The true genius of Las Vegas lies in its shine. All those colors, all that noise and all that extravagance – it’s enough to convince anyone that this really is a piece of paradise in the desert.
But take a short walk down Las Vegas Boulevard or inside one of the casinos and you quickly realize: beneath the veneer of opulence, behind the facade of beauty, Sin City is not as glamorous as it seems.
All of this made it the ideal setting for Tuesday’s “Crypto.com Showdown,” when Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy took on Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
At first glance it was a mouthwatering prospect. Two of the PGA Tour’s most prized assets against two of LIV Golf’s most high-profile defectors. A rare clash between four of the biggest names in golf and – who knows? – a first step towards a LIV vs. PGA Ryder Cup. Or even unity in a divided sport. On the line? $10 million – payable in cryptocurrency.
The reality? Barely an hour after the first tee shot, darkness fell, the temperature dropped and chaos had taken over Shadow Creek. Many of the approximately 2,000 fans were on their way home. Many more people weren’t sure what was going on.
Perhaps someone close to one of the players said it best when they were overheard saying, with only a few gaps in their mind, “Now I know why they told you to just watch it on the TV.”
(L-R) Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in Las Vegas
About 2,000 fans were allowed into Shadow Creek to watch the unofficial LIV vs. PGA Tour match to watch
The showdown ended under the lights after darkness fell over the course in Las Vegas
A few minutes later, fans were standing in long lines for the toilets and bar. They just couldn’t see any of the golf. Because most of Shadow Creek was effectively closed to the public. Not that many people knew that until they were turned away trying to keep up with the action.
It seemed only VIPs and TV crews were allowed past the fifth green. From there, only two holes, a single green or a single tee box, were open to everyone.
The only consolation as night fell and the players disappeared into the darkness? At least tickets were free. Even that didn’t stop one fan from concluding, “We got ripped off.”
By the end, even the players felt the pinch. DeChambeau was bundled up in a giant coat, while Koepka struggled in the cold. McIlroy and Scheffler leaned over a stove in their cart.
Shadow Creek is about eight miles north of the Strip, but this was a world away from a normal week for the players and their families. Not just because of the price. Not just because of the format: three six-hole matches ending with a singles shootout.
First, Scottie Scheffler’s father was hit by a ball. DeChambeau’s wayward drive on the second hole hit him on the foot. He pretended to limp and then they laughed about it. Scott has been following his son for years, but that had never happened before.
It wasn’t the only time he found himself in unfamiliar territory. At one point, Scheffler’s parents walked along the fence and then peered through the trees. Just to get a feel for the action.
From the first hole it was difficult to find a good vantage point. There were no stands, the best seats were reserved for ‘VIPs’ and ‘VVIPs’. Oh, and the decision to put it on primetime TV meant that in Vegas the setting sun was blinding.
DeChambeau shakes hands with McIlroy after the highlight of the event at Shadow Creek
World No. 1 Scheffler bundles up against the cold after temperatures plummeted on Tuesday
The paths were full and security struggled to maintain control. Many fans slipped under the rope and followed the players. Others wandered around looking for a place to watch.
‘Where are we going?’ asked someone close to a player. What were we doing? In any case, the action was easier to follow on TV.
TNT had a cast of famous analysts, including Bubba Watson and Charles Barkley. They had microphones on the players and cameras in their carts. That provided a unique insight and also some comedy.
Like when Barkley asked Team LIV, “How different are your guys’ balls?” Or when he quizzed McIlroy on how much he eats during a round, and the Northern Irishman replied: ‘Not as much as you do’
But as McIlroy and Scheffler cruised to victory, TV viewers were treated to more sniffles, coughs and shivers than audio.
By then, Shadow Creek was illuminated by floodlights and only the most patient fans remained.
There was a long wait just to get another glimpse of the best players competing. In that sense, this was a good advertisement for golf at the end of 2024.
LIV Golf star Koepka hits his drive on the third hole as VIPs watch from behind the tee box
At the end of the match in Shadow Creek, all four players felt the cold
Scheffler and McIlroy pose with their $10 million cryptocurrency prize
A few hours earlier, the atmosphere on the fourth green had begun to build after McIlroy rolled a long eagle putt to secure the first point. There were a few shouts of “PG-A” from the galleries.
And then the fans were shut out for a while. When Scheffler and McIlroy emerged victorious in the dark, the celebrations could hardly have been tamer.
So forget those grand plans and this event’s place in the geopolitics of golf. Beneath the Vegas veneer, this was little more than a bright and early Crypto gift for the winners.
Both teams had discussed this opportunity to give back to the fans. They must not have meant those who came to Shadow Creek. As someone described it on the way out? ‘A mess.’