BOSTON – After a year of verbal jabs, intimidating social media posts and one viral eye-roll, golf fans will finally see Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau settle their feud on the golf course on Friday November 26 at 4 p.m. ET from The Wynn Golf Club, just off the Las Vegas strip.
The Match 5 is scheduled for 12 holes on the exclusive Tom Fazio design that fetches a $550 green fee, and the broadcast will be aired on TNT.
World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, a two-time winner of Capital One’s The Match, will provide commentary, pairing with Sports Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Charles Barkley, who has previously competed in the event – teaming with Mickelson to win Capital One’s The Match: Champions for Change – and is returning for the third time as an analyst. TNT’s coverage will be hosted by play-by-play commentator Brian Anderson, with Amanda Balionis returning as the on-course reporter.
Just a few days from the contest, Koepka and DeChambeau are working hard to hype up the event, after a high profile “hug” witnessed by millions celebrating winning the Ryder Cup. Sometimes that can be interpreted as fake or forced ahead of a heavyweight bout, but in a conference call this week both players responded rather harshly.
“It was definitely a little forced,” said DeChambeau. “The team wanted us to do it, and to be honest I was surprised he did it. But I’m a guy that can put things behind me pretty quickly when you apologize and then we can move along. But it definitely felt forced, there wasn’t an apology or anything like that. Until I get an apology for what he’s said and what not, nothing will change.”
A Brooks Koepka apology will not happen because Koepka wouldn’t even know what he’s apologizing for. He continues to insist that DeChambeau started it, twice breaking his trust by talking to his caddie Ricky Elliott on the range at the 2019 Northern Trust and by smack-talking him during a video game stream after the two had agreed to keep each other’s names out of each other’s mouths.
“I’ve said it like 10 different times,” Koepka said. “I’ve never really liked him. I think we played together maybe when he was an amateur at Augusta, that was the only time that I can think of that we ever played together. We didn’t get along there, didn’t get along since he got out on tour, and then he said that stuff to Rick and I just thought it was crap. You don’t go ask my caddie to say something to me. Just come to me. Don’t be a little baby about it. I think he’s learned his lesson.”
Based on statements made by both sides the animosity seems real. They don’t like each other and the best was to settle the grudge is by duking it out on the golf course. It’s too bad they don’t put up their own money, although significant amounts will be raised for charity.
“This is all real on my end,” DeChambeau added. “It’s disgusting the way the guy has tried to knock me down. There’s no need for it in the game of golf, he’s just tried to knock me down at every angle, every avenue. For what reason, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he’s jealous and wants to get a part of that PIP [Player Impact Program] money from the tour. That’s probably a part of it, because it was squashed until that was announced.”
The 12-hole event will feature on-course competitive challenges to help raise additional awareness and funding for these important initiatives:
3rd Hole of Competition: DraftKings Closest to the Hole
• A $50,000 charitable donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever lands their tee shot closest to the hole. If within five feet of the hole, an additional $150,000 will be donated, and a $2 million donation will be made for a hole-in-one.
6th Hole of Competition: Wheels Up/Meals Up and Feeding America Closest to the Hole
• Whichever player lands their tee shot closest to the hole will help donate 500,000 meals to Feeding America. If within five feet of the hole, an additional 1.5 million meals will be donated, and a 20 million meal donation will be made for a hole-in-one.
• In addition, ZenWTR will donate 100,000 bottles of water to Feeding America.
7th Hole of Competition: Capital One Venture X Long Drive Challenge
• A $200,000 donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever hits the longest drive from the tee that lands on the fairway.
9th Hole of Competition: ZipRecruiter Closest to the Hole
• A $50,000 donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever lands their tee shot closest to the hole. If within five feet of the hole, an additional $150,000 will be donated, and a $2 million donation will be made for a hole-in-one.
11th Hole of Competition: Wagoneer Closest to the Hole
• A $50,000 donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever lands their tee shot closest to the hole. If within five feet of the hole, an additional $150,000 will be donated, and a $2 million donation will be made for a hole-in-one.
When: Friday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. ET
Broadcast coverage: Live on TNT, TBS, truTV and HLN.
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