Justin Thomas, midway through last Friday’s The Match: Champions for Change, began a friendly, Twitter-to-television exchange with Charles Barkley, one of the participants. Alabama, where Thomas played college golf, was playing Auburn, where Barkley played college basketball, and a bet needed to be discussed. Phil Micklelson, another one of the golfers, then jumped into the thread to talk golf.
“Grab a partner JT. Let’s go!!” he tweeted.
JT might.
The executive producer behind the first three matches strongly indicated in a CNBC story earlier this month that the series will continue. Thomas, the third-ranked golfer in the world, could play. And his partner? Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
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“There’s a version of that where maybe [Mahomes] teams up with Justin Thomas and takes on Phil and Tom Brady potentially,” Bryan Zuriff told CNBC.
Future Matches could be played annually on Black Friday, according to CNBC. The first Match, between Mickelson and Tiger Woods in 2018, was played on the day after Thanksgiving, as was the third match, between the team of Mickelson and Barkley, and the team of Steph Curry and Peyton Manning last Friday. The second match, between the team of Woods and Manning, and the team of Mickelson and Brady, was played on the Sunday before Memorial Day this year.
After that Match, Mickelson told the Los Angeles Times that Woods could be a part of future Matches. The Times reported that both he and Mickelson had agreed to play in three events.
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“What if Tiger and I were to team up and take on two younger players, or what if we were to team up with younger players and have it be a real high-level golf competition?” Mickelson told the Times. “I think there’s a market for that. But you have to have some personality in there, too, so a guy like Justin Thomas showed how funny he is and he would add a lot to an event like that.
“I think you could showcase guys like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan or Tony Romo and Patrick Mahomes, who are all good golfers, elite talents and have great personalities. Those personalities are going to come out with this event. Or you could have someone who loves the game and is competitive but is really entertaining like Larry David and Bill Murray. I think that could shine.”
Zuriff, in an interview with GOLF’s Michael Bamberger in late May, said the event would likely continue to feature both team play and a charitable aspect.
“It’s not about golf, it’s about personality,” Zuriff told CNBC. “And that’s what I’m hoping this turns into.”