The seventh edition of The Match saw Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas run out 3&2 winners against Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in a 12 hole contest at Pelican Golf Club in Florida.
This year’s exhibition charity event, which raised money for Hurricane Ian relief efforts, featured its strongest field of golfers yet and was played entirely under the lights for the first time, factors which saw it culminate into one of the most memorable editions yet.
Here are some takeaways from The Match:
1.
Despite the result being comfortable for Spieth and Thomas, the verbal sparring and explanations for shots kept it an entertaining affair throughout.
The best explanation came from Spieth on his match-winning shot from the pine straw on the 10th hole, which he stuck to five-feet from the pin.
“I was just trying to get on top of it and play a cut. If you end up hitting pine straw first, it could go anywhere,” Spieth said. “I just almost try to hit it a little thin in a way and thin-cut it.”
Two ridiculous approaches from the pine straw to all but seal a win 👏
Jordan and JT closed out in style.#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/w8oknOoflL
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 11, 2022
2.
Two time major winner Thomas also locked horns with announcer Charles Barkley on several occasions; Barkley insisted on calling Thomas’ former school “Alabama University,” leading Thomas to say, “I know you went to Auburn, you may not be the brightest, but you know it’s the University of Alabama.”
Then Thomas said the next iteration of The Match would be “Chuck versus a plate of cheese fries.”
The JT-Chuck rivalry has been a highlight 😂#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/AT2IcwcBh9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 11, 2022
3.
This was Woods’ first competitive appearance since The Open in July having withdrawn from last weeks’ Hero World Challenge with plantar fasciitis, but Woods said he had been playing well at home.
“I can hit the golf ball and hit whatever shot you want,” Woods said last week. “I just can’t walk.”
Despite losing The Match there are positives for Woods to take into this weekends PNC Championship, where he’ll team up with his son Charlie for a third consecutive year.
