Optum Golf Channel Games 2025: Team Scheffler beats Team McIlroy by 1 inch

Thanks to Scottie’s playoff win over Rory, his team is the inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games champion.

Playing a 47-yard shot, Rory hits first to around 6 feet and Scottie follows to a similar distance ... a very similar distance.

A rules official brings out the measuring tape and determines the Scheffler nipped McIlroy by an inch.

We’re on to a playoff — closest-to-the-pin competition from 47 yards between Rory and Scottie.

Putting from 15 feet, Rory drains it, making Scottie’s putt inconsequential.

Rory wins the captain’s challenge, which is worth two points for the overall competition.

Chipping from off the green, Scottie hits to 10 feet and Rory to inside 4 feet.

Rory 6, Scottie 1.

From the “crowd,” Scheffler’s ball settles on the bulkhead. Rory’s shot comes up short of the green. Neither earns a point.

Rory 5, Scottie 1.

From a greenside bunker, Rory barely keeps his ball dry. Scottie safely finds the green.

Rory 5, Scottie 1.

From 47 yards, Rory spins it to 4 feet and Scheffler can’t get inside him.

Rory 5, Scottie 0.

From 100 yards, Scottie to 18 feet, Rory to 8 feet.

Rory 4, Scottie 0.

From 125 yards, McIlroy to 20 feet, Scheffler to 10 feet.

Rory 3, Scottie 0.

From 150 yards, McIlroy to 9 feet and Scheffler ... in the water!

Rory 3, Scottie -1.

From 175 yards, McIlroy goes first this time and hits it to 25 feet. Scheffler, again, goes through the green.

Rory 2, Scottie 0.

200 yards, Scheffler cuts a 4-iron through the green. No points. McIlroy hits a “stock” 5-iron to 8 feet. 1 point.

McIlroy and Scheffler will hit from predetermined locations. There are 10 shots total from various distances, including a 15-foot putt to close. Water balls will cost them points, though.

One challenge remains but it’s not over yet. The final competition is worth two points.

Scheffler and Burns beat McIlroy and Donald, 2-1. Scheffler hit his first two shots, and that proved to be enough.

Scheffler, 8-iron: hit
McIlroy, 9-iron: hit
Burns, 7-iron: miss
Donald, 6-iron: miss
Scheffler, PW: hit
McIlroy, 5-iron: miss
Burns, hybrid: miss
Donald, 3-iron: miss
Scheffler, GW: miss
McIlroy, SW: miss
Burns, 3-wood: miss
Donald, driver: miss
Scheffler, LW: miss
McIlroy, putter: miss
Burns, left-handed 4-iron: miss
Donald, left-handed 4-iron: miss

Clanton teamed with Bradley to beat Li and Lowry, 3-1. Here’s how it played out:

Lowry, 7-iron: miss
Bradley, 6-iron: miss
Li, 8-iron: hit
Clanton, 9-iron: miss
Lowry, PW: miss
Bradley, 5-iron: hit (low-flight stinger!)
Li, GW: miss
Clanton, SW: hit
Lowry, 4-iron: miss
Bradley, hybrid: miss
Li, LW: miss
Clanton, 3-wood: hit (teed high and face wide open)
Lowry, driver: miss
Li, left-handed 6-iron: miss
Clanton, left-handed 5-iron: miss

Two teams of two players from each side will square off, drawing a club from a single bag (including driver and putter) in a closest-to-the-pin competition from a designated distance in the fairway. All 14 clubs will be used — seven shots per player per side — and once a club is used, it’s out. Each team will also pick a player to hit a lefty 15th shot.

It’s playing about 170 yards, according to Smylie Kaufman, with the temperature and wind.

It only gets better from here with the 14-club challenge up next.

Needing to beat 30 seconds or beat a ‘4,’ Team Rory did both on their final try. Lowry made a 15-foot birdie putt to give his side their first challenge win.

Fortunately for Lowry, he avoided McIlroy’s approach shot the first time, to be around for attempt No. 2.

