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
Daly, the son of legendary pro John Daly, enters Sunday at the Puerto Rico Open three shots back, something he couldn’t have done a couple years ago when he was a “bad driver of the golf ball” and battling his swing.
Jordan Spieth couldn’t find his ball in the rough at the 12th hole Saturday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and nearby fans helped him search for and eventually find it.
Rory McIlroy withdrew Saturday before his third-round tee time at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Todd Lewis reports on his “lower back” injury.
McIlroy left the driving range ahead of his third-round tee time Saturday at Bay Hill Club and Lodge.
Continuing the Tiger legacy series, Woods sits down with Max Homa and, in Part 1, discusses his friendship with the King of golf, Arnold Palmer.
Akshay Bhatia shot a Friday-best 6-under 66 and ascended to solo second on the Bay Hill Club leaderboard. He sits five strokes off leader Daniel Berger. Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy and Sahith Theegala all enjoyed strong second round performances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Making his PGA Tour debut, John Daly II played a bogey-free round on Friday. He enters the weekend tied for seventh and six shots behind leader Chandler Blanchet.
Jacob Bridgeman and Chris Gotterup joined Smylie Kaufman to talk about their friendship and success on PGA Tour this year. Bridgeman, fresh off his win at the Genesis Invitational, spoke about shaking hands with Tiger Woods. Gotterup, the Sony Open and WM Phoenix Open winner, hosted Bridgeman and his wife during last week as the two golfers prepped for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Check out the best moments from this “Happy Hour with Smylie presented by Michelob Ultra.”
Chandler Blanchet leads the field at Grand Reserve Golf Club by four strokes. Gordon Sargent sits in a solo second, while a pair of amateurs are making a splash in Rio Grande. John Daly II shot a 5-under 67 on Friday and sits T-7. Fellow amateur Kihei Akina recorded three birdies during his second round and is T-12 entering the weekend.
Berger followed his opening 63 with a 68 Friday at Bay Hill to move five shots clear of Akshay Bhatia through 36 holes.