JT and Spieth GIVE IT LARGE after beating Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy

Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth claimed the bragging rights after they took down Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the latest edition of The Match. 

The all-American duo notched seven birdies in the 12-hole contest at Pelican Golf Club to defeat Woods and McIlroy 3&2.

This was the seventh iteration of The Match. Before it even began, Phil Mickelson broke his online silence to wish all four well. 

Woods admitted beforehand that he had not hit a golf ball in well over two weeks after developing plantar fasciitis. 

That forced him to withdraw from the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. 

Watch: Tiger's best moments from The Match

Tiger: "I haven't hit a ball in two weeks"

Also Tiger: 182mph ball speed with first drive on the range pic.twitter.com/HpdCAlkyqO

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) December 11, 2022

All four players were mic'd up and using carts for transportation around the course, which was played at night under the lights. 

Woods' limp was extremely noticeable. Even during the pre-tournament press conference he was once again using a golf club as a cane. 

However, he did make birdie at the first hole, getting up and down from just short of the green at the drivable par-4.

Thomas then drained a monster birdie putt at the second. Spieth found the centre cup from 15 feet for birdie at No.3 which gave the duo the perfect start.

Money raised from the contest will be going to the Hurricane Ian relief efforts. 

Chuck trolled Alabama and JT wasn’t having it



“I know you went to Auburn you might not be the brightest”#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/b1qVdo1FUr

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 11, 2022

 

 

 

 

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Thomas then made a par using a 5-wood in the "one club-challenge" at the next hole after superbly two-putting from off the green.

Woods and McIlroy only won one hole during the entire contest. That came when the Northern Irishman and World No.1 rolled in a birdie putt from 20ft on No.7. 

Spieth quickly restored their lead and The Match was over on the 10th hole when they equalled Woods and McIlroy's birdie to seal the victory. 

Thomas and Spieth gave it large after they claimed the bragging rights, asking: "What happened?!"

Spieth joked: "How do you lose to us two?"

Woods later said: 

The 15-time major champion will now turn his attention to the forthcoming PNC Championship where he will team up with his son Charlie Woods once again. 

JT with the shrug after sinking this putt #CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/BvCOTqL62a

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 11, 2022

Observations from The Match...

Although we now know the true extent of the injuries Tiger sustained in his car crash, big cat has a long long way to go before we could see him in a professional golf tournament again. 

Woods did not look a picture of health and even at one point whilst he was walking across the green to a putt that was to be conceded he joked: "Damn, you made me walk all this way." 

Golf under lights was pretty cool and watching the shot tracers against the moonlight was awesome.  

The only problem for the seventh edition of The Match was the technical difficulties as some viewers were without sound for a while. 

Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas were great value. They embraced this. 

Spieth also gave us a little exhibition of how to play bunker shots. 

Elsewhere, once again Charles Barkley provided great entertainment in the booth alongside Trevor Immelman. 

Chuck was asking great questions and throwing shade to the players. 

As for McIlroy, he appeared somewhat subdued. He didn't play great. It felt as though the majority of the coverage was focusing on Woods, Thomas and Spieth. 

Next page: Tiger Woods' life message to Charlie