BOSTON, Mass – The Match 4 lit up the golf world on Tuesday evening July 6 with a combination of spectacular scenery, trash talk, wildlife sightings, golf advice from the pros, and oh yeah, the golf.
Bryson DeChambeau and Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rogers beat Phil Michelson and Tampa Bay Bucs QB Tom Brady 3 & 2 in a made-for-TV spectacle.
Mad Scientist Dechambeau got it going on the first hole when he chipped in from just off the green, and from there Rogers was the star of the show with his putting leading the duo to victory.
Michelson and Brady had their moments in keeping the match basically even on the front nine, but were unable to challenge their opponents on the back nine as Rogers drained key putts with regularity to secure the win.
Broadcast on the TNT Network and featuring fabulous commentary from its own icon, Charles Barkley, the true star may have been the spectacular setting at The Reserve at Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana.
With the course woven throughout the eye-popping mountains that featured dramatic elevation changes of hundreds of yards on certain holes, the Wild West terrain was punctuated with sightings of a bear, a moose, fox and mountain goat.
One of the biggest winners was the course itself, the Big Sky area, and the state of Montana as their phones were likely ringing off the hook as viewers watched the surreal setting for six hours in what may have been the biggest Chamber of Commerce draw of all time.
The biggest winners were the two designated charities – Feeding America and My Brother’s Keeper – with several million raised for each program.
But back on the course we all got a peek behind the curtain with the trash talk, highlighted by the references to Rogers of the Packers fateful decision to kick a field goal on fourth down in the NFC Championship game last January, keeping the three-time MVP QB on the bench instead of putting the ball in his hands with the opportunity to win the game.
We all know the rest of the story, as Brady and the Bucs ran out the clock and went on to win the Super Bowl in Tampa, while Rogers, clearly stung by the decision to take winning the game out of his hands, has been THE talk of the offseason with his apparent displeasure to play with the Packers.
But the best part of The Match may have been listening to Bryson and Phil provide priceless advice to their partners on how to hit their upcoming shots, read the greens on putts, and generally give viewers their encyclopedic knowledge in what may have been the best golf lessons ever.
All in all, The Match 4 was a good watch with the big names from the worlds of golf and football giving viewers a peek behind the curtain of their personalities, competitiveness, and golf acumen against a scenic backdrop unlike any other viewers have had the privilege to see, and for six no less.
Although the show ran way too long (about five hours) and the golf was less than spectacular, especially from the pros, interest & viewership was high and The Match 5 is probably being planned now. How about considering Michael Jordan, Paige Spiranac, Donald Trump, or the talkative Jordan Spieth next time?
Hopefully, the PGA or USGA is also calling The Reserve at Moonlight Basin to schedule a tournament there, which all would agree would be must-see TV.
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