It didn't count in the standings. There were no major championships at stake. But for five hours on Sunday afternoon, four of the most significant athletics in the world, and of this Century gave sports fans across the Country a reason to cheer.
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, two of the best to play the quarterback position in the NFL joined two of the best to ever hit the links in Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson for a charity round of golf that raised $20 million to go to COVID-19 relief.
And in typical fashion of the year 2020, the day was shrouded by constant, heavy rainfall that even delayed the start of play just a bit, but it certainly didn't dampen the mood, nor the significance of the event.
Because for just a few hours while Brady was driving shots into trees and roughage, and apparently splitting his pants in the process, and while Manning was dropping jokes and trolling his golf mates, and while Woods and Mickleson did their best to keep the game flowing, the biggest statement all four of them made without saying a word was simple, "It's ok for sports to come back."
Yes, NASCAR did return a week prior to"The Match," and in other parts of the world, soccer friendlies are taking place. But, none of them meant quiet as much as seeing these four generational talents from two different sports come together on the same playing field at the same time.
It was fun. It was entertaining. It was the best damn live sporting event we have seen certainly since the Super Bowl in February. And considering what the Nation, collectively, has gone through the past three months, it was a welcome distraction.
The golf wasn't the best, but it was good enough; it was more than good enough. We saw Manning sink a couple of birdies to give he and Woods a three-stroke lead. Brady nail a 150-yard birdie put on the seventh hole to shut up everyone, including Charles Barkley. Mickleson coach and pump up Brady in the back-nine; "That's how we roll" is the phrase of the year now, thanks Phil. And finally, Manning and Woods combining to close the show out on two shots on 18.
It was great. And it didn't even matter that it was raining, but you already knew that.
Perhaps the most surreal moment of the day was on 18, as all four athletes drove their carts up to the green, and in the distance a lit clubhouse stood, beaming, welcoming them to hot meal after play was over. A line of people gathered in front of clubhouse, all of them six feet apart, and likely with masks on. Not sure if they were staff workers from the clubhouse, or media, or maybe family, or a combination of all three.
It didn't really matter.
All that mattered was that on a day where fans couldn't not attend the Match due to social distancing, there was a distant cheering throng of people when Manning, Brady, Woods and Mickleson drove up to 18 to finish The Match, and a photo op for the ages to be taken.
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