Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, each a major champion over the past two years at LIV Golf, will face the PGA Tour’s Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in a made-for-television match at Shadow Creek, Nevada, on December 17.
Scheffler is the No. 1 player in the world after a nine-win season, including another Masters tournament and an Olympic gold medal. He faced Koepka and DeChambeau only four times.
Koepka was asked if Scheffler would have been able to win as much if he had a full all-star lineup.
“Scottie has had a hell of a year. “I think this is probably one of the best years he’s ever seen on this tour,” Koepka said Tuesday.
“Bryson had a hell of a year – he played 10 times better than me. I played with him enough to know what he could do on the PGA Tour. We all have a good feeling about how we would perform on any given route.
“I think he (Scheffler) would have won a lot of his golf tournaments,” Koepka said. “But I think we would have put up a good fight. It would be interesting.”
He thinks “The Crypto.com Showdown” at Shadow Creek north of Las Vegas will be enough to pique fans’ interest. Not only is it a rare chance outside the majors to see the best of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, but it also has a team element.
“Let’s be honest, wouldn’t you like to see an LIV versus PGA Tour Ryder Cup match? That’s what it’s all about,” Koepka said. “This is becoming a big thing. That’s what will attract fans.”
With the exception of a handful of DP World Tour events, the stars of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour meet only four times a year in major tournaments. The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf, and PGA Tour Enterprises are negotiating a trade agreement. It remains to be seen how PIF’s minority investment will reunite the golf world.
“What we do is unique in golf. It could start something that goes into the future,” Koepka said.
The PGA Tour ended with a match in Las Vegas, bringing Scheffler and McIlroy to play. This is at least the beginning of more appearances, even if neither Koepka nor DeChambeau have any idea what that might look like.
“The matchup is a great opportunity to bring both routes closer together,” DeChambeau said.
“And I think what we’re doing is that next year, we all agree, we’ll do something bigger and badder, so that we can see the majority of the best players on both sides compete a few times – at least once more.”
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