It might not have been as compelling as some had hoped, but at least golf fans got to watch Tiger Woods on a golf course — under the lights on a Saturday night, no less.
Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas took down Woods and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy 3 and 2 in 10 holes of the seventh edition of The Match at Pelican Golf Club outside Tampa, Florida.
Woods, who was competing for the first time since missing the cut at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July, had a few good moments but the competition belonged to Spieth and JT. The winning duo combined to make seven birdies to take down their opponents. Woods and McIlroy combined for just one.
Still, it was a good night and a fun event that raised millions of dollars for relief efforts in Florida after the devastation of Hurricane Ian.
“The fact that we were able to do something under the lights that never before happened in our sport, to be able to grow it in a different way,” Woods told TNT when he was asked what he would remember most. “Also, the people who got devastated by Hurricane Ian. We were able to create a lot more funds, a lot more opportunities for people to regrow back here, and that’s important. We’re Floridians. I know from the eastern side what kind of devastation it can do. These people are left with no homes and no lives, and I’m glad we were all able to come together and do something about it.”
Woods, 46, has competed in two previous editions of The Match, but it was the debuts for McIlroy, Spieth and Thomas. Here’s how The Match played out:
That’s a wrap
And that’s that. JT and Spieth took down Rory and Tiger. “Second place isn’t bad, guys,” Thomas told McIlroy and Woods after Spieth’s winning putt.
Hey Tiger and Rory …
WHAT…
