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Rory McIlroy won’t watch Tiger-Phil match, claims the event has “missed the mark”
Last month, Justin Thomas stated that there was zero chance of him watching Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson battle it out in Las Vegas for $9 million. Now, Rory McIlroy is the latest Tour player to say he won’t be tuning in.
McIlroy, while speaking on Tuesday at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, told reporters that Phil Mickelson had even offered to cover the pay-per-view fee for the Irishman when they discussed the match during a FedEx Cup playoff event earlier in the year. But McIlroy made it clear today that he wasn’t in the least bit interested in the event, stating
“Look, if they had a done it 15 years ago, it would have been great. But nowadays, it’s missed the mark a little bit.”
McIlroy’s comments should not be surprising. The 29-year-old is no stranger to speaking his mind, and we can only speculate on what exactly he meant with his statement that the showdown has “missed the mark a little bit.” If McIlroy is suggesting that this event has missed the mark due to the match airing on PPV, then he is likely to find many supporters of the game in agreement with him — the $19.99 price tag for the exhibition has not gone over well. Or, if the fact that neither player is putting up a dime of their own money for the contest is what has failed to pique McIlroy’s interest, then he is again likely to find many who agree with his view.
However, whether the showdown between Woods and Mickelson would have been a greater spectacle fifteen years ago compared to present day is debatable. Woods is currently a prohibitive favorite to win the contest on Thanksgiving Friday with odds of -225. But in 2003, an untouchable Woods against a major-less Mickelson could very well have been a mismatch.
The Match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson takes place on November 23 at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
What do you make of Mcilroy’s comments, GolfWRXers?
I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear
OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.
LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break
Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.
Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.
On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.
On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.
On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.
PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home
Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.
On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?
Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.
Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?
PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates
Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.
Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.
Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.
Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.
We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX
7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Bill
Nov 15, 2018 at 11:00 am
Rory doesn’t get it. Who would pay to watch Rory – Spieth. Or Rose – Koepka. It’s just good golf. A game I don’t have.
Gerry Elbridge
Nov 15, 2018 at 12:42 am
“It’s missed the mark”…so has Rory’s wedge game as of late.
Alphonzo Davidson Jr
Nov 14, 2018 at 10:20 pm
So what they are pass their prime! How many prize fighters have fought pass their prime. Do you watch the senior tour? YES you guys love watching Couples, Daly and others. Enjoy the spectacle for what it is an exhibition. The money, the sponsors are paying that. $20 bucks that’s less than you would pay for a ball cap. If you play golf you have some interest. So enjoy it.
There’s two common things in golfers that runs deep sandbagging handicaps and CHEAPNESS give it a rest.
James
Nov 14, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Rory hasn’t won much lately. I’m thinking he just can’t afford the PPV.
Tom
Nov 14, 2018 at 4:00 pm
After those pics from Tiger’s roadside arrest, I would pay to watch him drive in a demolition derby….”Tiger, Tiger, where is grampa’s automobile?”
Jim K
Nov 14, 2018 at 3:08 pm
Might have been interesting if they had a 2-man best ball match with Tiger & Phil v. two of the younger stars (Spieth & Thomas?). Players can take a lot more chances in best ball and there’s a lot more strategy involved.
Robert Edgar
Nov 14, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Boring. You could not pay me enough to watch this. A money grab from the suckers that watch.
Buster Douglas
Nov 14, 2018 at 12:55 pm
Rory is jealous. Its that simple. He only wishes he was in on it. P.S. Gianni change that photo, you look like a fruit.
Curt
Nov 14, 2018 at 12:08 pm
All I know is it’s worth watching without McIlroy and Dechambooo in it. As far as I’m concerned there’s no such thing as a good golfer anymore. There skill is all about modern equipment.
Dingo
Nov 14, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Tell me again Curt, how many extra chromosomes do you have?
Chuck
Nov 14, 2018 at 11:45 am
Rory said 10 years ago, not 15… Anyhow, it’s a boring match from two hasbeens. Weak sisters trying to relive their glory days. Wasted money and those watching are fools wasting their money.
kevin
Nov 14, 2018 at 12:21 pm
LOL its twenty bucks….ironically on the same day as most people wait in long lines to buy crap they don’t need.
to each their own, but 20 bucks for 4 hours of entertainment isnt a problem. this should be more entertaining than a typical match. there will be banter, side bets, drone footage, …
but hey, enjoy those black friday lines
Jack Nash
Nov 14, 2018 at 11:37 am
Rory is 100% correct. Two old guys reminiscing about the old days when this event might have been watchable, but certainly not now. This event could be similar to Gerardo’s Al Capones Vault.
