Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson and Matt Wolff are under no illusions. They’re not among those working the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus crisis that has paralyzed the world for the past two months.
But what the four PGA Tour stars will be — at least for four blissful televised hours on Sunday (2-6 p.m., NBC) — is a diversion. They’ll provide a vehicle that brings us all back to some, albeit small, sense of normalcy in a sports world starved for some live action.
And, when McIlroy and Johnson team up against Fowler and Wolff in the TaylorMade Driving Relief, a skins game competition, they’ll not only be delivering some welcome live sports to living rooms everywhere, but raising millions for COVID-19 relief in the process.
“It’s really cool to be able to bring some live sports back,’’ Fowler said Thursday of the match, which will take place at Seminole Golf Club near Palm Beach, Fla.
“The world needs something to watch, so hopefully we can go out and put on a good show … and it’s for a great cause,’’ Johnson said Thursday. “We’re raising a lot of money for people who really need it, so it’s great to be a part of that. We’re all really looking forward to it.’’
As much as sports fans have missed having live events to watch, the athletes have missed their sport.
“We miss competing,’’ Johnson said.
“We’re all wanting to play golf at the minute,’’ McIlroy said. “We want to do something and to help. I don’t feel like I’m giving that much, but the impact of it can be huge. The fact that TaylorMade and United Health Group are putting it on, the fact that we have already guaranteed $4 million for the two charities, for the American Nurses Foundation and for the CDC Foundation, and then hopefully going to raise millions of more on the day through the help of the NBC broadcast and people being able to donate from home.
“So, for us to get to play a golf match, it’s awesome that we can do that and bring some entertainment to quite a few people, but also help in some way. What we’re doing … it’s a very small piece of all of this, but [I’m] just happy to be able to help in some way and bring some joy to people … when they haven’t had anything to really look forward to for a couple of months.’’
As usual, McIlroy, as is one of his gifts along with his remarkable abilities on the golf course, put it perfectly.
“This coronavirus has really affected everyone’s lives, and everyone wants to just get back to a normal, going to work or watching sports or anything like that, and to be able to bring that to them while raising money for a great cause is what I really think is important,’’ Wolff said. “I’m happy to be a part of it.’’
Wolff — who, like Fowler, played his college golf at Oklahoma State — is somewhat of an outlier in this group in that he hasn’t even played a full season on the PGA Tour. Though he’s talented, having already won a PGA Tour event in his first season, Wolff’s credentials pale to those of his fellow competitors.
McIlroy is No. 1 in the world rankings and he’s won four major championships and 18 PGA Tour events overall. Johnson, currently ranked fifth, is a former world No. 1 with 20 wins, including one major championship. Fowler has won five times on the PGA Tour and is currently ranked 27th.
“It’s definitely a pleasure for me to play against the guys like Rickie and DJ and Rory,’’ said Wolff, ranked 110th. “They’re obviously world No. 1, former No. 1, and Rickie is always a contender in huge tournaments and high up there on the world ranking. I’m looking to go out there and show everyone that I can compete with all them.
“I think that there’s a lot of people out there that are asking why I’m in [this event], but I’m looking to prove to them that I can play with the best in the world.’’
Of course, McIlroy and Johnson are significant favorites in the match.
“On paper, with our world rankings and everything we’ve achieved, Dustin and I are favorites, but I’m not taking Rickie and Matt lightly,’’ McIlroy said. “They are two really good players and they are going to give us a fantastic game on Sunday.’’
After two months with essentially no live sports to watch on TV, it’s a game we’re all looking for.
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