Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods are ready for a made-for-TV golf rematch at a time when sports fans are craving live action.
This time, they'll have company.
Turner Sports said Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, his former NFL rival, will join them for a two-on-two match sometime in May. Missing from the announcement were such details as when and where the match would be played, except that tournament organizers would work with government and health officials to meet safety and health standards.
Turner said all donations and fundraising from "The Match: Champions for Charity" would benefit relief efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be televised on TNT, with social and digital content leading up and during the event available through Bleacher Report and House of Highlights.
"It's on now," Mickelson wrote on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon in response to Bleacher Report.
He added that he would be paired with Brady, saying: "After feeling the sting of defeat the first time around, Looks like TigerWoods is bringing a ringer to The Match (#PeytonManning). I'm bringing a GOAT. TomBrady - Ready to hit bombs?"
AP photo by David Zalubowski / New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speak after the AFC championship game on Jan. 24, 2016.The first match over Thanksgiving weekend in November 2018 was supposed to be pay-per-view, except that technical difficulties allowed everyone to watch.
It lacked some of the wild bets both players had teased, and the trash talking was forced at times. Mickelson ended up winning the $9 million winner-take-all purse in a wedge contest under the lights when the matched ended in a tie.
Live golf was last seen on television March 12, the first round of The Players Championship as developments with the new coronavirus accelerated at such a rate that sports began shutting down.
The PGA Tour first decided not to have fans for the remaining three rounds at TPC Sawgrass but then canceled its premier event - and then began canceling or postponing all tournaments across each of its tours.
Woods was not at The Players Championship. The five-time and reigning Masters champion has not played since he finished last on Feb. 16 in the Genesis Invitational he hosted at Riviera Country Club. Saying his back did not feel ready, Woods chose not to play the Mexico Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational or The Players Championship.
Woods and Manning, the Tennessee Volunteers legend who went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos and lead each franchise to two Super Bowl appearances and one title, have played together in pro-ams on the PGA Tour.
The Palm Beach Post has reported that Brady, who recently signed with the Bucs after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, has joined fabled Seminole Golf Club in south Florida.