OPTUM GOLF CHANNEL GAMES
By design, the Optum Golf Channel Games never stopped moving on Wednesday night, under the lights at Trump National Jupiter, where Scottie Scheffler’s team edged Rory McIlroy’s squad by the slimmest of margins.
Reliving top moments from the Golf Channel Games
As the PGA Tour hits the Sunshine State, we look back at some of the best moments from December's Golf Channel Games in South Florida, courtesy The Curetivity Foundation. The Curetivity Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to create hope and cure kids by raising funds and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer.
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Scottie Scheffler nipped Rory McIlroy in a playoff to win the inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games. See how the event played out in Jupiter, Florida.
CHALLENGE EXPLAINERS
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Power and precision takes center stage in the first competition of the Golf Channel Games, where each team will go head-to-head driving six balls to earn points.
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Poise and precision take center stage in the second competition of the Golf Channel Games, where each team will go head-to-head chipping and pitching before racing to the green to show off their putting skills.
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Teamwork and speed will be the name of the game during the third competition of the Golf Channel Games, an exciting team relay.
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Competition 4 of the Golf Channel Games features a 14-Club Challenge, where strategy meets skill as players get one shot with one club to get as close to the pin as they can, earning points in the process.
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The Captain’s Challenge of the Golf Channel Games features Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy going head-to-head hitting 10 shots from various locations to gain the most points.
TEAM SCHEFFLER
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads a team of four Americans against Rory McIlroy’s international squad.
Keegan Bradley, the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, will team with three other Americans against Rory McIlroy’s international team.
Burns, a five-time PGA Tour winner, is part of captain Scottie Scheffler’s team at the Optum Golf Channel Games.
Clanton, a former world No. 1 amateur, is part of captain Scottie Scheffler’s team at the Optum Golf Channel Games.
TEAM MCILROY
World No. 2 McIlroy leads a team of four international players against Scottie Scheffler’s American squad.
Donald, the two-time winning European Ryder Cup captain, will be part of Rory McIlroy’s international team.
Lowry, who sealed the Ryder Cup for Europe, will join good friend Rory McIlroy as part of the international team.
Li, a four-time DP World Tour winner from China, is part of Rory McIlroy’s international team.
MORE NEWS
Sudarshan Yellamaraju learned the game through watching videos on YouTube with his dad. Now, the 24-year-old PGA Tour rookie is finishing in the top 5 of “major” tournaments.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju grinded to make the 36-hole cut at TPC Sawgrass. He made the best of his weekend, ascending to T-5 at the 2026 Players Championship thanks in large part to a 4-under 68 on Sunday.
Cameron Young is the biggest mover inside the top 20 in this week’s Official World Golf Ranking, up to No. 4 from No. 15. But Sudarshan Yellamaraju undoubtedly wins highest riser of the week. Where does the rookie rank after his T-5 finish at The Players?
Xander Schauffele challenged for the lead at TPC Sawgrass and enters as the favorite to win at Palm Harbor over defending champ Viktor Hovland.
Cameron Young joined the Golf Channel desk in studio after he won the 2026 Players Championship on Sunday and broke down his final round. Young discussed his thought process on No. 18 after driving the ball into the water yesterday.
Matt Fitzpatrick saw the crowd turn against him at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday afternoon as he lost a lead to Cameron Young over the final three holes. Fitzpatrick said the boos for him and applause for Young down the stretch was nothing compared to what he faced as a member of the European team at the 2025 Ryder Cup held in Bethpage Black, N.Y.
Ludvig Åberg spoke to the media after the final round of The Players on Sunday and talked about falling from the lead to finish tied for fifth.
Matt Fitzpatrick said competing down the final stretch of holes at the 2026 Players Championship was “child’s play” compared to the nerves of playing in front of the Ryder Cup crowds at Bethpage Black last fall.
Check out highlights from the final round of The Players Championship. There was lots of movement on the leaderboard on Sunday, which led to a thrilling finish at TPC Sawgrass.
Here’s how the week played out on the Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.