Of the 4 gamers competing within the ninth iteration of The Match, solely Rory McIlroy had competed on this exhibition collection earlier than.

His expertise on this competitors was evident, because the four-time main champion appeared comfy towards Match rookies Max Homa, Lexi Thompson, and Rose Zhang.

McIlroy dominated the competitors, profitable three skins, which equated to $800,000. He then took house the ultimate pores and skin by way of a closest-to-the-pin contest, netting one other $1.1 million for charity.

However earlier than he knocked it inside 5 ft of the opening to shut out The Match, McIlroy made a beneficiant announcement on the twelfth tee—the ultimate gap. He informed TNT’s viewers {that a} buddy would donate an extra $500,000 to the occasion. That finally elevated McIlroy’s winnings to $2.4 million, which can go to the First Tee group.

Photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photographs

The day started with a halve on the par-5 1st gap. That meant the pores and skin cash from the opening gap carried over to the drivable par-4 second, the place fireworks shortly sparked the competitors.

Thompson hit her drive simply off the inexperienced and confronted a 35-foot eagle putt from the perimeter. She then holed it, thus profitable the opening and the primary two skins of the match. It netted her $200,000, however sadly, that was the ultimate gap she or anybody not named McIlroy would win.

Two holes later, on the par-4 4th, The Match featured a “One Membership Problem.”

Every participant needed to choose an unique membership—which means no participant may use the identical one—they usually may solely use that one membership for the whole period of the opening.

McIlroy chosen a 5-wood, whereas Homa went with a 7-wood. Thompson opted for a 4-iron, Zhang a 4-hybrid.

One way or the other, McIlroy salvaged a par, whereas the others appeared like double-digit handicappers. That awarded the Northern Irishman two skins, because the par-3 third gap was halved.

On the par-3 fifth, McIlroy hit it the closest to the pin, which netted an extra $100,000, however everybody made par, so the pores and skin carried over to the sixth.

Photograph by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Photographs

McIlroy simply received that gap, and all of the sudden, he had $500,000 within the financial institution.

After one other halve on the seventh, McIlroy made a secular, two-putt par on the eighth.

However the others round him collapsed on the greens, with Homa faltering essentially the most. The previous California Golden Bear three-putted from 15 ft, which included a miss from about three ft. McIlroy made Homa putt it, and that technique netted McIlroy one other two skins value $300,000.

By the point the group arrived on the ninth tee, McIlroy had $800,000 whereas Thompson had $200,000. Homa and Zhang had nothing.

And but, the group squared the ultimate three holes, which means that all of it got here all the way down to the par-5 twelfth, the place anybody may have received.

Just like the ninth, tenth, and eleventh, no person emerged victorious on the twelfth, thus leaving the $1.6 million pores and skin up for grabs.

The foursome then went again to the twelfth fairway for a closest-to-the-pin competitors from 100 yards out, and McIlroy put the strain on by going first and sticking it to 4 ft.

No one got here near that, which means McIlroy received The Match for the primary time in his profession.

He final competed on this exhibition occasion in December 2022, when he and Tiger Woods misplaced 3 & 2 to Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth at Pelican Golf Membership.

Alas, this iteration of The Match was maybe the most effective but. It featured extraordinary banter between every participant and offered a platform for 2 of the largest stars within the girls’s sport. We want extra of this within the years to come back, and hopefully, Capital One and Turner Sports activities—who assist produce The Match—acknowledge this want and convey golf followers extra blended occasions sooner or later.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.