Two of the biggest names in golf – Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau -have been getting plenty for off-the-course happenings last week, but this week sports fans will be focused on what they’re doing on it. Two of golf’s greatest showmen will be competing against one another – and alongside Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers – in The Match 4 at The Reserve at Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana on Tuesday July 6 at 5 p.m. ET.
Mickelson recently said that the locale was chosen because it’s a difficult place to judge altitude and carry, and DeChambeau hits it so far that he was going to struggle with his numbers.
The matchup of two stars – DeChambeau and Rodgers – who are simply better players than their opponents in Mickelson and Brady. However, the latter squad has a few advantages over the former. They have both competed in this format before, and both are world-class trash talkers who thrive when they can get folks out of their element. It’s seemingly not that difficult to accomplish that with DeChambeau, which is why Tuesday night should be fun to watch.
Let’s take a closer look at The Match 4 and what to expect from these guys.
Viewing Experience
This is a good place to start. The Match 4 will be broadcast on TNT, TBS and truTV starting at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday July 6. That will be middle of the afternoon in Montana, and the views of one of the prettier slivers of the country should be phenomenal, especially as the day wears on. On-course mics and the ability to communicate with broadcasters hosting the event will again likely be the premier feature.
Format for Match 4
Modified alternate shot will be used for this event with on-course wagers being made, as they were in previous iterations of this event. The exhibition will again be played as a match-play event, which is great because, even if it’s a blowout, it will still feel closer than if one team was up by 15 in stroke play. There will be a one-club challenge, a closest-to-the-pin challenge and a long-drive challenge on a 777-yard par-5, which might finally break Bryson in half.
Where is the money going?
These matches have been tremendous on the fundraising side. From the money that was raised for first responders during the pandemic when Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning faced Mickelson and Brady last year to the money that was raised for HBCUs in the fall during the match between Steph Curry and Peyton Manning facing Charles Barkley and Mickelson, this event is always big on the charity. This year, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, Feeding America and the Montana Food Bank Network will be the beneficiaries.
Odds, Predictions
Odds provided via William Hill Sportsbook
DeChambeau and Rodgers are the favorites for obvious reasons. Rodgers is much better at golf than Brady is, and DeChambeau is better than Mickelson. Whatever goes on for 17 holes, I predict that all players will make sure the match goers 18 holes to keep viewer interest high.
Pick: Brady-Mickelson (+138) over DeChambeau-Rodgers (-175)
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