Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have announced their teams for the new golf series ‘Optum Golf Games’ as they will face off Dec. 17 on Golf Channel and USA Network
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler announce the rosters for the new golf show(Image: Getty Images)
The world’s top two golfers are set to face off once again, this time as captains for a new golf competition show. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler announced their rosters for the new show, the Optum Golf Channel Games, beginning Dec. 17, on Golf Channel and USA Network.
McIlroy and Scheffler will lead the primetime event to be played at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. McIlroy’s team will feature a Ryder Cup teammate in Shane Lowry, the most recent Ryder Cup captain in Luke Donald, plus DP World Tour winner Haotong Li.
Scheffler’s team will feature the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, five-time PGA Tour winner Sam Burns and former World No. 1 amateur and rising rookie Luke Clanton.
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“The ‘Golf Channel Games’ will be a great mix of skill, strategy and pressure,” Scheffler said in a statement. “This will be a brand new way for the players and the fans to experience the game of golf. Everyone knows how competitive we are and I think the ‘Golf Channel Games’ will be an innovative competition that will engage the viewers. I’m excited to be a part of this.”
McIlroy likened the event to a scouting combine for golf.
McIlroy and Scheffler will be captains on the Optum Golf Channel Games
“The ‘Golf Channel Games’ bring a fresh approach to golf, inspired by events like the NFL Combine and all-star games from top professional leagues,” said McIlroy. “They give players the chance to showcase their skills across unique challenges and offer fans a new way to enjoy the game in the postseason. I am looking forward to competing in this new, fun format.”
The show will not be like other golf tournaments, with timed events, games and challenges determining the scores, including a timed drive competition, a short-game challenge and a 14-club challenge.
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The timed drive competition will feature players competing in head-to-head duels with two minutes on the clock while aiming for a scoring grid. The timed short-game competition will include a combination of chipping and putting in which players will hit their shots from random spots around the green before going up against a putting gauntlet from random distances.
The 14-club challenge will feature two players and one bag. All 14 clubs are used, and each player gets seven shots. Once a club is used, it’s no longer available for selection. Each team will also pick a player to hit a lefty 15th shot.
The timed shootout is a four-player alternate shot competition with their teammates stationed somewhere on the hole, and the captains challenge will feature McIlroy and Scheffler who will hit from predetermined shot locations, including iron shots and bunker shots.
