TIGER WOODS’ rematch against Phil Mickelson will be the first major piece of sporting action to return amid the coronavirus pandemic.
And The Match 2 will have extra spice with NFL legends Tom Brady and Peyton Manning teeing off as well.
It’s on now
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) April 22, 2020
It was revealed last month that reigning Masters champion Woods and Mickelson were “working on” another £7.2million head-to-head clash.
But the two will have company in the form of gridiron greats Brady, 42, and 44-year-old Manning, report Action Network.
It is not yet clear if the showdown – which will be held without fans – will be aired live on TV in the UK but all proceeds will go to charity.
Organisers are working to hold the match on either May 15 or May 24 and its official title will be ‘The Match: Champions for Charity’.
Woods and former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Manning – two Nikes athletes – will reportedly team up to take on lefty Mickelson and New England Patriots icon Brady.
The two golfers needed special permission from the PGA Tour to compete – and it looks like they have got it.
However, a Tour spokesman has said: “We are still in discussions on a number of items, including ensuring the health and safety for all involved with the event.”
The made-for-TV spectacle is rumoured to be taking place at Medalist Golf Club in Florida.
Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, recently spoke in favour of the golf taking place.
He said: “I’d like to see Woods and Mickelson do the golf, or whatever, because that’s social distance.
“You wouldn’t have a gallery there. You wouldn’t have crowds. But to put that on TV, I think people have been starved for content.”
Mickelson beat Woods on the fourth hole of sudden death to pocket the $9m (£7m) winner’s prize during their 2018 shootout.
The pair also had two side bets worth £645,000 on the table – with both donated to charity.
The Match was meant to be a pay-per-view special but technical difficulties meant it was streamed for free online.
Golf, like nearly all sports, is currently on hold with Covid-19 continuing to leave much of the world in lockdown.
Football in Belarus and Nicaragua has continued – along with some horse racing in the US and live-streamed darts here – but this would be the highest-profile bit of sporting action to take place since governments started advising people to stay indoors.
