Commentator 'walks it back' after revealing key detail of Rory McIlroy's LIV/PGA match

LIV Golf's commentary team appeared to confirm a key detail about Rory McIlroy's match with Scottie Scheffler against Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

Ben Smith

15 Sep 2024

David Feherty and Charles Barkley have been chosen to commentate on Rory McIlroy's match with Scottie Scheffler against Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

At least that was the claim that was made by LIV's commentary team during their second round broadcast in Chicago on Saturday.

Feherty, 66, made his name as a on-course commentator for CBS and later Golf Channel from 1997-2022.

He joined LIV as an analyst in 2022.

For his part, Barkley has been involved in several editions of The Match and was also was in the booth as Tiger Woods and McIlroy played Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

LIV's commentary team did say that nothing has officially been agreed yet.

Although the news wouldn't be in the least bit surprising given the showdown will be broadcast on Warner Bros Discovery, which previously televised nine editions of The Match.

Take a look at some of Barkley's best moments here:

Barkley's replacement in the booth for Friday's Match has big shoes to fill. pic.twitter.com/6XzOHTcUT7
— Skratch (@Skratch) November 25, 2020

The PGA Tour versus LIV Golf match was confirmed on 4 September by Golfweek.

The announcement came amid reports the PGA Tour and LIV's financiers, the PIF of Saudi Arabia, had hit a stalemate.

The PGA Tour and PIF have been negotiating a peace deal for more than a year.

Some observers suggested McIlroy was trying to 'send a message' to the parties to try and find a solution once and for all.

But the Ulsterman denied that rumour before the Irish Open at Royal County Down, saying: "I wouldn't say it's meant to send a message, I think it's more that we wanted to do something that I guess all fans could get excited about.

"It's a way to show golf fans and the world this is what could happen, or these are the possibilities going forward.

"I've been saying this for a long time, I think golf and golf fans deserve to see us together more than just four times a year. That's what we’ve tried to do.

"It's in the middle of December, there's not a lot going on in the game of golf so to try and get people excited about something before the golf season starts again, I think we all thought it was a good idea and something that hopefully is a sign of things to come in the future."

The venue for the match has not been confirmed yet.

McIlroy reveals reason for Erica Stoll U-turn

McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife Erica on the eve of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.

The court docs claimed their marriage was 'irretrievably broken'.

But McIlroy eventually called it off.

He has never publicly spoken about what transpired, but he gave a glimpse into his thinking this week.

Appearing on Patrick Kielty's Late Late Show, the four-times major champion said: "I think sometimes life can get a lot and it can get too much.

"There's been a lot going on this year, golf wise and then obviously personal wise as well.

"I had to take a little bit of a break and get away from the game more than anything else."

He added: "Golf and the business of golf had become all consuming for me for the last couple of years and I needed to take a bit of time away to realise what was actually important to me.

"Friends, family, enjoying myself, enjoying the fact you were this little boy in Holywood and you’ve grown up to be whatever it is that I am and I need to enjoy that time."

Read more about that here.