Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson may be joining Rory McIlroy and Max Homa at ‘The Match’ in 2024
Women’s golf might return to ‘The Match’ for the next edition if Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson participate. They would be joining Rory McIlroy and Max Homa in the field.
The involvement of LPGA Tour stars was confirmed on Friday, November 17, by writer Adam Schupak via Golfweek. According to reports, the next edition of The Match (the ninth) would be contested in a mixed format rather than women vs. men.
??⛳️ #NEW; The next edition of the match will reportedly feature Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang, Rory McIlroy and Max Homa. It was slated to happen at The Park in West Palm Beach by year end but that has been pushed to next year, per @golfweek @HomaLegion @RoseZhangLegion…
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) November 17, 2023
Golfweek also revealed that ‘The Match’ will be held at The Park Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The event was originally scheduled to take place on December 15; however, it was eventually postponed.
It should be noted that the Grant Thornton Invitational will take place in December. Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson will also take part.
Given the postponement, ‘The Match’ is likely to be played in the first quarter of 2024; however, it has yet to be ruled out that the event may need to be postponed until the second quarter.
Rory McIlroy and Max Homa’s attendance has yet to be officially confirmed. This would be Homa’s first appearance in ‘The Match,’ while McIlroy would be returning after appearing in the December 2022 edition.
What exactly is ‘The Match’, and how does it work?
The Match is a golf tournament sponsored by the banking firm Capital One. Its mission is to collect cash for a variety of charity causes. According to official figures, it has raised $33 million throughout its eight editions.
It differs significantly from traditional golf tournaments due to its nature (exhibition event). It is conceived as a television program, is shown at night, and is not limited to professional players.
The format has also changed from edition to edition. The four-ball format was used in the eighth edition, which took place in June 2023.
Golfers and other sports celebrities have both attended the event. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau are among the golfers who have competed.
Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Charles Barkley, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson are among the other sports stars.
If Rose Zhang and Lexi Thompson are confirmed to compete in the ninth edition, they will be the event’s first female competitors. They are two of the most popular LPGA Tour players, one new and one seasoned.
Rose Zhang is in her first professional season, which began in June 2023. She does, however, already have one triumph at the top level, in addition to other outstanding accomplishments. Prior to it, she had one of the most successful amateur careers in history.
Lexi Thompson, on the other hand, is only 28 years old and already one of the most legendary players in global golf. She has 11 LPGA Tour victories, including a Major. In 2023, she made her PGA Tour debut (Shriners Children’s Open); however, she missed the cut by three strokes.
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