Brooks Koepka appears like he could possibly be entering 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 taking part in 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 this planet 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 may have received a lot had he confronted a full lineup of stars.
“Scottie had a hell of a 12 months. I feel it’s arguably among the finest years the Tour has ever seen,” Koepka mentioned Tuesday. “Bryson had a hell of a 12 months — he performed 10 instances higher than I did. I performed with him sufficient to know what he may have carried out on the PGA Tour. All of us have a great really feel how we might have fared on any tour.
“I feel he (Scheffler) would have received plenty of his golf tournaments,” Koepka mentioned. “However I feel we might have put up a great battle. It will 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 likelihood outdoors the majors to see the very best from LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, it has that spirit of workforce aspect.
“Let’s be actual — wouldn’t you need to see a LIV versus PGA Tour Ryder Cup-style factor? That’s what it’s,” Koepka mentioned. “That is rising into a giant factor. That’s what is going to draw the followers.”
Aside from a number of European tour occasions, the celebrities from LIV Golf and the PGA Tour meet solely 4 instances a 12 months within the majors. The Public Funding Fund of Saudi Arabia, which funds LIV Golf, and PGA Tour Enterprises have been negotiating a industrial 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 may begin one thing going into the longer term,” Koepka mentioned.
The PGA Tour signed off on the Las Vegas match by giving Scheffler and McIlroy releases to play. It’s a minimum of a begin to extra appearances, even when neither Koepka nor DeChambeau has any concept what that may appear like.
“The showdown is a good showcase for bringing the 2 excursions a bit collectively,” DeChambeau mentioned. “And I feel what we’re going to do subsequent 12 months, all of us aligned, is bringing one thing just a little greater and badder, so we are able to have a few instances — a minimum of another time — the place we are able to see a lot of the greatest gamers on each side competing.”
