The Super Bowl champions are on a roll.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce won four of their first six holes to get a commanding lead against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Even after a late Team Warriors push, it was Team Chiefs winning The Match VIII 3 and 2 on Thursday at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas.
Curry and Mahomes had played in the Match series before — both players lost — while their partners made their debuts.
This was the third Match at the Wynn, ranked No. 5 among Golfweek’s Best courses in Nevada.
The Match: Photos | How to Watch
Here’s a look at hole-by-hole recaps and more from the match between Team Chiefs and Team Warriors.
Course information
Wynn Golf Club, right behind the Wynn Las Vegas hotel and casino, fits perfectly into its brash surroundings on the Strip. It’s as Vegas as Vegas can be when it comes to golf course architecture.
Much of the course is brand new, despite golf having been played on the site since 1952 when it became the Desert Inn Golf Club.
After scrapping plans to build a lagoon on the site with new hotel rooms and restaurants, Fazio and his son, Logan, were called to breathe fresh life into the abandoned track. Wynn Golf Club reopened in October 2019 with eight new and 10 refurbished holes, playing to a par of 70 at 6,722 yards.
As far as playing Wynn Golf Club, you don’t have to know someone who knows someone. You just have to have some disposable income.
Tee times can be made by resort guests 90 days in advance, and general public play is open with 30-day advanced bookings. But be ready to fork over the cash. Depending on the time of year, green fees can reach $750.
Bold prediction
Patrick Mahomes is calling game before the first tee shot.
"We're gonna win it on the last hole.” 👀
Mahomes is guaranteeing a W vs. Steph and Klay 🍿 #CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/ZjnIk90rQc
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 29, 2023
Picks are in
Here’s who the broadcasters think is going to win the Match:
Which team are you taking? 👀#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/arPRb7pHjL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 29, 2023
Hole No. 1 (match tied)
Team Warriors both found the fairway, but Team Chiefs had to use Kelce’s tee shot. Curry found the green, but both Chiefs went long.
Kelce was feeling himself after his first drive 🤣#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/J0GZO7rekt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 29, 2023
However, Mahomes was able to chip within a couple feet, and Curry hit his birdie putt to a foot. They halved the hole.
Hole No. 2 (Team Chiefs 1 up)
The only person to find the fairway was Curry. Thompson found a bunker, Kelce was closer to the first fairway then the par-5 second, and Mahomes was left in the mulch.
No one found the green with their second, but the Team Chiefs cozied their chips next to the hole and had an easy birdie. Curry and Thompson weren’t able to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker to match, so Team Chiefs took a 1 up lead.
This Mahomes chip shot ⛳️
Catch #CapitalOnesTheMatch NOW in the BR app 📲 https://t.co/XLmPuQBgBo pic.twitter.com/Syrh9MK0ss
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 29, 2023
Hole No. 3 (Team Chiefs 2 up)
Major advantage Team Chiefs off the tee. Mahomes’ ball went through the mulch and rolled down into the rough on the right side of the green. Neither Curry nor Thompson found the green with their second shots, and Mahomes hit his chip to about 4 feet. He buried that putt, and Team Chiefs went 2 up after three holes.
Hole No. 4 (Team Chiefs 3 up)
On to the first par 3 of the competition, none of the players hit the green, but Team Warriors was closer after the chip shots. However, Mahomes buried a par putt while Thompson then Curry missed theirs, meaning Team Chiefs took a 3 up lead after 4.
Mahomes CAN'T MISS on the green 🔥#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/YT28YiqpFl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2023
Hole No. 5 (Team Chiefs 3 up)
Needing to make something happen, Curry striped a tee shot way down the par-5 fifth fairway. Meanwhile, Team Chiefs both went right and were nearly 60 yards behind Curry’s drive.
Y'all gotta back up. We are not pros."
Mahomes looking out for the fans 😂
Watch #CapitalOnesTheMatch in the B/R app 📲 https://t.co/XLmPuQBgBo pic.twitter.com/IF8IIxR4Pu
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2023
Kelce hit an excellent second shot to the front of the green, but Curry’s approach landed about 10 feet from the pin and rolled out a couple feet.
Team Warriors wasn’t able to make the eagle putt, and both teams carded birdies to halve the hole.
Hole No. 6 (Team Chiefs 4 up)
Heading to the second par 3, Mahomes hit first. His ball hit a fan right of the green and rolled back on the green to about 25 feet away. Kelce one-upped his quarterback, sticking his approach in the center of the green.
