Tiger To Return In Stellar Fourball

Most of us could probably name the players in the first outing of The Match (it was Tiger vs Phil, Phil won) but after that things get a little bit sketchy. There have been six of them now and each seems to have been of less interest to anyone outside (or inside) the States as we go on.

But the next one could be a cracker with four absolute crackerjack players making up the field which should get even the most casual of golf fan to switch on. On December 10, according to the Fried Egg, we could be seeing an all-star cast of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas playing in the same fourball.

The teams have not been announced – the venue is thought to be the Pelican GC near Tampa – but you would imagine that Tiger would team up with his Nike cohort Rory while best pals and regular Presidents and Ryder Cup partners Spieth and Thomas would pair up. Then again Thomas and Tiger are very pally so that might be spicy too, whatever it is it will be good and it will likely be over 12 holes and under floodlights.

The previous week it is Tiger's Hero World Challenge event, a tournament that Woods is yet to be included in the field though there are still some spots left to fill, and the 15-time major winner was spotted playing the par-3 course at Pebble Beach in October. The following week it will be the PNC Championship (Father & Son) where he and his son Charlie played so brilliantly in finishing second behind the Dalys. Otherwise the last time that he properly teed it up was at The Open where he missed the cut at St Andrews.

This will be Woods’ third appearance in The Match having also teamed up with Peyton Manning to get his revenge on Mickelson and Tom Brady two years ago while it will be Match debut McIlroy, Spieth and Thomas although the latter did work as a commentator in the 2020 event.