The Letdown

Last week The Showdown took place. Billed as PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf, it featured Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy vs. Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. On the surface, this appeared to be an exciting match golf fandom wanted to see. Instead, those of us who watched witnessed a snooze fest of decent golf with the players exhibiting little to no personality. The Showdown ended up The Letdown.

Played at famed Shadow Creek in Las Vegas under the lights (yes, night golf), I was hopeful for a fun and exciting match. A clip of Rory and Bryson on the range talking to fans before the event turned out to be the best part of the match. Rory commented on how he wanted to pay Bryson back for what he did to him at The US Open last year. Bryson shot back good naturedly, “You kinda did that to yourself.”

Brooks smirked. Rory went speechless. The gallery laughed.

This is what I wanted to see. Some of the best players in the world jabbing each other with good natured trash talk just like what happens in a Saturday morning group at the local course.

Unfortunately, this was the highlight of the entire event in terms of the players.

What we ended getting treated to was average golf, players riding around in carts with little talking from the players. Brooks looked disinterested. Scottie was Scottie. Rory proved he is devoid of personality on the course and Bryson reverted to his previous aloof persona he exhibited in his years on the PGA Tour. Bryson even removed his earpiece at one point.

The weather looked cold. Bryson wore a long winter coat riding in the golf cart between shots. While it was chilly, the coat looked to be somewhat over the top as the temps were in the low 50’s by the conclusion of the event. Granted, the wind chill would have been down in the 40’s. Still, the winter coat was a bit much.

Night golf can be entertaining to watch with the right venue. Shadow Creek was not that venue. Too much of the course was, as it’s named, in the shadows. It just didn’t present well on TV for a night golf event.

With only one foursome competing, it makes for bad live TV if there is no banter taking place between the players. There is too much down time between shots. Frankly, it was boring watching the players drive silently in their carts to the next hole.

The announcers did their best to entertain the audience. Feherty was his usual self. Barkley is an engaging personality and provided the best moment in the broadcast talking about balls (he was asking about golf balls) which prompted the obligatory sophomoric wisecracks. This moment was pretty much the highlight of the match.

If matches like this are to continue to be broadcast, they need to be pre-recorded and edited down. We want to see golf not players riding around pretty much in silence in golf carts. This used to be done with “Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.” The match between 2 PGA Tour players or a tour player and a celebrity were pre-taped and provided some fun golf. Forget these matches as live events.

Last, I keep saying this all the time. Professional golf needs players with personality. We need a Trevino or a Chi Chi or even a Palmer. These players were entertaining even when not at their best. Find players who are willing to talk some friendly smack to one another. Bring some laughs and light-heartedness to it.

The Showdown was a major letdown. The players played average golf and brought nothing to the broadcast in terms of banter. The course proved to be the wrong venue for night golf. Frankly, it was flat out boring.

Rant over.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! There will not be a newsletter next week.

Until then, as always, be thankful when you play. Be grateful you have the privilege and opportunity to play this amazing game. Now, go golf!