Curry found the front of the green, but Thompson’s ball didn’t come off the same hill as Mahomes. Thompson’s putt raced by the hole, and Curry left his about 4 feet short.
Kelce’s birdie putt narrowly missed low, and Mahomes left his high, but Team Chiefs secured the par. Thompson left his par putt a roll short in the heart, and Curry was unable to make his, giving Team Chiefs a 4 up thru 6 lead.
Hole 7 (Team Chiefs 4 up)
Another par 5, another advantage Team Warriors off the tee. Although Curry and Thompson had to hit from the pine straw, they were 60 yards closer to the green.
Thompson’s shot went into a creek in front of the green, but Curry’s approach landed pin high before rolling off the back. Meanwhile, Kelce’s approach came up short of the water and Mahomes’ ball went in. But Kelce stepped up, hitting a pitch shot to 4 feet on his third.
Thompson putted from off the green but couldn’t get it close, then Curry chipped to about 5 feet.
Team Chiefs putted first, with Kelce making birdie. Thompson matched with a birdie, about the first putt Team Warriors made all day, avoiding going 5 down with 5 to play.
Dray was HYPED after this Klay putt 😂🔥#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/QBCekhbc4M
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2023
Team Chiefs remained 4 up thru 7.
Hole No. 8 (Team Chiefs 4 up)
Team Chiefs didn’t give Team Warriors any breathing room. After Mahomes found the front of the green on a par 3 over water, Kelce stuck one to 4 feet to a back pin to put the pressure on Curry and Thompson.
Thompson found the front of the green, and Curry followed by putting one to about 12 feet.
Thompson putted first, and the birdie look lipped out. Curry had a good look, but it missed right, leaving a Mahomes or Kelce make to win the match.
Kelce went first, and his putt burnt the left edge. Then Mahomes stepped in and did about the same thing as his tight end.
However, Team Chiefs remained 4 up with four to play.
Hole 9 (Team Chiefs 3 up)
Mahomes hit his tee shot first, and he pulled it but it hit a tree and bounced back into the fairway. He proceeded to tell Kelce to “let the big dog eat,” and Kelce tried. He swung out of his shoes, and his golf ball went almost into the next fairway to the right.
Then Thompson hit, and his tee shot on the par 4 went right near the crowd and trees. With an open fairway, Curry’s tee shot carried a fairway bunker but stayed in the rough on the right side.
Mahomes’ approach hit a tree short of the green and dropped down short. But again, Kelce was great with his irons and hit his shot toward the back of the green, and it funneled to the center.
Thompson’s approach went long and right, and Curry’s approach found the left side of the green.
Neither Curry nor Thompson were able to make birdie, but they had an easy par thanks to Curry. It left the door open for Kelce and Mahomes to two putt for the win.
Kelce’s putt scared the left side of the hole but slid a couple feet past. Mahomes’ birdie putt was nearly identical to Kelce’s, rolling within an inch of the mark.
Kelce missed the par putt right, and then Mahomes pulled it left. Team Warriors won its first hole, and Team Chiefs is 3 up with three to play.
Steph's reaction after finally winning a hole 🤣
Watch #CapitalOnesTheMatch in the B/R app: https://t.co/XLmPuQBgBo pic.twitter.com/INAVfw3fky
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2023
Hole No. 10 (Team Chiefs wins 3 and 2)
Thompson’s tee shot found the fairway on the driveable 305-yard par 4, but Curry’s tee shot was right in the trees.
Then Mahomes hit a low – and I mean low – 3-wood that ran onto the back of the green while Kelce’s shot went into the fairway and short.
Thompson’s second shot, from the fairway, went into the left greenside bunker. Curry’s ball found the putting surface and rolled to about 15 feet.
A similar situation arose. Team Chiefs needed two putts to win.
Kelce’s eagle putt went past the hole about 5 feet, but Mahomes hit his to a couple feet. He marked it, and Team Warriors attempted its birdie putts. Thompson’s was in the heart but a foot short. Curry powered his up the hill and drilled it, meaning Team Chiefs had to make their short birdie putt to win the match.
However, Mahomes pushed his putt and missed it from only a couple feet, but Kelce stepped in and knocked his in,
Team Chiefs beat Team Warriors, 3 and 2.
Team Chiefs beats Team Warriors 3 and 2 to win #CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/s5ZSdZNDs8
— Golfweek (@golfweek) June 30, 2023
