with Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning beating Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady 1-up, averaged 5.8 million viewers, though it should be noted it appeared on four platforms—TBS, TNT, TruTV and HLN.

Turner said the number is the largest for a golf audience ever on cable, beating out the previous record of 4.9 million for ESPN’s broadcast of the first round of the 2010 Masters, which was Woods’ return from the scandal he experienced in late 2009.

RELATED: Our six favourite things about The Match II

The Match telecast, which raised $20 million for COVID-19 relief organizations, peaked at 6.3 million from 5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time, as the duos played the front nine in stormy weather at the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. Woods and Manning got out to an early 3-up lead, but Mickelson and Brady scratched back during the modified alternate-shot back nine to get to within one before falling in near-darkness at 18.

The overnight ratings for the show made it the top TV program of the day, with the golf beating out NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on Fox. In ratings, The Match handily bested last week’s TaylorMade Driving Relief, which drew 2.35 million viewers in featuring Rory McIlory and Dustin Johnson defeating Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff.

The post Tiger Woods and his superstar accomplices draw big ratings for The Match II appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Daniel Rapaport
Even Super Bowl MVPs hit snap hooks. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning made that abundantly clear on the first tee at Medalist on Sunday, both smothering their opening tee shots of Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Charity into the left junk.

Tone, set. This wasn’t going to be your usual Sunday golf broadcast of flushed shots and vanilla commentary. This was Brady and Manning and Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, and they played a two-on-two match to raise money to fight a global pandemic, talking trash the entire way. Brady couldn’t hit the side of a barn early, and it poured the entire day, and no one took anything too seriously.

It was lovely. A mess, for sure, but a lovely mess. In the end, Woods and Manning reigned supreme on a wet afternoon in South Florida, building a lead in the best-ball portion of the competition and holding on in alternate shot for a 1-up victory. Of course, the real winner on the day—calling the cliché police—was charity, with The Match raising $20 million for COVID-19 relief.

Well, two winners: charity, and those of us who tuned in to the delightfully self-aware broadcast. Organisers clearly learned their lesson from the first time Woods and Mickelson squared off, 18 months ago in Las Vegas, because this sequel beat the original, 6 and 5. Here are six reasons why.

The back-nine intensity
At the turn, Woods and Manning were 3 up. Brady couldn’t find the clubface, Mickelson kept missing greens and it looked like modified alternate shot might devolve into absolute-disaster territory.

But we should know better than to count out Tom Brady. (And Phil Mickelson).

After some comically loose play on the front nine, the match picked up in terms of intensity and quality as the light faded from Medalist. Somehow, the alternate-shot format brought out the best in Brady. After Mickelson drove the green on the par-4 11th, Brady holed the eagle putt to cut their deficit to 2 down. Manning then missed a three-footer for par on 14 and suddenly, he and Woods were just 1 up. Brady and Mickelson stuck their approaches on the par-3 16th inside 10 feet, only for Manning to answer with a dart to three feet and a birdie of his own.

Mike Ehrmann

From then, it was a race to the finish, all four men going peddle-to-the-meddle in their souped-up carts to try to squeeze the round in before sunset. The buddy-buddy stuff faded as it got to crunch time—these are four of the more competitive people on earth—with Phil and Tiger essentially caddieing for their amateur partners, telling them what clubs to hit and where to aim and how a putt should break. No matter the competition, no matter the format, there comes a point where Tiger and Phil remember how bad they want to beat each other.

Mike Ehrmann

Tiger hardly missed a shot
Somewhat lost in all this was the fact that this was Woods’ first televised round of golf since mid-February at Riviera. After that, he pulled out of a bunch of tournaments—including, concerningly, the Players Championship—to rest a sore back. His health was a legitimate question mark as Augusta inched closer. Then the world stopped, and Woods suddenly had a three-month break to get his body back to speed before this.

Here’s the unfortunate reality of these made-for-TV exhibitions: There’s nothing you can do if the pros play terrible. There aren’t other golfers to show. There’s nothing to fill the awkward silences. This was an issue at the first Match, when both Woods and Mickelson played aggressively average. Lucky for us, Woods was anything but average on Sunday.

He hardly missed a shot all day. Like, maybe one. He flushed his irons, and his short game was sharp. But particularly encouraging was his success with the driver, which he controlled with ease. Perhaps we should have expected all this, given Medalist is his home course—he and Phil were playing from the Tiger Tees, and that’s the official name—and Woods was able to buzz around in a cart, which is his preference in casual rounds. Still, Tiger looked healthy and sharp, absolutely swinging it well enough to be a factor when the PGA Tour resumes in a couple weeks. All of a sudden, Augusta can’t come soon enough.

The Tom Brady saga

Mike Ehrmann

Brady, purportedly an 8-ish handicap, played miserably for most of the round. If we were counting them all, he might not have broken 100. His first shot of the day resulted in a lost ball, his approach on the second hole found the water (and he had no idea how to take a routine drop from the penalty area), and both tee shots were foul balls on 3. By the fourth hole, he was asking Charles Barkley for swing advice. That’s lower than low. It was so bleak that Brooks Koepka, also a Medalist member, tweeted that he’d contribute $50,000 to the relief effort if Brady could make a par on the front nine.

