Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekIncluded Columnist IVFebruary 27, 2024
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for The Match
Capital One's The Match 9 comes from Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy beat the four-golfer field of Max Homa, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang on Monday at the Park Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the very first version of the occasion that included both PGA and LPGA stars.
The triumph was available in something of an overtime, as McIlroy struck it closest to the pin on the reward hole after 4 straight carry-over ties to end the competitors.
Golf Digest @GolfDigest
100 Yards ➡ 4 feet. > #CapitalOnesTheMatch> pic.twitter.com/h4HEOfsOOq
While previous editions of The Match included groups and professional athletes from other sports such as Tom Brady, Stephen Curry and Patrick Mahomes, this year's was a 12-hole skins match under the lights that included every golf enthusiast on their own.
Everybody however McIlroy made their Match launching, as the four-time significant champ coordinated with Tiger Woods to deal with Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in 2022.
The format was brand-new for even him, however, as the skin worths, which were contributed to charity, were as follows:
- Holes 1 to 4: $100,000 each
- Holes 5 to 8: $150,000 each
- Holes 9 to 11: $200,000 each
- Hole 12: $500,000
It was the ladies who set the tone early with Zhang connecting Homa on the very first hole with a birdie and Thompson draining pipes an amazing eagle putt from simply off the green for the very first skin and the carried-over $200,000 on the 2nd hole.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Lexi Thompson sunk this eagle for $200K > #CapitalOnesTheMatch> pic.twitter.com/jCS6HyLGVx
McIlroy rapidly recuperated from falling into the bunker by winning the one-club difficulty with a 5 wood on the 4th hole. That was likewise great for $200,000 after he and Homa divided the par-three 3rd hole with almost similar tee shots.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Rory fell under the bunker > #CapitalOnesTheMatch> pic.twitter.com/jY1pw3RkTa
PGA TOUR @PGATOUR
Bumper golf > @MaxHoma> @McIlroyRory> pic.twitter.com/V4EJbLtcca
Golf Digest @GolfDigest
Now you're simply displaying, > @McIlroyRory<. a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CapitalOnesTheMatch?src=hash%7CTAXOPRESSENTITY038TAXOPRESSENTITY%7Cref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">> #CapitalOnesTheMatch> pic.twitter.com/49vpsVzkHD
From there, McIlroy provided when the cash increased with a stunning technique shot from the sand to establish a $300,000 birdie on the 6th after connecting and rollovering the 5th.
It was his competitors to lose at that point, and he opened an enormous lead when Homa three-putted from within 16 feet on the 8th. That provided McIlroy another carry-over hole after connecting the seventh, bringing his overall to $800,000 and $600,000 clear of Thompson's second-best mark entering into the big-money holes.
He developed that lead while Homa was playing from the bushes and Zhang was getting ready for rather the day on Tuesday:
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
MAX HOMA HIT THIS OUT THE BUSH > #CapitalOnesTheMatch
