“The Match” is set to feature LPGA stars for the first time in its next edition, including Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang, in a ground-breaking mixed team format alongside PGA Tour stars like Rory McIlroy and Max Homa.
At Glance
‣ The Match is a made-for-TV showcase featuring PGA Tour stars and may soon feature LPGA stars for the first time
‣ Plans for a 2024 edition of The Match will feature two female golf stars, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang, in a mixed team format
‣ Rory McIlroy and Max Homa are in discussions to feature in the ground-breaking edition
‣ The event may be held in primetime and contested under the lights
Reports have surfaced that the upcoming edition of “The Match” will feature LPGA stars for the first time in its nine-year history. This is a groundbreaking development for the made-for-TV showcase, which has previously only showcased PGA Tour stars and sportsmen. According to Golfweek, plans are in place for a 2024 edition of the show that would feature two stars of the women’s game: 11-time LPGA winner Lexi Thomspon and rookie sensation Rose Zhang.
The event is rumored to be a mixed team format, with four-time Major champion Rory McIlroy and World No.7 Max Homa in discussions to participate as well. This would mark McIlroy’s second appearance in “The Match,” while it would be Homa’s debut in the format. The attention, however, would undoubtedly be on the American duo of Thompson and Zhang, who would become the first female golf stars to appear on the show.
Zhang, an amateur sensation at Stanford, made a splash in the professional scene by winning the Mizuho Americas Open in her debut, becoming the first player to win an LPGA Tour event on professional debut since 1951. Thompson, on the other hand, recently received a sponsor’s invite to the Shriners Open, becoming the latest female to compete in a PGA Tour event. Despite narrowly missing the cut, Thompson showed her competitive spirit with a spirited fightback during her second round.
Originally scheduled for December 15th, the event is likely to be pushed back into the middle of next year due to scheduling conflicts. It is expected to be held in primetime and contested under the lights, promising an electrifying showcase for fans of the sport. This groundbreaking edition of “The Match” is sure to be an event to remember, with the inclusion of LPGA stars breaking new ground and bringing a fresh dimension to the show.
