LIV Golf’s Bubba Watson Returning To The Mic In Star-Studded Match

A host of iconic faces from the world of sport and entertainment will come together for the latest edition of 'The Match' on primetime TV later this month

Bubba Watson looks on while performing broadcast duties during the 2022 LIV Golf season
(Image credit: Getty Images)

LIV Golf's Bubba Watson has been unveiled as part of the broadcast team for the latest edition of 'The Match', which is due to take place at Breakers West Country Club in West Palm Beach later this month.

Titled 'The Match: Superstars', a number of iconic faces from across sport and entertainment will compete in a two-day competition on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22 - broadcast in primetime on TNT Sports and available to stream on HBO Max.

Watson - who last appeared on commentary duty during his injury-hit first season with the LIV Golf League in 2022 - will work alongside host Ernie Johnson and on-course reporter Kathryn Tappen as well as analysts Trevor Immelman and Charles Barkley.

Watson and Tappen will be featuring in regular walk-and-talks with the competitors while adding their unique insights into the unfolding action.

Meanwhile, Barkley - the former 76ers, Suns, and Rockets forward - is also playing in the event and will be involved in some capacity for the ninth time since the production launched.

Making up the remainder of the eight-man field - which is ultimately competing for a $1 million prize - are Bill Murray, Mark Wahlberg, Wayne Gretzky, Michael Phelps, Nate Bargatze, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Blake Griffin.

The competition will begin at the quarter-final stage with two-versus-two scramble match play, and the winning teams will set up the semi-final and final stages. Once play reaches the final four, the format will be individual match play.

Scramble teams for 'The Match' are as follows:

  • Bill Murray and Wayne Gretzky versus Charles Barkley and Ken Griffey Jr.
  • Mark Wahlberg and Micheal Phelps versus Nate Bargatze and Blake Griffin.

As well as having the participants mic'd up at all times, TNT Sports says the Cart Cam will be in operation alongside drone cameras as it hopes to "elevate the fan experienced by deploying a number of technological innovations throughout the taped production."

The Match - which will be attempting to raise money that will go to hurricane relief efforts across the US - is a separate entity to The Showdown, a made-for-TV contest between two of the LIV Golf League's best and a couple of rivals from the PGA Tour which is slated for later this year.

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will take on Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on Tuesday, December 17 in a mixed-format competition, also scheduled to be shown on TNT Sports.

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Jonny Leighfield
Staff Writer

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.