by Who is the favorite to win Bryson DeChambeau’s match with Brooks Koepka against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy?
If the Official World Golf Ranking is anything to go by, it’s clear that the PGA Tour duo is likely to win the showdown in Las Vegas in December.
On Thursday, DeChambeau noted that he has now slipped to 11th in the world rankings, while five-time major champ Koepka has fallen to 65th.
Do these accurately reflect the skills of LIV players?
“Hmm, I guess we’re the underdogs,” DeChambeau posted on his X account above a screenshot of their rankings.
Koepka promptly replied: “Always.”
DeChambeau has always been outspoken on the question of whether or not LIV Golf should have received OWGR accreditation.
His exemptions from the majors were set to expire in 2025, but he will play in the Big Four for the foreseeable future after triumphing at this year’s US Open at No. 2 Pinehurst.
He previously stated that the OWGR “has shown little willingness to work productively with us.”
He argued that LIV meets all the requirements of the OWGR.
LIV Golf officially abandoned its pursuit of accreditation in March 2023, five months after chairman Peter Dawson said the 54-hole no-cut events were a problem, along with limited access for players to join the company.
“Simply put, the Executive Committee does not believe that allowing a tour to operate in this largely closed manner is fair to the thousands of players who strive every day to compete in OWGR qualifying tournaments,” Dawson said.
“The sole purpose of the OWGR is to evaluate the best players around the world. Today’s announcement makes it clear that it can no longer achieve this goal.”
“A ranking that does not fairly represent all participants, regardless of where in the world they play golf, deprives fans, players and all golf stakeholders of the objective basis underlying accurate recognition of the world’s best player achievements.”
Bryson DeChambeau
When is the showdown?
McIlroy and Scheffler will face off against DeChambeau and Koepka in an exhibition bout Shadow Creek Golf Club In Las Vegas To December 17th.
The 18-hole challenge pits two of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars against two of LIV Golf’s leading names.
The format of the competition has yet to be determined.
It is broadcast mainly on TNT.
The announcement of The Showdown came as the PGA Tour continued its discussions on a commercial agreement with the backers of LIV, the PIF of Saudi Arabia.
McIlroy described the competition as a goodwill event to give back to jaded golf fans unhappy with the unprecedented disruption to the men’s game.
Matches between the best men’s players have been rare since LIV launched in 2022.