Greg V
Nov 14, 2018 at 9:18 am
Rory just got dropped from Phil’s Christmas card list, which is fine by me.
The match is a stupid idea, and tone deaf with the destruction going on in California.
Mike
Nov 14, 2018 at 10:32 am
What? Does that mean the NFL should cancel all their games until a California wild fire is put out? I don’t think you should go to work until every immigrant child is reunited with their parents. There’s always a tragedy happening somewhere.
HearingImpaired
Nov 16, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Tone deaf with the destruction in California? I do hope you’re kidding, otherwise that’s quite possibly the most nonsensically self-righteous nonsense I’ve ever read. Good grief.
steveie
Nov 14, 2018 at 9:17 am
yes, would have been great anytime before 2008, and if they put up their own $$$. could not pay me to watch, LOL.
James Awad
Nov 14, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Funny …. I think the only way I might watch this greedfest is IF it was free & they WERE playing for their own money 🙂 – like 20% of their bank account death match…
JThunder
Nov 14, 2018 at 1:01 am
The golf world can think of nothing better to do with $9 million than have two guys at the end of their career play with no gallery and likely no TV audience… It’s a bit sick.
How about they both pony up $4.5 mil (nothing to either of them) and the money goes to the winner’s cause. SoCal wildfires? Education? Homeless? Vets without healthcare? Environment?
Johnny Penso
Nov 14, 2018 at 12:31 am
I’m all for people being free to speak their mind but IMO this is one of those things where if you have nothing nice to say, then shut the hell up. I don’t see what purpose it serves for a leading player in the game to throw shade at a one off event that he isn’t even participating in. Is your sport better off for you having trashed the event? Shut up, say it’s fine and you’ll probably watch it and hope it takes off and turns into a full on match play type event and you get invited at some point. Or don’t. It’ll live or die by it’s own merit and throwing shade on it before it’s even happened just makes you look bitter and envious and attention seeking.
Chilly P
Nov 13, 2018 at 8:58 pm
cool how you made the case that it was a stupid idea 15 years ago too. this is a yawner. No one cares. made more odious by the purse. makes them look bad. hopefully they will salvage a little face and donate the cash. feel like this will actually be awkward to watch.
Gunter Eisenberg
Nov 13, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Rory’s right. For me, if it was 17 years ago it would’ve been really relevant. Back then Tiger and Phil weren’t be best of friends back then and really wanted to beat each other up. I personally thought both were at the peak of their careers back then too. Remember, they were the final pair at the 2001 Masters. Go watch videos of it on Youtube. You could feel the tension between them and I don’t think they spoke a word to each other during that round.
Brian
Nov 13, 2018 at 5:50 pm
The winner gets 9 million for one round of golf. The Fed Ex cup winner, which the PGA tries to promote all year, has a playoff system, and is supposed to be the ultimate goal outside of majors, gets 10 million. That’s why the tour players hate it. It makes a mockery of their sport and it so called best player for that year.
DB
Nov 14, 2018 at 1:34 pm
You’re exactly right. I don’t plan on paying the PPV fee, but I’m sure many will given that Tiger and Phil are still extremely popular. The tour players giving the match a negative review are just upset that they aren’t in on the 9 million. You can guarantee if they were invited to the match they would suddenly think it’s a great idea.
8thehardway
Nov 13, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Here’s what would draw me in… They each get $1/2M to show up and $4M to bet, say $1/2M minimum, $1M max, one press allowed on the back 9, all bets must be called.
Bonus adrenaline rush – give caddies $1/2M each to bet with each other with $1K minimum.
larrybud
Nov 13, 2018 at 4:48 pm
It’s even more than that. I don’t mind the timing, even though they’re obviously both past their prime. But the fact that it’s PPV, and that there are no crowds. I mean, the crowds is what would make it fun. Who are these guys going to talk to? Who’s going to laugh at the lame jokes?
kevin
Nov 14, 2018 at 12:28 pm
i’m guessing a small crowd of 100 or so of who’s who among celebs and media.