Keegan’s confusing Scottie, HTL’s confusing the horn blower, but what was certain: Team Scheffler needed to make a ‘4' to win the session, and they did that the second time around.

One session remaining to determine who wins this competition. Back to the par-4 ninth.

There were some great shots and some water balls on the par-4 ninth. Playing the hole twice, neither team made better than bogey, but Team Rory did so in 27 seconds to claim that session.

Playing the par-4 first hole, the first time around:

Scheffler’s team made a ‘4' in 36 seconds. McIlroy’s team made a ‘4' in ... 37 seconds!

The second time around:

McIlroy’s side made a ‘4' in 35 seconds while Scheffler’s side made a bogey.

Early edge in this session to Team Rory.

This one is a little complicated, but a lot of fun:

They will play the first hole twice, then the ninth hole twice, then the first hole twice, then the ninth hole twice — that’s four sessions.

The relay consists of: one player hitting a tee shot, another hitting an approach, and two players around the green alternating shots until the ball is holed.

Points are awarded for quickest time and lowest score per session.

Three competitions remain, but Scheffler and Co. have a big advantage.

Bradley chipped in on his second shot and rolled to a 22-10 win over Li. Though each side won two matches in the short-game session, Bradley’s 22 points was the most of anyone and earned his side the bonus.

“Phil Kenyon, I hate you!” Lowry exclaimed as Scheffler started rolling in some early putts, but it wasn’t enough for the world No. 1. Both men struggled in chipping with Lowry making a few more putts to win, 16-13.

McIlroy makes it 2-for-2 in his individual matchups, and evens the short-game competition, beating Burns, 20-14.

Young Luke again easily defeats elder Luke, 19-8. This competition is FAST paced. Both players competing at the same time, cart rides to the different areas, multiple cameras, balls and points all over the place.

The shot clock makes things extra intriguing.

1. Luke Donald vs. Luke Clanton
2. Rory McIlroy vs. Sam Burns
3. Shane Lowry vs. Scottie Scheffler
4. Haotong Li vs. Keegan Bradley

Players will compete in chipping (four shots from different distances), one shot from the sand, a flop shot over a “Big Break” wall, and putts from 5, 10, 15 and 50 feet.

All with 4 minutes on the clock.

Scottie Scheffler and Co. won three of the four driving head-to-heads to give their team a 1-0 overall advantage.

Four challenges to go!

Donald only managed 4 points while Clanton blasted away and got 14.

Scottie tried to hit a “hard draw” but reverted to his more traditional fade to net 13 points. Rory then needed a big bonus ball to surpass him, and got it — a 326-yarder for the win (16 points).

It took Shane five shots to get one in play, making it easy on Sam to keep Team Scheffler in the early driver’s seat.

Early advantage to Team Scheffler as Bradley nets 16 points to Li’s 14.

Bradley’s longest drive was 315 yards; Li’s was 313 — but Bradley also hit more in the grid.

1. Keegan Bradley vs. Haotong Li
2. Sam Burns vs. Shane Lowry
3. Scottie Scheffler vs. Rory McIlroy
4. Luke Donald vs. Luke Clanton

Points awarded for each matchup based on distance and accuracy, with a full point awarded to the winning team for the overall competition. Each competitor has 2 minutes to hit five balls with a bonus ball available.

Watch live on Golf Channel and USA Network or click here to watch the live stream.

Watch ‘Pregame’ from Jupiter, Florida, live on Golf Channel and USA Network.

Rory and Shane or Scottie and Sam?

The teams mingled Tuesday night at the SoFi Center, where Scottie did what one does at a place with a gargantuan simulator screen.

It was a tough call, in the end.

Yes, we have all the links at the top of this live blog, but if you skimmed over that, here you go:

Optum Golf Channel Games: Teams, format and how to watch on TV and in person

The inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games will include innovative competitions, two teams captained by the world’s top 2 players and timed competitions.

• Golf Channel Staff,

• Golf Channel Staff,