The Open Championship is the ultimate sanctioned occasion 2024 that may see the PGA Tour compete in opposition to LIV Golf. There’s nonetheless the Olympics, however their tour affiliation doesn’t matter because it does in a serious.
The PGA Tour received the primary two majors in 2024, whereas LIV Golf claimed the latest on the U.S. Open.
That brings the query: Who would you are taking—the PGA Tour or LIV Golf—for this closing main?
Particularly, we paired Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler on the PGA Tour’s facet, with Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Kopeka representing LIV Golf.
Let’s have a look at each side’ performances this yr to see which facet is healthier to root for.
The PGA Tour facet: Scheffler and McIlroy
One of many largest storylines of 2024 is Scheffler himself. The world’s No. 1 participant has been practically unstoppable all yr.
Scheffler has six wins, together with profitable the Masters in April and 4 of the eight Signature Occasions. He additionally received the Gamers in March.
To not point out, he has two runner-up finishes, 13 high 10s and 14 Prime 25s. Scheffler has not missed a reduce within the 15 occasions he performed, both.
Scheffler’s worst end got here on the U.S. Open with a T41, which additionally marked the one time he didn’t end contained in the Prime 25 at the least.
The previous Texas Longhorn’s final begin got here on the Vacationers Championship when he received for the sixth time earlier than July 1, so he has not performed in three weeks.
No matter that break, Scheffler is available in with numerous hype surrounding him.
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Picture by Andrew Redington/Getty Photographs
As for his accomplice, McIlroy has additionally had a profitable season. He’s at present the No. 3 participant on the earth and has two victories in 2024. McIlroy and Shane Lowry received the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans. Then, the Northern Irishman took dwelling his fourth Wells Fargo Championship the next week to earn his twenty sixth profession win.
Main as much as the Open, McIlroy completed solo second on the U.S. Open, nevertheless it occurred in heartbreaking vogue. He missed two brief putts down the stretch, which precipitated him to fall to DeChambeau.
After a break, McIlroy returned final week on the Genesis Scottish Open and contended. He completed T4 and shot 4 rounds within the 60s.
McIlroy received the Claret Jug in 2014. Scheffler’s greatest end within the oldest main was a T8 in his debut in 2021.
The PGA Tour has a powerful argument with the quantity of success they’ve had in 2024.
Earlier than we resolve, although, let’s have a look at the LIV Golf crew.
The LIV Golf facet: DeChambeau and Kopeka
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Picture by Scott Taetsch/PGA of America by way of Getty Photographs
Coming into the Open, DeChambeau’s final take a look at in opposition to the PGA Tour noticed him win his second U.S. Open. He additionally completed T6 on the Masters and solo second on the PGA Championship.
In LIV Golf occasions, the Crusher GC captain’s greatest end got here at LIV Nashville when he was third. Total, he has six high 10s in 10 begins. DeChambeau continues to be on the hunt for his first victory of 2024 on LIV.
Koepka has not had as a lot success within the majors as he did in 2023. He completed T45 in Augusta, T26 on the PGA Championship and T26 on the U.S. Open.
In LIV Golf occasions, Koepka received the Singapore occasion and has 4 top-10s. Whereas he did win on the Saudi-backed Tour in 2024, it has not been the most effective yr.
In earlier Open Championships, DeChambeau’s greatest end got here in 2022 with a T8, whereas Koepka’s got here in 2019 with a T4. He additionally has a few T6’s in 2021 and 2017.
These two are tremendous aggressive, so whereas they don’t have as many victories in 2024 because the PGA tour does, they’re nonetheless a formidable alternative.
It’s a onerous choice as a result of all 4 gamers are extremely proficient and will win any week.
For the sake of this Open week, we’re going with the PGA Tour, however both facet is an efficient decide. One in all these 4 can get sizzling and take over the match any week.
Which facet would you select?
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. For extra golf protection, observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may as well observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
