Guaranteed money on DP World Tour

Golf fans, good Friday morning! Will Taylor leads Mayakoba’s first round of 62.

1. Next installment of The Match is available

Joel Beall, Golf Digest Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy will take on Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in “The Match”, according to sources. The Fried Egg first reported the news.

• The exhibition series will be held for the 7th time, and the 2nd in 2022, after the June duel between NFL quarterbacks. The Match will take place at Pelican golf club in Belleair, Florida on Dec. 10. The match will be played 12 holes and begin at 7 p.m.

2. Scottie has a strong start

Adam Stanley for PGATour.com…”Scottie Scheffler is coming off a magical TOUR campaign, and through the first round of the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba, he’s re-kindled a little bit of Mexican magic from a year ago.”

• “Scheffler finished fourth at Mayakoba last year and opened this year’s edition with an unbogey 65. When Thursday’s morning wave ended at El Camaleon Golf Course, he was tied for fifth. Will Gordon shot a 9 under 62 to claim the lead early.

• “Solid golf. Scheffler made three birdies on each side of his back and front nines.

• Scheffler’s round was aided by an early stretch. After taking a penalty drop on the third hole, Scheffler scrambled to make par and then followed that up with a tee shot at the par-3 4th to gimmie range.

3. Guaranteed money to the DP World Tour

James Corrigan, The Telegraph LIV’s promise of big-time male golf has been made even more concrete by The DP World Tour’s decision that it will award guaranteed money to its participants for the first time ever in the history of the European circuit.”

• “Wentworth is following the PGA Tour’s response against the Saudi-funded breakaway League by introducing a scheme starting next season that will see card carrying golfers guaranteed a minimum $150,000 [PS135,000] as long as they play in at least 15 events.”

• The payment isn’t nearly as high as the PGA Tour, which guarantees a minimum $500,000, or LIV Golf, which features the last-placed golfer in each 48-man event picking up $120,000 from a $405million prize fund – but it’s a significant move nonetheless.”

4. Toto Japan

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols Ai Suzuki won 2019’s last co-sanctioned edition. However, she did not become an LPGA member. After an opening 7-under 65, she will co-lead this week with her compatriot Momoko Urda. This event was won by Ueda in 2007 and 2011. Japanese players are in the top five spots on the leaderboard at Seta Golf Course.

5. Hovland’s 3-peat pursuit

Max Schreiber Golf Channel: The 25-year-old Norwegian opened his bid for three-peat at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. He shot a 6-under 65, and is currently T-8, three shots behind the lead.

• Hovland stated that he believes he has started 4 or 5 under the past two years, and that he has improved upon this in the last round.

• “If Hovland is able to keep the positive vibes going South of Border and emerge victorious Sunday, he will be the first Tour competitor to do three-peat since Steve Stricker at The 2011 John Deere classic.”

6. QBE Shootout

Via the Golf Channel Digital Team The QBE Shootout will return to Tiburon Golf Club on December 7-11. It will feature two LPGA players, Lexi Thompson (first time) and Nelly Korda (sixth). Thompson will be making her debut at the event while Korda will be playing for the first time. Thompson will play for the sixth consecutive year at Tiburon Golf Club.

• The 24-player field will include six of the top 30 players in the world and ten of top 50 male players. Among them are Cameron Young, PGA Tour rookie of the year, Billy Horschel and Max Homa. Lee, Brian Harman, and Harris English.”

7. Nantz targeting 51 Masters calls

Golfweek’s Todd Kelly …”So, does the voice behind the Masters know when he will make his final drive down Magnolia Lane in order to report on that event for CBS Sports?

• During a Tuesday appearance on Dan Patrick Show, he stated that he would love to play the Masters 51 times. “My 51st Masters would have been the 100th time I played the Masters. And I would love to be there to witness the end of the first hundred years. This is just an idea that I have in my head.

• “I’m done with 37, so I have 14 more to go, hopefully.”

8. Obtaining $442K

Ben Everill, PGATour.com A single New York bettor could make as high as $442,000 if he wins one of his longshot bets at the World Wide Technology Championship in Mayakoba.”

• “While Mexico’s field boasts world No.2 Scottie Schffler (+900), Viktor Hovland (++1100), and Collin Morikawa (2+1600), there is a group of players further down that has one New Yorker excited for Thursday’s first round at El Camaleon Golf Club.

• “Five separate wagers totalling $2,000 were placed at BetMGM Sportsbook on Danny Lee, Matt Kuchar and Kevin Yu to win the tournament.”

• A Hoge win would net $60,000, while a Kuchar win would net $100,000. Yu wins $180,000, while a Wu trophy-earning win would net $200,000 and bring home $180,000. The return on New Zealand’s Lee win would be $450,000. Any win would be reduced by the $8,000 spent on other players.”

9. There is nothing better than golf to support the NFL Hall of Famer

• “On Wednesday, he was playing golf balls rather than quarterbacks.”

• “The NFL Hall of Fame outside linebacker was a participant in the TimberTech Championship’s PNK DRV Pro-Am held at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.”

• He said, “I play almost every day golf,” “I’m retired. I have nothing to do except play golf.

• Taylor said that he plays at a handicap 5 but admitted that his best days are behind him. He now feels like the quarterbacks he played over the years.

• Taylor said that he used to be a really good golfer. “I can’t practice as much as I used to. Every swing hurts.