McIlroy emerges victorious in a sudden-death playoff to claim The Match title

Rory McIlroy emerged victorious in the thrilling ninth edition of Capital One’s The Match, triumphing over Max Homa, Lexi Thompson, and Rose Zhang at The Park in West Palm Beach on Monday night.

Initially planned as a 12-hole mixed-skins match, the event extended into a sudden-death playoff, where McIlroy clinched victory in the closest-to-the-pin contest, securing the $1.6 million prize. Throughout the event, McIlroy showcased his prowess, amassing a total of $2.4 million with six birdies.

Reflecting on his win, the Northern Irish star expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It is pretty cool. I didn’t put my best effort out there the previous Match that I played, so I wanted to come here and redeem myself a little bit and it’s nice to walk away with the win.”

Featuring female golfers for the first time, Lexi Thompson took an early lead by sinking a long eagle putt on the second hole, earning $200,000.

However, McIlroy surged ahead on the sixth hole with a remarkable approach shot, sinking a two-foot birdie putt to claim $300,000 and seize the lead. He extended his advantage further by winning the eighth hole, adding another $300,000 to his $800,000 purse.

Although McIlroy had a chance to secure victory on the 10th hole, worth $400,000, he fell short. Subsequently, none of the golfers made significant progress over the next four holes, increasing the prize purse to $1.6 million, including rolled-over skins and a $500,000 donation for the final hole.

Despite the opportunity for a comeback, all four golfers made birdies on the 12th hole, leading to a “chip-off.” It was there that McIlroy sealed the win with a shot from 100 yards, landing within four feet and two inches, securing victory and a golden Tiffany bracelet.

Reflecting on the event, McIlroy highlighted the enjoyment of playing alongside Max Homa, Rose Zhang, and Lexi Thompson, and praised the atmosphere and facility. The Match has raised $41 million for charitable causes over its nine editions, with this year’s tournament supporting First Tee, a youth organization chaired by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, aimed at developing children’s social skills through golf.