Rory McIlroy Beats Max Homa, Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang in Capital One’s ‘The Match 9’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 27, 2024

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for The Match

Capital One’s The Match 9 belongs to Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy defeated the four-golfer field of Max Homa, Lexi Thompson and Rose Zhang on Monday at the Park Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the first iteration of the event that featured both PGA and LPGA stars.

The victory came in something of an overtime, as McIlroy hit it closest to the pin on the bonus hole after four straight carry-over ties to end the competition.

Golf Digest @GolfDigest100 Yards ➡️ 4 feet. 🎯#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/h4HEOfsOOq

While previous editions of The Match featured teams and athletes from other sports such as Tom Brady, Stephen Curry and Patrick Mahomes, this year’s was a 12-hole skins match under the lights that featured every golfer for themselves.

Everyone but McIlroy made their Match debut, as the four-time major champion teamed up with Tiger Woods to face Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in 2022.

The format was new for even him, though, as the skin values, which were donated to charity, were as follows:

Holes 1 to 4: $100,000 eachHoles 5 to 8: $150,000 eachHoles 9 to 11: $200,000 eachHole 12: $500,000It was the women who set the tone early with Zhang tying Homa on the first hole with a birdie and Thompson draining an incredible eagle putt from just off the green for the first skin and the carried-over $200,000 on the second hole.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportLexi Thompson sunk this eagle for $200K 🔥💰#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/jCS6HyLGVx

However, McIlroy quickly recovered from falling into the bunker by winning the one-club challenge with a five wood on the fourth hole. That was also good for $200,000 after he and Homa split the par-three third hole with nearly identical tee shots.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportRory fell into the bunker 😅#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/jY1pw3RkTa

PGA TOUR @PGATOURBumper golf 😅@MaxHoma knocks into @McIlroyRory’s ball and gives Rory closest to the pin at The Match. pic.twitter.com/V4EJbLtcca

Golf Digest @GolfDigestNow you’re just showing off, @McIlroyRory. 😧#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/49vpsVzkHD

From there, McIlroy delivered when the money increased with a beautiful approach shot from the sand to set up a $300,000 birdie on the sixth after tying and carrying over the fifth.

It was his competition to lose at that point, and he opened up a massive lead when Homa three-putted from inside 16 feet on the eighth. That gave McIlroy another carry-over hole after tying the seventh, bringing his total to $800,000 and $600,000 clear of Thompson’s second-best mark going into the big-money holes.

He built that lead while Homa was playing from the bushes and Zhang was preparing for quite the day on Tuesday:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportMAX HOMA HIT THIS OUT THE BUSH 😳#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/aZg6BVKvvx

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportRose Zhang has a LONG day ahead of her tomorrow 😳#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/dW8M731Ne4

Yet that large advantage didn’t mean anything thanks to carry-over ties on the final four holes.

That meant everything came down to a closest-to-the-pin overtime format, but McIlroy fittingly delivered with all the pressure on his shoulders. He was dialed in throughout the evening and completed the win after leading the majority of the competition.