The first edition of the Optum Golf Channel Games came down to one shot … and one inch. Tied through five challenges, captains Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy went into a playoff, a single swing from 47 yards.
McIlroy hit first and stuffed his just outside 6 feet. Scheffler went next and hit his to nearly the same distance. Nearly. After an official measurement, it was determined that Scheffler was one inch closer.
That proved to be the difference for Team Scheffler, which included Sam Burns, Luke Clanton and Keegan Bradley.
The American side won three of the first four competitions — driving, short game and the 14-club challenge. Team McIlroy, which included Shane Lowry, Luke Donald and Haotong Li, won the team relay.
It was 3-1, Team Scheffler, with the captain’s challenge — worth two points — as the final event. McIlroy easily beat Scheffler over a variety of 10 shots to force the playoff, where the world No. 1 prevailed by the slimmest of margins.
Here’s how the Games played out Wednesday at Trump National GC Jupiter in Jupiter, Florida: