News
“The Match”: Tiger vs. Phil confirmed for Thanksgiving weekend…on PPV
Thanksgiving weekend is the date set for Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson, an event being called “The Match.” Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada, will host the $9 million winner-take-all match. And for those not lucky enough to be able to attend the showdown, the match will be shown live on pay-per-view via DirectTV, B/R Live and other on-demand platforms.
The decision to broadcast the event on PPV has unsurprisingly not gone down too well with some golf fans. Many have taken to social media platforms to vent their disapproval.
When you think you're gonna be able to watch Tiger vs. Phil for free: pic.twitter.com/aW693MNwve
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) August 22, 2018
I’m not paying to watch Tiger vs Phil… Nope! @PGA
— – (@AlexDub182821) August 22, 2018
Well now that Tiger vs Phil is now going to be on PPV, I definitely will not be watching it. What a waste
— Bryan Campos (@bhope18) August 22, 2018
Am I the only golf fan that saw #thematch (Tiger vs. Phil) is going to be on PPV and thought “I like golf but I’m not paying to watch this”??
— Adam Hayford (@adamhay12) August 22, 2018
Hours before the confirmation of the event, Phil Mickelson entered the Twittersphere, the timing unlikely to be a coincidence. “Lefty” took some time out of his day to draw Tiger into what is surely the lightest jabbing a PPV event has ever seen. One can only hope that the trash-talk ramps up a little the closer we get to Thanksgiving weekend.
Phil also confirmed via ESPN that the duo and their caddies will be mic’d up:
“With only two guys, we should have a total different experience with fans, because we will have smaller galleries that won’t necessarily have ropes that can walk inside the fairway and up near the greens. We’ll have mics on both us and our caddies and you’ll be able to hear all of the banter as well as commentating that will be more interactive. The idea is not just to have this great match but to have this interactive experience so fans can see something that they’ve never seen in televised golf before.”
While the event is winner-take-all, reports also say that Phil and Tiger will be able to make side bets throughout the match, with the winnings going to charity.
Las Vegas Superbook has released early odds on the showdown, making Woods a -180 favorite over Mickelson (+150).
Does the lack of money being staked personally by either man lessen your interest in the event? Is the decision to air the match on PPV a blown opportunity to grow the game? Will you be purchasing the match? Will Phil hang around on Twitter after Thanksgiving weekend?
Let us know what you think!
In our forums, one user is wondering how many birdies other players have had in a round while still failing to break par. @Lalan45, unfortunately, asked the question after a unique experience of their own.
They wrote:
“Today I managed 8 birdies but still shot even par, could have been a round to remember! What’s the most birdies you’ve made in a round and still didn’t break par?”
Our members in the forum shared their own experiences with successful rounds that still resulted in a score over par. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- kwcsports: “I’ve had 5 a few times, still shot 80+ haha.”
- jda: “I played a course for the first time, had 8 birdies, 9 doubles and an eagle. The infamous no-par round. I kept the scorecard. Every shot had a creek that I did not know about, or I was within 8-10 feet for a birdie look. To this day, I have no idea if I should be really jacked up or mad about that performance.”
- jvincent: “I think my record is either 5 or 6. Probably shot 75.”
- Instron4204: “3 birdies and shot a 92…man I suck!”
In our forums, one user is asking for thoughts on the best stock shafts offered in 2026. Stock shafts are the shafts included with a club when it’s purchased from retailers or OEMs.
@DTorres asked:
The last couple years has seen a lot of updates and additions to no upcharge stock shafts, which do you think is the best offering in 2026?
Im a bit of a shaft nerd and recently during my Members Testing with the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond I found the updated Project X Denali Frost Black to be a fantastic stock shaft. I absolutely did not mesh well with the original Denali. Just curious what other people think are the current best Stock shaft offerings out with new models and stock Ventus options and LinQ options popping up here and there.
We were given the option for any stock shafts for our members review. I went with the 70g Black Frost 6.5 because it’s a shaft I don’t have, it’s an updated version of the original Denali and hear little about. I typically use a Diamana WB, GD VF or a HOF Raptor. I’m not saying it was neck and neck with any of those but it was a pleasant surprise I’m not accustomed to in stock shaft offerings.
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own thoughts on the best stock shafts available in 2026. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- rsballer10: “IMO – MCA Ka’ili White Darkwave, Tensei 1k Black/white, UST Lin-Q White. People are free to spend their money however they see fit, but for me personally the shaft catalogs these days have enough options that I don’t see the value of a $400 upcharge. I have never had a problem finding a no upcharge shaft that fits the bend profile and weight that I need. Whether the paint job is good enough or not is above my pay scale.”
- bcflyguy1: “Project X Titan Black. I’ve had one in 60TX in my Quantum TD Max for several weeks now. Have to give Titlieist their flowers for finding a way to make it available as a featured option; very shrewd bit of business and one that I suspect will be duplicated by the other companies. TT/PX have a certified banger on their hands with Titan.”
