The true genius of Las Vegas lies in the glitter. All the color and all the noise and all the extravagance – it’s enough to convince anyone that this really is a strip of paradise in the desert.
But take a short walk down Las Vegas Boulevard or inside one of the casinos and you’ll soon realize: beneath the veneer of opulence, behind the facade of beauty, Sin City is not as glamorous as it seems.
All of which 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 delightful prospect. Two of the PGA Tour’s most prized assets against two of LIV Golf’s most notable defectors. A rare clash between four of the biggest names in golf and who knows? – a first step on the path towards a LIV vs. PGA Ryder Cup. Or even unity in a split sport. On the line? 10 million dollars: will be paid in cryptocurrencies.
The reality? Barely an hour after the first tee shot, darkness was falling, the temperature was plummeting, and chaos had taken over Shadow Creek. Many of the more than 2,000 fans were heading home. Many more were not sure what was happening.
Perhaps someone close to one of the players put it best when he was heard saying, with only a few gaps: “Now I know why they said you should watch it on TV.”
(Left to right) 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.
The matchup ended under the lights after darkness fell over the Las Vegas field.
A few minutes later, fans stood in long lines for the bathrooms and bar. They just couldn’t see any of the golf. Because most of Shadow Creek was, in fact, closed to the public. Not many people knew about it until they were turned away trying to keep up with the action.
It seemed that only VIPs and television crews were allowed past the fifth green. From there, only two holes, a green or a tee box, were open to everyone else.
The only consolation, when night approached and the players disappeared into the darkness? The tickets were at least free. Even that didn’t stop one fan from concluding, “We got ripped off.”
In the end, even the players felt the pinch. DeChambeau was wrapped in a giant coat, while Koepka struggled in the cold. McIlroy and Scheffler leaned over a heater in their cart.
Shadow Creek is located a dozen miles north of the Strip, but this was a world away from a normal week for the players and their families. Not just for the prize. Not only because of the format: three six-hole competitions that end with a singles round.
For one, Scottie Scheffler’s father was hit by a ball. DeChambeau’s wayward shot on the second hole hit him on the foot. He faked a limp and they could laugh about it afterwards. Scott has been following his son for years, but that has never happened before.
It wasn’t the only time he found himself in unknown territory. At one point, Scheffler’s parents were wandering near the perimeter fence and then looking through the trees. Just to get an idea of the action.
From the first hole, it was difficult to find a good vantage point. There were no stands, the best places were reserved for the ‘VIPs’ and ‘VVIPs’. Oh, and the decision to air it in prime time meant that the setting sun in Las Vegas was blinding.
DeChambeau shakes hands with McIlroy after the climax of the event at Shadow Creek
Scheffler, world number one, protects himself from the cold after temperatures drop on Tuesday
The roads were crowded and security struggled to maintain control. Many fans slipped under the rope to walk behind the players. Others wandered around looking for somewhere to watch.
‘Where are we going?’ asked someone close to a player. What were we doing? The action was, at least, easier to follow on television.
TNT had a cast of famous analysts, including Bubba Watson and Charles Barkley. They had microphones on the players and cameras inside 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 asked McIlroy how much he eats during a round and the Northern Irishman replied: “Not as much as you.”
But as McIlroy and Scheffler cruised to victory, television viewers were treated to more sniffles, coughs and shivers than sound bites.
By then, Shadow Creek was floodlit and only the most patient fans remained.
They had endured a lot of waiting, just to get another look at the best players fighting. In that sense, this was a good announcement for golf in late 2024.
LIV Golf star Koepka hits his drive on the third hole as VIPs watch from behind the tee box
All four players felt cold at the end of the game at Shadow Creek.
Scheffler and McIlroy pose with their $10 million cryptocurrency prize
A few hours earlier, the atmosphere had begun to build on the fourth green after McIlroy made a long eagle putt to secure the first point. A few cries of ‘PG-A’ were heard from the galleries.
And then the fans were left out for a while. As Scheffler and McIlroy closed out victory in the dark, the celebrations could hardly have been quieter.
So forget about those grand plans and the place this event occupies in the geopolitics of golf. Beneath the Las Vegas veneer, this was little more than a cheerful early Crypto giveaway for the winners.
Both teams had talked about this opportunity to give something back to the fans. They must not have been referring to those who showed up at Shadow Creek. How did one describe it when leaving? “A disaster.”