The four professional sports icons taking part in The Match: Champions for Charity at Medalist Golf Club didn’t let inclement weather keep them from putting on a show.
Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning took on the duo of Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady in Hobe Sound, Fla. While the Woods-Manning team would earn a 1-up victory, the more significant number is the $20 million the golfers were able to raise for COVID-19 relief by participating in the contest.
The four golfers and WarnerMedia pledged $10 million of that “purse” before the match, and another $10 million was raised by way of pledges and online donations throughout Sunday afternoon.
During the contest, celebrities called in challenge donations to spice up the competition. One such challenge came from Brooks Koepka, who pledged $100,000 if Brady were able to make par on the front nine.
After struggling early on, Brady holed a wedge shot on the seventh hole to make birdie, earning Koepka’s donation.
That shot headlined the contest as two of the best golfers in the world paired up with two legendary NFL quarterbacks for a good cause.
“To go behind the ropes and get in these guys’ world and in the arena with them was really an incredible experience,” Manning said. “I was not comfortable the whole time, but raising $20 million as people are going through such tough times, it’s something I’ll always remember and cherish.”
How ‘The Match’ Started, Finished
Ever since Woods and Mickelson went head to head for a $9 million winner-take-all purse in 2018, a sequel to contest had been in the works. Before the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to sports, both golfers were already planning on adding Manning and Brady into the mix.
Amid the global pandemic, the format changed into a fundraiser, allowing for much-needed relief funds to be raised while giving golf fans a live event to consume.
When the contest got underway, it was the Tiger-Manning team with the home-field advantage, as the four pro sports stars teed off on Tiger’s home course. Tiger wouldn’t miss a single fairway.
After a rain delay pushed the start of the contest back nearly an hour, the four golfers took part in a light, fun exhibition that included personalized golf carts, friendly trash talk, and live golf.
Following a slow start, the Mickelson-Brady duo mounted a comeback on the back nine, highlighted by a strong effort on the 11th hole. After Brady holed the eagle putt, the duo was just two down.
Despite chances to close the gap, Woods and Manning took their lead to the 18th, where they would close out the victory. Woods and Manning needed a two-putt for par to win the exhibition match and did just that.
Bettors Cash In On Woods-Manning Win
While The Match: Champions for Charity was a wonderful opportunity to raise money for COVID-19 relief, it wasn’t just a chance to make a donation or watch live sports. For sports bettors, it was a chance to place money on a semi-meaningful event.
In 2018, Mickelson allowed bettors to cash in on his victory as a +160 underdog in the Las Vegas contest. This time, Mickelson was an underdog yet again.
When betting opened, the Woods-Manning duo was favored with odds of -200. While that line would move to -195, it was pushed up to -230 near the start of the event.
Meanwhile, the Mickelson-Brady pairing was receiving odds between +165 and +190.
Aided by Woods’ home-course advantage, Woods and Manning were able to battle through the rain to show why they were favorites, winning the contest 1-up.
