The teams for the Optum Golf Channel Games are confirmed! Earlier this year, it was announced that Rory McIlroy & Scottie Scheffler will compete in an exclusive event in December 2025. Bryson DeChambeau’s exclusion from the tournament took many by surprise, considering his influence, but now, judging team members, it may be because it is a PGA Tour exclusive event.

The Sports Business Journal reporter, Josh Carpenter, revealed the teams. “Interesting teams for the Golf Channel Games. McIlroy: Shane Lowry, Haotong Li, Luke Donald. Scheffler: Sam Burns, Luke Clanton, Keegan Bradley.” Both teams comprise players who were part of the Ryder Cup squads and one surprising name each. Everyone playing in the event is on the PGA Tour. That explains why stars like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, & Tyrrell Hatton didn’t make the field.

Both Li & Clanton have been breakout stars on the Tour this season. Li’s performance in The Open put the spotlight on him. He was a major threat to Scheffler for the majority of the 72 holes at Royal Portrush. And Clanton, who was in his rookie season, managed to make the cut in 11 out of the 16 events he played.

The tournament will be held at the Trump National Golf Club Jupiter in South Florida on December 17, 2025. It will be aired live on the Golf Channel and the USA Network. The event will include five challenges contested between both teams. They are called the timed drive competition, 14-club challenge, timed shootout, timed short-game competition, and captains’ challenge.

With the teams finalized, let’s look at what kind of contest each side will battle in against the other. Let’s check out the format for the Golf Channel Games.

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Format for Team Scottie Scheffler vs. Team Rory McIlroy event

Both of the teams led by Rory McIlroy & Scottie Scheffler will contest in 5 different challenges. They will play the timed drive competition, the timed short game competition, the timed shootout, the 14-club-challenge, and the captain’s challenge.

• Timed drive competition: Players go head-to-head from the tee spot as they launch drives for two minutes. They will be scored on accuracy and power.
• Timed short game competition: Players will chip the ball from various positions around the green before sinking it. This challenge will last for three minutes.
• Timed shoutout: This is a four-player alternate shot match on three holes, with the players pre-positioned on the course. One on the tee, one on the fairway, and two on the green. Lowest score wins.
• 14-club challenge:  Two players from each team will compete in this challenge. They will be asked to use 14 clubs from a single golf bag to get as close to the hole as possible. All the clubs need to be utilized, and each player needs to use 7 clubs. Also, each team will need to hit a lefty 15th shot.
• Captain’s challenge: This will only be played by both the captains, McIlroy & Scheffler. They will be asked to play shots from various positions on the course. Whoever achieves the best result wins.