Rors, DJ, Rickie and Wolff to star pro bono in US$3 million charity skins match

In a collaboration, the PGA TOUR, NBC Sports and Sky Sports announced the return of televised golf with TaylorMade Driving Relief, centered around a US$3 million charity skins match supported by UnitedHealth Group to raise money and awareness for the American Nurses Foundation and CDC Foundation, who are leading COVID-19 relief efforts.

The broadcast was from Seminole Golf Club, a majestic Donald Ross design with a clever routing on a rectangular site, each hole encountering a new wind direction. No fans or spectators were permitted on site for the event featuring two-time FedExCup champion and World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and 20-time PGA TOUR winner Dustin Johnson, who teamed up against two Oklahoma State University alumni: PGA TOUR superstar Rickie Fowler and 2019 first-time TOUR winner Matthew Wolff. The competition followed strict CDC social distancing guidelines, local mandates and appropriate testing measures to help protect the health and safety of the golfers, production crew and others on site.

All four golfers donated their time for the 18-hole, two-man team skins competition, with McIlroy/Johnson playing for the American Nurses Foundation and Fowler/Wolff playing for the CDC Foundation.

The entire event was streamed globally via PGA TOUR LIVE, GOLFPASS, GolfChannel.com and GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR. Pre-match coverage as well as the first two holes of the event also streamed on Twitter.

Commentary came via Mike Tirico from his home in Michigan, as well as analysts Paul Azinger and Gary Koch and play-by-play with Rich Lerner from an off-site production facility.

“It’s been difficult to witness what so many are enduring over the last several weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that we can provide some respite and entertainment for those tuning in across the globe. Dustin and I will have a lot of fun together and our games will fit well as we push to raise funds and awareness on May 17.”

— Rory McIlroy

“I’m really excited to team up with Rory and to get back out on the golf course. I’m sure Rickie and Matthew will be ready for us, but hopefully Rory and I can take them and help generate a lot of money and support for charities and those affected most by COVID-19.”

— Dustin Johnson

“It’s special to be able to have an impact and raise charitable contributions through our sport and to do it with Matthew as a partner. Playing aggressive has never been a problem for Matthew and me so we should have no issue testing the birdies- and-eagles bonus pool that has been backed by Farmers Insurance $1 million pledge.”

— Rickie Fowler

“I’m fired up to play alongside Rickie and raise money to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts. Rickie and I are ready to bring our best and more importantly help the frontline heroes getting us through this extremely difficult time. See you at Seminole!”

— Matthew Wolff