Brooks Koepka seems like he may very well be getting into one other Ryder Cup setting, match play with bragging rights at stake, even when it’s solely two-man groups competing in a single match as a substitute of 12-man groups in 28 matches.
Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, every a serious champion the final two years whereas enjoying for LIV Golf, tackle Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy from the PGA Tour in a made-for-TV match at Shadow Creek in Nevada on Dec. 17.
Scheffler is the No. 1 participant on the earth rating after a nine-win season, which included one other Masters and an Olympic gold medal. He confronted off solely 4 instances towards Koepka and DeChambeau.
Koepka was requested if Scheffler might have gained a lot had he confronted a full lineup of stars.
“Scottie had a hell of a yr. I feel it’s arguably probably the greatest years the Tour has ever seen,” Koepka stated Tuesday. “Bryson had a hell of a yr — he performed 10 instances higher than I did. I performed with him sufficient to know what he might have accomplished on the PGA Tour. All of us have an excellent really feel how we’d have fared on any tour.
“I feel he (Scheffler) would have gained a number of his golf tournaments,” Koepka stated. “However I feel we’d have put up an excellent combat. It could have been fascinating.”
He thinks “The Crypto.com Showdown” at Shadow Creek north of Las Vegas might be sufficient to pique the curiosity of followers. Not solely is it a uncommon probability exterior the majors to see one of the best from LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, it has that spirit of staff ingredient.
“Let’s be actual — wouldn’t you wish to see a LIV versus PGA Tour Ryder Cup-style factor? That’s what it’s,” Koepka stated. “That is rising into a giant factor. That’s what’s going to draw the followers.”
Apart from a number of European tour occasions, the celebs from LIV Golf and the PGA Tour meet solely 4 instances a yr within the majors. The Public Funding Fund of Saudi Arabia, which funds LIV Golf, and PGA Tour Enterprises have been negotiating a business deal. Nonetheless to be decided is how a minority funding from PIF would reunite the golf world.
“What we’re doing is so distinctive for golf. It might begin one thing going into the long run,” Koepka stated.
The PGA Tour signed off on the Las Vegas match by giving Scheffler and McIlroy releases to play. It’s at the least a begin to extra appearances, even when neither Koepka nor DeChambeau has any thought what that may seem like.
“The showdown is a superb showcase for bringing the 2 excursions a bit collectively,” DeChambeau stated. “And I feel what we’re going to do subsequent yr, all of us aligned, is bringing one thing just a little greater and badder, so we will have a few instances — at the least yet another time — the place we will see many of the finest gamers on each side competing.”
