The golf rivalry you didn’t think you needed set for $100,000 showdown

While the golf world is still reeling from the news that Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will take on Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in what we’re calling a PGA Tour vs LIV Golf grudge match – because why not? – we have another bombshell dropped on us.

Jimmy Fallon, the comedian-turned-talk show host, has announced that he and DJ Khaled – who, according to Wikipedia is a DJ – will swap their microphones for wedges in a four-hole showdown.

“Emmy and Grammy Award-winning multi-hyphenate Jimmy Fallon,” the press release reads, “host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Grammy-nominated producer and record executive DJ Khaled put their golf rivalry to the test when they go head-to-head in a special golf challenge match.

“Presented by Ford,” because this is America so of course there has to be a multinational conglomerate involved, “The Cardigan Classic: Fallon vs Khaled…”

The Cardigan Classic.

Shall I keep going?

Fine.

“…is a fast-paced, four-hole golf match that takes place at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, home to the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament.

“The match takes place on two of Edgewood Tahoe’s signature golf holes – the popular par-3 17th and the par-5 18th – with Lake Tahoe serving as the backdrop.

“At stake for the winner: a custom-made red cardigan and bragging rights.”

Well that answers my next question, I suppose.

• Will another USA victory be the death of the Presidents Cup?

• PGA Tour star reveals ‘free stuff’ top pros get – and the list is pretty amazing

If this sounds up your street, the statement concludes that the contest, if you can call it that “will air on Friday September 13 at 11:35pm ET on NBC” – presumably during that night’s edition of The Tonight Show.

It will also “stream the next day on Peacock and on the Golf Channel on Monday September 16”.

.@DJKhaled and I face off in the #CardiganClassic next Friday, September 13th at 11:35/10:35c on @NBC! pic.twitter.com/o3LWeKOnD1

— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) September 6, 2024

Hang on…

HANG ON.

I just searched “The Cardigan Classic” on social media to see the inevitable comments about it being “cringe” and “an insult to golf” and apparently it’s already happened!

Yes, the match actually took place in July.

Me and @djkhaled go head to head tomorrow. #CardiganClassic pic.twitter.com/SoEfKPKAcF

— Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) July 13, 2024

So the “news”, for want of a better word, is actually that the footage is just going to be aired? This is a bigger waste of time than when I spent the morning queuing for Oasis tickets. (Incidentally, not one of you has messaged me about that. Noted.)

Anyway, we probably shouldn’t be snarky about it. Two impossibly popular celebs are promoting our beloved sport AND the winner got to donate $100,000 to a charity of their choice. So get off your high horse, yeah?

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor