The Match: Bryson Dechambeau vs Brooks Koepka – November 26, 2021

The Match 5 takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving between Bryson Dechambeau and Brooks Koepka. This “rivalry” started back in 2018 after Brooks made a comment about Bryson’s slow play on the course. Dechambeau then made a comment about Brooks’ ESPN body issue and the pair proceeded to trade shots back and forth on social media. However, they seemed to have squashed the beef during the Ryder Cup, even asking Captain Steve Stricker to play together. It now seems like more of a playful rivalry but still sound be entertaining as the two face off against each other.

The Match Information:

• Date: November 26th, 2021
• Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
• Course: Wynn Golf Club
• Course Type: Resort
• Par: 70 (5x 3’s / 10x 4’s / 3x 5’s)
• Length: 7,042 yards
• Format: 12 hole match play

TV Information:

• TNT, TBS, TruTV – 4:00 PM ET

Weather:

• Sunny 66 F, 7 mp/h NNE, 13% Humidity, 0% Chance of Rain

Course/ The Match History:

The Wynn Golf Club opened in 2005 after Steve Wynn brought the property back in 2000. The course was renovated by Tom Fazio in 2019.  The resort and course are on the site of the former Desert Inn and its accompanying golf course. That course was the original home of the Tournament of Champions.

“This is the fifth version of The Match. The first was also in Las Vegas and played at Shadow Creek, north of downtown, in 2018. Phil Mickelson defeated Tiger Woods to win $9 million.

The next was in May 2020 when Peyton Manning and Tiger Woods teamed up to beat Mickelson and Tom Brady by a shot at Medalist in Hobe Sound, Fla.

Charles Barkley and Mickelson defeated Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry in the fourth Match at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Oro Valley, Ariz., in November 2020.

The most recent was in July when Aaron Rodgers and DeChambeau defeated Brady and Mickelson at The Reserve Golf Course at Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Mont.” – source

Challenges:

3rd Hole of Competition: DraftKings Closest to the Hole

• A $50,000 charitable donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever lands their tee shot closest to the hole. If within five feet of the hole, an additional $150,000 will be donated, and a $2 million donation will be made for a hole-in-one.

6th Hole of Competition: Wheels Up/Meals Up and Feeding America Closest to the Hole

• Whichever player lands their tee shot closest to the hole will help donate 500,000 meals to Feeding America. If within five feet of the hole, an additional 1.5 million meals will be donated, and a 20 million meal donation will be made for a hole-in-one.

• In addition, ZenWTR will donate 100,000 bottles of water to Feeding America.

7th Hole of Competition: Capital One Venture X Long Drive Challenge

• A $200,000 donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever hits the longest drive from the tee that lands on the fairway.

9th Hole of Competition: ZipRecruiter Closest to the Hole

• A $50,000 donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever lands their tee shot closest to the hole. If within five feet of the hole, an additional $150,000 will be donated, and a $2 million donation will be made for a hole-in-one.

11th Hole of Competition: Wagoneer Closest to the Hole

• A $50,000 donation will be made in the player’s name for whoever lands their tee shot closest to the hole. If within five feet of the hole, an additional $150,000 will be donated, and a $2 million donation will be made for a hole-in-one.

Course Guide/ Scorecards:

Here’s the full lineup of holes in the order they’ll be used on Friday: 16, 3, 12, 13, 11, 5, 14, 9, 7, 8, 18, 17.

Should the match reach the 12th hole, the downhill 377-yard par-4 17th will provide a great risk-reward finisher.

Odds (Outright) – BetMGM:

• Bryson Dechambeau (-110), odds shifting slightly towards Bryson
• Brooks Koepka (-110)

Picks (Outright):

• Bryson Dechambeau (-110)
  • Pre-Ryder Cup I would have chosen Brooks here but it looks like the rivalry has turned into a friendship. Bryson hasn’t been playing lately doing a lot media events and competing in the World Long Drive competition. Brooks on the other hand comes into the Match after missing two cuts. I’ll take Bryson here given the fact that I think Brooks has lost the mental edge.