Hole-by-hole recap: Rory McIlroy wins The Match after closest-to-the-hole playoff worth $1.6 million
27/02/2024 00:03
Twelve holes weren’t enough to decide the latest edition of Capital One’s The Match.
In its ninth edition, the made-for-TV golf event featured a mix of both PGA Tour and LPGA players on Monday night as Max Homa, Rory McIlroy, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang teed it up in a 12-hole mixed skins match at The Park in West Palm Beach, Florida.
But 12 holes weren’t enough as the event went to a sudden-death playoff that featured a closest-to-the-pin challenge from 100 yards away that was worth a whopping $1.6 million thanks to three straight pushes and an anonymous donation of an extra $500,000.
McIlroy was first to play and stuffed his shot to 4 feet, 2 inches to take his total on the night to $2.4 million and claim a golden Tiffany bracelet for his efforts.
All four players were complimentary of the experience, and the women who made their Match debut Monday night at The Park hoped it was a sign of things to come.
"It's definitely an inspiration for me and all the other younglings who are kind of growing the game," said Zhang. "I'll definitely take it to heart and hopefully have more opportunities to come, going forward."
A total of $41 million has been raised by The Match over the years. Thompson, who played under the lights for the first time, echoed Zhang's sentiment of wanting women to have more chances in primetime alongside the men.
Homa praised the setting and what the evening represented.
"This is what golf should be more like," he said.
Check out a hole-by-hole recap of The Match IX below.
