One of golf’s most popular made-for-TV events of recent years is back next month and the game’s top-two players, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, will headline it once again.
The return of the Optum Golf Channel Games will take place in primetime at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter on Dec. 16, with Team Rory battling Team Scottie. McIlroy’s squad will include Matt Fitzpatrick, Si Woo Kim and Haotong Li, while Chris Gotterup, Michael Brennan and Jackson Koivun will join Scheffler’s team. Only Scheffler, McIlroy and Li return from last year’s competition.
The Optum Golf Channel Games debuted last year as a unique and welcome change in the crowded world of made-for-TV golf events, as its quirky format added an additional layer of intrigue.
Last year’s event featured a 14-club challenge, team relay, timed challenges and more. The team relay and 14-club challenges are back again this year, and new, yet-to-be-announced games will be added as well.
“The inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games proved that a unique format showcasing the best players in the world under the pressure of a running clock produces a kind of energy we don’t normally see in our sport,” said Tom Knapp, Golf Channel EVP and GM, in a press release Monday. “That energy translated to the viewers at home and we’re excited to build off of last year’s momentum with this group of elite golfers, leaning into what worked well last year and implementing some new challenges this year.”
The event begins at 7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel and USA Network and will be played under the lights at Trump Jupiter in Jupiter, Fla.
