The Match 2022 – Spieth, Thomas take down Woods, McIlroy

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It may not have been as compelling as some had hoped, however at the very least golf followers received to look at Tiger Woods on a golf course — beneath the lights on a Saturday evening, no much less.

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas took down Woods and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy 3 and a couple of in 10 holes of the seventh version of The Match at Pelican Golf Membership outdoors Tampa, Florida.

Woods, who was competing for the primary time since lacking the reduce on the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews in July, had just a few good moments however the competitors belonged to Spieth and JT. The successful duo mixed to make seven birdies to take down their opponents. Woods and McIlroy mixed for only one.

Nonetheless, it was a superb evening and a enjoyable occasion that raised thousands and thousands of {dollars} for reduction efforts in Florida after the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

“The fact that we were able to do something under the lights that never before happened in our sport, to be able to grow it in a different way,” Woods informed TNT when he was requested what he would bear in mind most. “Also, the people who got devastated by Hurricane Ian. We were able to create a lot more funds, a lot more opportunities for people to regrow back here, and that’s important. We’re Floridians. I know from the eastern side what kind of devastation it can do. These people are left with no homes and no lives, and I’m glad we were all able to come together and do something about it.”

Woods, 46, has competed in two earlier editions of The Match, but it surely was the debuts for McIlroy, Spieth and Thomas. This is how The Match performed out:

That is a wrap

And that is that. JT and Spieth took down Rory and Tiger. “Second place isn’t bad, guys,” Thomas informed McIlroy and Woods after Spieth’s successful putt.

Introducing Alabama College

It at all times goes again to the Iron Bowl. Charles Barkley, a former Auburn basketball star, gave JT grief about “Alabama University.”

Turning up the trash discuss

A glance into the longer term?

JT and Spieth paved the way

These guys are good. Utilizing only a 5-wood on a one-club problem on the 455-yard, par-4 fourth gap, JT one way or the other makes par. JT and Spieth are 3-up after 4 holes. Tiger and Rory have loads of work to do.

Right here comes Charlie

Woods mentioned his 13-year-old son, Charlie, nonetheless hasn’t crushed him however not too long ago outdrove him.

“I hate to say it, but I’m going to admit it. He finally did it a couple of weeks ago,” Woods mentioned. And Tiger mentioned the day Charlie beats him “is coming.” They’ll play collectively in subsequent week’s PNC Championship in Orlando.

Early check-in with Tiger

Charles Barkley with a severe journalistic query to Woods: “How’s your foot?” Tiger’s response: “It’s still attached. It’s good.”

Staying hydrated

It is actual golf now — and John Daly is not even there.

Underneath the lights

We’re minutes away from the beginning of the seventh version of The Match, and as Woods identified, it is the primary time it will likely be performed completely beneath the lights.

Lefty sends regards

Elevate your hand when you had been anticipating an olive department from Mickelson at present.

Setting the scene

Previewing The Match

Woods, a 15-time main champion, plans to compete whilst he’s struggling to get well from plantar fasciitis in his proper foot. He was pressured to drag out of final week’s Hero World Problem within the Bahamas, which advantages his basis, and informed reporters there that medical doctors suggested him that the painful situation is expounded to accidents he suffered in a automotive wreck outdoors Los Angeles in February 2021.

Woods mentioned with the ability to use a golf cart will assist him tremendously, and that “it’s just hard getting from point A to point B.” He competed in solely 9 rounds in three majors final yr. His final begin was a missed reduce on the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews in July.

Golf followers will definitely be glad to see Woods swinging a membership once more. He additionally plans to play together with his son, Charlie, in subsequent week’s PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida. Woods will once more have the ability to use a cart in that 36-hole occasion.

With former NBA nice Charles Barkley as soon as once more offering commentary throughout The Match, there figures to be loads of humor. And it is exhausting to think about that there will not be just a few jabs at LIV Golf and its CEO and commissioner, two-time Open winner Greg Norman, throughout what is perhaps an infomercial for the PGA Tour. Final week, McIlroy informed the Impartial of London that he plans “to make it my business now to be as much of a pain in [Norman’s] arse as possible.”

Whereas the golfers are pleasant opponents, McIlroy says none of them prefer to lose.

“I’ve been on the wrong side of them in the Ryder Cup before I’m trying to get one back on them,” mentioned McIlroy. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner. The partner I had against them previously doesn’t quite compare to the one I’ll have on Saturday night.”

The 12-hole match will begin at 6 p.m. ET and be performed beneath the lights. It is a best-ball format, wherein every participant performs his personal ball on holes and the bottom rating of the 2 gamers counts because the workforce rating.

“I can tell you one thing: I’ve got the No. 1 player in the world on my team, so I’m good,” Woods mentioned. “He’ll have the best cheerleader he’s ever had.”

McIlroy is anticipating extra from his teammate.

Thomas and Spieth are slight favorites (-130) over McIlroy and Woods (+110), in response to oddsmakers at Caesars Sportsbook.

“[Tiger is] probably the best iron player who has ever lived,” McIlroy mentioned. “Probably the best golfer who has ever lived, period. I think if he can get it out there in the fairway and get some looks from the fairway, I think we’re going to have a very good chance.”

There figures to be loads of pleasant trash-talking beginning with the primary tee photographs.

“It’s kind of hard to trash-talk them,” Thomas mentioned. “I feel like on the first tee Jordan and I just need to get it out in the open that, OK, you guys have more majors than us, you have more FedEx Cups than us, you both have an airplane and we don’t, let’s just get that out in the open that way we don’t get it used against us in our match.”

“They’re both quick and witty,” Spieth mentioned. “I was saying to Justin that we might have to take the nice guy route, which isn’t normal for us in these types of matches.”

“Either way, it won’t work,” Woods added.