And then, out of nowhere, Brady holed out from the fairway on 7 for a most unlikely birdie. For the first time all afternoon, he could talk some smack of his own.

In that moment, Tom Brady—he of six Super Bowl victories and four MVPs and the supermodel wife—was so profoundly relatable. We’ve all been there. You’re playing terribly, you’re the brunt of every joke all day, and then something good happens so you start running your mouth. There was comfort in knowing that no one, not even Tom Brady, is immune from embarrassment on the golf course.

Mike Ehrmann

For good measure, Brady also managed to rip his pants in the worst spot possible, roll in a winning eagle putt in alternate shot and stick a clutch approach to four feet on 16. It wasn’t quite coming back from 28-3 in the Super Bowl, but it was certainly an eventful Sunday.

Justin Thomas rocks the mic
Justin Thomas, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world and himself a member at Medalist, had quite a successful broadcast debut. He’s proved to be a natural—insightful and informative, funny and self-deprecating, all while remembering the golden rule of announcing: less is more. He gave local knowledge, and he told some great stories from partnering with “Mr. Eldrick” at the Presidents Cup.

Thomas also facilitated the best exchange of the broadcast when he asked Mickelson to walk us through his thought process on a chip on the second hole. Mickelson, true to form, relished the opportunity to talk and then nipped a spinner to tap-in range. It was a fascinating peek into the mind of an all-time short-game artist, and it’s also the type of thing the first Tiger-Phil (and last week’s match at Seminole) was missing. Give golf fans the choice of corny trash-talk or legends walking you through their shots, and they’ll choose the tutorials every time.

Thomas wasn’t the only bright spot on the broadcast—Turner struck the right balance all afternoon. They didn’t force betting statistics down our throats as was the case at Shadow Creek. They let Charles Barkley be Charles Barkley (“JT, you can’t call me fat on TV” and “Tiger’s tee shot was like me, in that we are both black”). And their decision to have the four participants plugged into the broadcast paid off, with the in-studio hosts able to seamlessly communicate with the players, and vice versa, giving the broadcast an interactive feel.

Peyton Manning can do little wrong
Call it what you want—charisma, a magnetic personality—but some people simply have it. Peyton Manning is one of those people. It’s no wonder he’s been the commercial king of the past decade, and that networks want him in the broadcast booth so badly. He’s just really funny, and he’s a joy to listen to, and the broadcast did a great job of letting him riff aimlessly.

Mike Ehrmann

He also played much, much better than his rival QB. Apart from a few loose swings early and one missed four-footer for par—which Eli would have never missed, according to Brady—Peyton played steady, birdieing his own ball for a win on 4 and sticking back-to-back approaches off Tiger’s tee balls in the alternate shot. He hit the two most clutch shots of the day: a mid-iron to three feet on 16 when Mickelson and Brady were both in tight, and an approach safely on the green on 18 to all but seal the victory. One has to think The Sherriff played his way into some people’s Dream Foursomes today.

It poured, but Medalist shined
It’s not quite Seminole on the secrecy spectrum, but this was the first time in two decades that Medalist had been spotlighted on a national broadcast. It was ready for its closeup. It’s no wonder the club has emerged as an enclave for the world’s best players—the course looked fantastic. Driveable par 4s, reachable par 5s, tasty par 3s. Holes that turn left and holes that turn right. Well-placed bunkers and visually pleasing shrubbery. Florida golf may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Medalist managed to shine on a sunless day. A fitting venue for an irresistibly fun afternoon. You couldn’t rain on this parade.

The post The Match: The six best moments from a wild—but highly entertaining—event appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

As both golf legends have said numerous times in the past couple years, all Tiger has to do is say “Big picture”—a reference to his three times as many majors and nearly twice as many PGA Tour wins—to get a leg up on Mr. Calves. But during The Match Part II, Woods was able to focus on one major in particular to deliver the dagger of the day.

After Mickelson asked Woods to mark his golf ball before hitting his approach shot on the fifth hole, Tiger gave the perfect response:

“Do you want me to use one of my U.S. Open medals?”

Boom. Roasted.

In case you don’t get the joke or are just in a Memorial Day Weekend haze, Woods was referring to the fact that Mickelson has never won a U.S. Open, finishing runner-up a record six times. Meanwhile, Woods has won the tournament three times. Again, “Big Picture.”

Anyway, here was the exchange that even had Charles Barkley howling in the booth:

Phil’s never won a US Open, so Tiger offered to let him borrow some of his hardware ?

Watch #CapitalOnesTheMatch now on TNT pic.twitter.com/joxbt0bf6c

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2020

To Phil’s credit, he took it well. At least, until he cries himself to sleep tonight.

The post Tiger Woods hit Phil Mickelson with the best jab of The Match appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Christopher Powers
It was far from perfect, but last Sunday’s TaylorMade Driving Relief event gave golf fans a much-needed respite from the current state of the world. It also offered a glimpse of what could be golf’s new normal, at least in the near future.

