The ninth edition of Capital One’s The Match took place last night, and for the first time, two of the LPGA Tour’s best teed it up alongside the men in the made-for-TV event.
Eleven-time LPGA Tour winner Lexi Thompson and Mizuho Americas Open champion Rose Zhang went up against major champion Rory McIlroy and PGA Tour winner Max Homa in a mixed-gender skins game at The Park in West Palm Beach, Fla. While McIlroy ultimately came out on top after a closest to the pin contest was needed to determine a winner, the event was a resounding success for all involved, reminding the golf world just how much fun can be had when the LPGA and PGA Tours go head-to-head.
Here are some of the best moments from Capital One’s The Match:
McIlroy’s Mistake on No. 1
Starting off strong, @McIlroyRory 😂 pic.twitter.com/P5OjZCQQhn
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 27, 2024
After a wayward tee shot that left his ball in a seam on the edge of the bunker on the first hole, McIlroy nearly fell into the bunker, having to turn and jump before gravity could work its magic. More hilarity ensued when his recovery shot sailed in the direction of Thompson and Zhang, and while no one was hurt as the ball merely rolled up to Rose Zhang’s cart, McIlroy quipping, “Hi, ladies!” and plopping in his cart with a “Good start!” had viewers cracking up early at the Northern Irishman’s antics.
Christina Kim’s Commentary
"I know a hippopotamus, he works on TNT." 🦛🤣
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2024
-Chuck takes a shot at Shaq pic.twitter.com/XCS7EshPSs
The LPGA Tour was also represented in the commentator’s booth at The Match as three-time LPGA Tour winner Christina Kim served as an analyst alongside Ernie Johnson, Trevor Immelman and Charles Barkley. Kim’s commentary was on point the whole night, whether she was joking with Zhang and Thompson when they hit shots long or bantering with Homa and Barkley about empirical data, and her wit and sense of humor sparked a lot of laughs from both the participants and her fellow commentators through the night.
Lexi Eagles No. 2
Lexi Thompson sunk this eagle for $200K 🔥💰#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/jCS6HyLGVx
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2024
In arguably the highlight of The Match, Thompson did what she does best on the par-4 2nd hole. After hitting a “worm-burner” of a tee shot that ended up on the fringe just past the pin, she rolled in her eagle putt to claim the first skin of the match, worth $200,000 with the $100,000 carryover from the first hole. She had three-putted for par on the first hole after finding the green in two on the par 5, and as the crowd loudly cheered, Thompson said, “I had to make up for my first one!” Way to recover, Lexi.
Thompson Cracking Up
Now you're just showing off, @McIlroyRory. 😧#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/49vpsVzkHD
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) February 27, 2024
Thompson’s personality really shined through last night as the major champion laughed her way around The Park during The Match. She poked a lot of fun at herself instead of trash-talking with her competitors, and it was hard to find moments where Thompson wasn’t giggling at something, whether it be at Zhang and Homa’s jokes or her choice of a 4-iron for the one-club challenge.
The Challenges
Casual par using only a 5-wood 😳
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 27, 2024
@McIlroyRory earns another $200k for charity. pic.twitter.com/a0dGi0wdqT
While Thompson, Zhang, Homa and McIlroy played plenty of traditional golf last night, they also did different challenges throughout the evening at The Park. A fan favorite was the one-club challenge in which the players had to play the entire fourth hole using just one club. Thompson chose her 4-iron, Zhang picked a 4-hybrid, Homa went with 7-wood and McIlroy selected his 5-wood for the challenge, and it was ultimately Rory who won the hole.
Rose Holds Her Own
New besties?@rosezhang 🤝 @McIlroyRory
— LPGA (@LPGA) February 27, 2024
LPGA Tour 🤝 @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/ETILqUXvtO
It’s not often that we get to see Zhang away from competitive golf, but last night, the 20-year-old reminded viewers just how much fun she can have on the golf course, even if she’s not hitting every shot perfectly. The Match saw her crack jokes with Lexi, banter with Homa and impress McIlroy, all while making a few birdies and holding her own as the youngest member of the group by several years.
Rose Zhang has a LONG day ahead of her tomorrow 😳#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/dW8M731Ne4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2024
Viewers also got a look at Zhang’s post-Match schedule which included an overnight flight to get back to Stanford so she could be on time for a 9 a.m. class on the West Coast. We hope she made it!
Celebrity Shoutouts
This has been my favorite #match thus far. So cool to see the @LPGA and the @PGATOUR at the same time. Love you @Maxhoma and @McIlroyRory, but I’m rooting for the ladies! @tntsports @HBO #thematch @NBAonTNT
— Wells Adams (@WellsAdams) February 27, 2024
While viewers always tune in to Capital One’s The Match for the hilarity and antics of the participants, last night saw golf fans watch the made-for-TV event because of the inclusion of two of the LPGA Tour’s most recognizable players, and Thompson and Zhang certainly didn’t disappoint. Wells Adams of “The Bachelor” franchise called it his “favorite #match thus far” and Jenny Dell of CBS Sports was on site to catch the action.
J.R. Smith even made an appearance!
DJ Khaled linked up with J.R. Smith at #CapitalOnesTheMatch 🤝 pic.twitter.com/2ejZeuvFR4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2024
DJ Khaled, who is often involved in Capital One’s The Match, was also having a blast at The Park last night, taking every opportunity he could to remind viewers that he had beaten Charles Barkley in a par-3 challenge earlier that day.
Confirmed: @djkhaled likes the LPGA 🫡 pic.twitter.com/CPXBlUmY4R
— LPGA (@LPGA) February 27, 2024
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