The charm of The Match isn’t who wins. That’s almost incidental. What makes the golf exhibitions—this one featuring Tiger Woods and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy taking on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas—is what happens when golf isn’t being played. It is about the trash talk, the subtle jabs, and the back-and-forth with commentator Charles Barkley.
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The difference in this version of the made-for-TV event played under the lights in prime time was the four golfers involved genuinely like and are comfortable with one another. They are friendly on and off the course, which means the 12-hole match (which only went 10 holes, with Spieth and Thomas winning 3-and-2) felt authentic and was full of banter.
What we learned
Charlie has outdriven Tiger
Charlie Woods is Tiger’s 13-year-old son. Anyone watching the socials in recent weeks will have seen footage of the teen working on his picture-perfect swing that looks a lot like—shockingly—that of RBC Canadian Open champ Rory McIlroy. However, Woods hasn’t yet been beaten by his son: “He tries to beat me, which he hasn’t yet, but that day is coming soon. It is a blast to play with him and see him develop in the way he has. There’s nothing like it. The bonding experience you get to have with your son when you’re hitting balls at night.”
That said, Charlie did put one by his old man.
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“I hate to say it, but I’ll admit it that he finally did it a few weeks ago,” Woods said. “I spun one and he tomahawked one and he got me.”
Woods’ game is, well, so-so. Tiger dropped out of his own tournament in the Bahamas recently because of an issue with his feet. He hasn’t played much in recent weeks, and when asked about his foot, he quipped: “It is still attached—it is all good.”
In terms of his game, he was more pointed: “Feel and real are two different things. Feels good enough for me,” he said, adding, “I want to thank everyone for letting me use a cart.”
One club is enough
The fourth hole was played as a one-club challenge match. Woods apparently played a 5-iron, Thomas a 5-wood, McIlroy a 3-iron, and Spieth a 4-iron. Tiger’s shot off the tee, which saw him aim wide right and hit a massive slinger, was incredible to watch. In all, it was one of the highlights of the event. If the PGA Tour doesn’t immediately announce a 3-club challenge tournament, it is missing a huge opportunity.
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Thomas’ first wedding?
Thomas married long-time girlfriend Jillian Wisniewski in November, and just as the group approached the first tee, he was asked about the speech Spieth gave at the wedding. Thomas said the speech was great and the wedding and the honeymoon were the “best time of my life. I wish I could have it over.”
“It is early,” Barkley said. “You might have it over again. You don’t know–you have to play itself out.”
Barkley and Thomas also had plenty to say about the rivalry between Alabama and Auburn.
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Aside from the great golf and banter, the first six editions of The Match have combined to raise almost $33 million for a variety of charitable organizations, with this year’s iteration set to benefit Hurricane Ian relief efforts.