This Sunday, we’ll get another look with The Match: Champions for Charity. No disrespect to Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff, but The Match’s quartet of players is a bit more star-studded, with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and a pair of NFL legends in Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Everything you need to know about the event—how to watch, the format, the teams, etc.— can be found in our viewer’s guide below.

The Teams
The two-man teams for The Match: Champions for Charity are Tiger Woods/Peyton Manning and Phil Mickelson/Tom Brady.

The Format
The format for the event is an 18-hole match, though the front and back nines will be very different. On the front nine it will be Four-Ball, better known as best ball to the weekend golfer. Each team member plays their own ball, and the lower of the two scores is the team score for that hole. The low score between the two teams would win the hole. Brady and Manning will each get three strokes on the front nine, one on a par 3, one on a par 4 and one on a par 5. A committee will determine which three holes.

On the back nine, the teams will play a Modified Alternate shot, which some may know as the Pinehurst format. In this format, each team member hits a tee shot, then they select the best tee shot of the two and alternate from there until the ball is holed. There will be no handicap for Brady and Manning in this format.

In the event of a tie, the match will go to an extra, shortened hole. Teams will continue playing Modified Alternate Shot, though it will be from a spot 100-125 yards away from the 18th green. They’ll repeat until a winner is determined.

How To Watch
The Match: Champions for Charity will be broadcast live on TNT, TBS, truTV and HLN on Sunday, May 24, beginning at 2 p.m. ET. It can also be streamed on TBS.com, TNTdrama.com, as well as the TNT, TBS and Bleacher Report (B/R) apps on mobile devices.

The Location
The Match: Champions for Charity is being held at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. The course, originally designed by Greg Norman and Pete Dye in 1995, was redesigned in 2015 by Bobby Weed. Woods, who is a member, should have a distinct home-course advantage.

The Charity
Collectively, WarnerMedia and the four golfers will be making a $10 million donation to benefit COVID-19 relief. The competition will also include a partnership with the ALL IN Challenge, as well as a number of additional on-course challenges for charity.

Additional Challenges
So far, there have been two reported challenges that will take place. According to Yahoo Sports, players will play Medalist’s par-4 fifth hole with only one club, a page straight out of MGM Resorts’ The Challenge, which took place this past fall in Japan with Tiger among the foursome competing. On Tuesday, Bleacher Report announced that Charles Barkley, who will be one of the analysts for the event, will also play one hole as part of a Bogey or Better challenge for an additional $200,000 to charity.

The post Everything you need to know about The Match: Champions for Charity appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Christopher Powers
The main criticism of the first match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, as well as Sunday’s TaylorMade Driving Relief skins game, was the lack of trash talk between the players. At both events, the banter was (somewhat) promising early, but it quickly fizzled out.

Mickelson promises it will be different this Sunday when he and Tom Brady face off with Woods and Peyton Manning in The Match: Champions for Charity, which is being held at Medalist, Woods’ home club in Hobe Sound, Fla. Lefty told Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio that he believes Manning will play a large role in adding some spice.

“Tiger and I clamped up the first time,” Mickelson said of the first match at Shadow Creek in 2018. “That won’t happen again. I think having Peyton there will be a big part of it because he gives me and Tom somebody to rough up. Peyton, when he comes back at you, he does it in a funny way that elicits a laughter from you as opposed to a defensive response.”

Based off of Manning’s burgeoning acting career, Mickelson makes a strong case. Manning, a future Pro Football Hall-of-Famer is a natural in front of the camera. Never does his act feel forced or cringey, whether it be a 30-second spot for Nationwide or one of the all-time great SNL Digital Shorts. His television presence has never been “good, for an athlete.” It’s been very good, period.

“And I think that’s why he’s so funny,” Mickelson added. “Because even the person he is cutting up finds it funny and doesn’t take it personal. And that will allow us to free it up and do it a little bit more.”

Woods and Manning had the trash-talking edge early thanks to the 15-time major champion laying his green jacket over himself like a blanket in response to a Mickelson dig. But Brady has returned serve multiple times as well, first saying he’d rather face Peyton than Eli, who took him down in the Super Bowl twice. Brady got in another jab on Monday night, telling Bleacher Report he’s “worried they might pump in crowd noise, like they used to at the RCA Dome.” Zing!

Brady thinks Peyton might have some tricks up his sleeve just like back in the day ?

Tune into #CapitalOnesTheMatch on May 24 at 3pm ET on TNT pic.twitter.com/dCCf1SqiK5

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 19, 2020

During his phone call with Golfweek, Mickelson poured some more gas on the fire.

“I can’t wait to go to Tiger’s place and take him down. Tiger thinks he has a huge advantage playing there because he was insistent that this event is played on his home course. Despite everyone else wanting to play it elsewhere. That’s fine. We’ll take it to him and Peyton.

“There will be no excuses. It’s his home course but Tom and I are going to go down there and put it to them, and we’ll make it that every time Tiger shows up at his home course, he’ll have a bad memory.”

Let’s just hope everybody brings some of this ammunition to the course on Sunday when the mics are on.

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