Scheffler, McIlroy too much for Koepka, DeChambeau

Protagonists in the Crypto.com Showdown at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas are shown above. From left: Americans Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF LIVGOLF
After an impressive 2024 season, Scottie Scheffler capped off his year with a victory for his home tour on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
The world No. 1 and recently crowned PGA Tour Player of the Year secured the winning half-point alongside Rory McIlroy, dominating LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in the Crypto.com Showdown at Shadow Creek.
The four competitors faced off in three match play formats: four-ball (best ball), alternate shot and singles, with Scheffler and McIlroy remaining undefeated across all three.
They kicked things off with a 3 and 2 win in four-ball, sealed by an eagle from McIlroy, before claiming a 1-up victory in alternate shot. Needing just a half-point to clinch the Showdown in singles, Scheffler made a birdie on the par-5 16th hole after Koepka missed his birdie attempt, sealing the win under the Las Vegas lights.
Scheffler and McIlroy earned $10 million in cryptocurrency for their triumph. “Playing under the lights was fun, but really challenging,” said Scheffler, who won seven PGA Tour events and an Olympic gold medal in 2024. “We made a statement right from the start and kept the momentum going.”
The Showdown itself was a significant event, marking the first meeting between stars from the two rival tours outside of golf’s four major tournaments. During the pre-tournament press conference, DeChambeau expressed hopes that the Showdown could evolve into a full-scale Ryder Cup-style event in the future.
While all four players wore microphones, there was little banter between the teams, and the frustration of the LIV golfers became clear as the night progressed. They didn’t record a birdie until the fifth alternate-shot hole, when Koepka sank a putt and remarked, “welcome to the tournament” as he walked to the next hole.
That birdie tied the match with one hole remaining, but on the final hole, DeChambeau left a long birdie putt well short, and Koepka missed a 10-footer for par.
Meanwhile, McIlroy made a 4-footer for par, giving his team a commanding 2-0 lead heading into singles.
Scheffler sealed the victory with a half-point in his singles match against Koepka, while McIlroy was 1-up over DeChambeau with two holes to play when play ended.
“I’d love another chance,” DeChambeau said afterward. “It was kind of a pillow fight for us. We didn’t really give them much to work with.”