- CTG77: “Undoubtedly, it’s the Tensei 1K RIP shafts from Titleist. The Tensei line gives about 98% of the performance of a Ventus VeloCore+ shaft at a tiny fraction of the cost if you’re looking for a blue or red profile. The white is not an exact match for Ventus Black, but it’s closer to it than the non-VeloCore+ Ventus shafts that come from Callaway or formerly came from TaylorMade.”
A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.
As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.
Let’s get to the gifts.
Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo
We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.
STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover
If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.
Why Golf: Putting Thing
When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.
OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes
Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!
Therabody Theragun Relief
A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down.
World Cup golf apparel
Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.
FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes
Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.
Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker
Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.
Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls
The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!
- GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
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Tom
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:45 am
Two more “turkeys” on Thanksgiving..
HDTVMAN
Aug 23, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Will be in Vegas next month. WOW, who should I put my $$$ on? Last year I bet on Vegas to win the Stanley Cup at 100:1 and ALMOST won! Guess I’ll have to look at the odds and maybe put a few $$$ on both! Off hand I think Phil will put too much pressure on himself…guess Tiger gets the bets. Should be fun to watch…although I’ll find a bar as I’m not paying!!!!
Mark
Aug 23, 2018 at 4:24 pm
PPV and they’re not putting up their own money? No f’n way I’m watching this!
Andy
Aug 23, 2018 at 12:37 pm
In the promo graphic: Did Tiger hit the ball with the back of that left handed driver?
Majduffer
Aug 23, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Evidently these old duffers couldn’t get enough sponsors to fork over the bucks
as they see this as a revenue loss. I will not pay to see golf on TV especially when these 2 dudes are the richest golfers. If they really cared about their fans, then they would put this on free TV. Shame on you Phil and Tiger.
~j~
Aug 23, 2018 at 10:56 am
Is this thing organized by Dana White? Between holes we get to watch replay rounds of Connor vs Floyd as well?
I was only mildly interested to begin with. Game changes drastically when its YOUR money on the line. Plus I’m willing to bet Tiger and Phil are already making money on this all kinds of ways before that $9M (what happened to $10M) will be decided.
I love golf. I DVR every round and save the good ones. But this is tumbling down a major fail.
Not to mention all the ‘banter’ is sure to curve the aesthetics of the game as well. Do they get to scream ‘Noonan’ on each others putts?
Lobber
Aug 23, 2018 at 10:19 am
It’s disappointing to see golf move into the world of pay for view. While it might be entertaining I have no interest in watching if it is priced like some of the PPV fights. If it is priced reasonably I might consider tuning in if I have family around for the holiday.
Kevin
Aug 23, 2018 at 9:38 am
I’m a die hard golf fan. i’ll watch pga, european, heck, i dvr’d last week lpga so i could get a look at the Brickyard course….
i absolutely will not watch this match if its on PPV. This reeks of nothing more than a money grab for everyone involved while scrwing over the fans. i actually think going PPV will end up creating a little more animosity by fans towards tiger and phil.
Matty
Aug 23, 2018 at 8:42 am
Tiger or Phil don’t need the money, I think they want to put something on that will be fun to watch where the can be themselves. I bet the all the money either one of them receives will donated to Charity. There is so much hate in this forum from a much of fuddy duddys when ever Tigers name is brought up. I also agree that I would pay maybe 40 max to watch if its more than that then I my have a problem paying to see it.
BettiBoop
Aug 23, 2018 at 6:35 am
PPV…not a chance.
Pube-lic
Aug 23, 2018 at 2:53 am
PBS?
Robert H Olson
Aug 23, 2018 at 1:19 am
No Thanks! They are both worth millions, and they want us to PAY (again) to watch mediocre golf on TV????? None for me.
Rascal
Aug 23, 2018 at 12:51 am
This should be aired on the community access channel.
Tom
Aug 23, 2018 at 12:25 am
Will Phil be wearing one of those sweet long sleeve dress shirts, maybe with a tie and cuff links?
Wes
Aug 22, 2018 at 10:27 pm
I will be buying this 100%!!! I wish they both had to put up a million or so of their own money. All proceeds should be going to charity.
Steve
Aug 22, 2018 at 10:17 pm
Horrible decision IMO
KCNM
Aug 22, 2018 at 9:31 pm
Everyone needs to relax on the “I’m not paying to watch golf” trip until we see the price. If it’s $9,99, great. $129, not so great and deserving of grief.
mike
Aug 23, 2018 at 8:24 am
gotta agree, they are trying to do something different, they run their own businesses who are we to tell them to make less money, and they combined have given more money to charity likely then all Golfwrxers combined. Ill happily pay 10-20 bucks for 4-5 hrs of this content, if they are trying to charge $80-$100 then its not too hard to find content for free online.
Jlonz
Aug 23, 2018 at 8:52 am
I also agree, let’s wait on a price before we start complaining. I won’t mind paying $10-$20 to watch this. Kind of surprising though that this wasn’t just aired for public viewing and charging business $$$ for commercial slots.
Kevin
Aug 23, 2018 at 9:40 am
When is the last time an event went to ppv for $9.99?