That big Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson match featuring Tom Brady and Peyton Manning isn’t the only golf event starved fans can look forward to now.
The PGA Tour announced that World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and former U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson will headline a charity skins match for COVID-19 relief efforts on May 17 called TaylorMade Driving Relief.
McIlroy and Johnson will team up against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff, the 2019 NCAA men’s golf champion, at Seminole Golf Club in Florida, which is considered one of the best courses in the country but is not part of the PGA Tour rotation. It will be broadcast live on NBC, the Golf Channel and NBC Sports Network from 2 to 6 p.m.
McIlroy and Johnson will play for the American Nurses Foundation and Fowler and Wolff will play for the CDC Foundation, with $3 million at stake.
Farmers Insurance pledged an additional $1 million to Off Their Plate — which provides meals for front-line health care workers — via a “birdies-and-eagles pool.” Viewers at home will be encouraged to make donations, as well.
“It’s been difficult to witness what so many are enduring over the last several weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” McIlroy said in a statement. “I’m excited and thankful to TaylorMade and UnitedHealth Group for making this event possible and providing us with the opportunity to show our support of those on the frontlines. I hope that we can provide some respite and entertainment for those tuning in across the globe.”
No fans will be allowed on the course as part of social distancing efforts.
“The competition will follow strict CDC social distancing guidelines, local mandates and will utilize appropriate testing measures to help protect the health and safety of the golfers, production crew and others on site,” a PGA Tour press release said.
The match featuring Woods and Manning going up against Mickelson and Brady will also raise money for COVID-19 relief, but a date has yet to be announced.
Men’s golf is primed to be one of the first sports in the U.S. to return to competition amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Professional Bull Riders tour has begun in an empty Oklahoma arena and NASCAR will resume in South Carolina and North Carolina later this month, while the PGA Tour has plans to restart its season on June 11 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
The LPGA Tour recently pushed back its planned restart to July 15.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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