Tiger Woods stars in The Match exhibition event for the third time on Saturday with the shortened format perfect for attracting a large television audience.
Woods will partner world number one Rory McIlroy with the pair facing US Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. With the professional golf tours taking their Christmas break fans have been left starved of coverage.
The 12-hole best ball format is perfect for television coverage with the event taking place under the lights on Saturday night in Florida. However, the keenly awaited exhibition event had a troubled start when it launched in 2018 with fans given their money back and the battle between opponents dubbed "a pillow fight".
The Match was launched in 2018 with a glitzy Las Vegas venue when Tiger took on Phil Mickelson as organisers looked to create a unique product different to the usual 72-hole stroke-play tournaments which dominates the summer months.
Billed as a £7.3million winner-take-all match play event at Shadow Creek fans were keen to watch the sporting greats battle it out for the big prize. However, television subscribers were left frustrated as technical issues plagued the broadcasting resulting in refunds being handed out.
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When fans could watch the event the encounter between 15-time major champion Woods and three-time Masters victory Mickelson failed to meet their expectations. The front nine was far from exciting and fellow professional Rickie Fowler called it a “pillow fight.”
The event did warm-up going into a play-off which was won by Mickelson on a makeshift 22nd hole. Despite a ropey opening event The Match learned from their first attempt and the event has since raised millions for charities and good causes. Two years ago a special Champions for Charity event raised £16.2m for COVID-19 relief and was watched by a record golf broadcast.
There had been concerns for the health of star Woods ahead of Saturday's event after the 46-year-old pulled out of last week's Hero World Challenge. However, this week the golf star provided an injury update stating he would be taking part with a golf buggy required to help him around the course.
He can also rely on world number one team-mate McIlroy as the lowest score of the two players on each hole is used as the team score.
