Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler confirm title sponsor for their new made-for TV event

Optum has been unveiled as the title sponsor of the upcoming Golf Channel Games, the new made-for-TV event starring Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler next month. 

As first reported by Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter, the partnership will see the event officially titled the Optum Golf Channel Games, airing on Wednesday 17 December across Golf Channel and USA Network. 

McIlroy and Scheffler's new event will take place at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, with broadcast timing expected to fall in prime time.

While financial details remain undisclosed, sources say organisers do not intend this to be a one-off. 

Octagon is assisting with operations, with production led by Mark Loomis and Jeff Jastrow, alongside Versant, EverWonder Studio, and PGA Tour Studios.

Optum’s involvement comes naturally — the IT health services company is one of McIlroy’s personal sponsors and a partner of The Players Championship, giving it strong ties to both the PGA Tour and the event’s leading figures.

McIlroy and Scheffler will each captain four-man teams competing across multiple fast-paced skills challenges, including a timed driving contest, short-game challenge, 14-club two-player test, and a timed shootout, capped by a captain's challenge between the two superstars.

Full teams are expected to be confirmed next week. 

No LIV Golf players will feature in the field.

What is the format of the Optum Golf Channel Games?

There will be a timed drive, chip and putt contest and a nearest-the-pin competition that will be based on the popular 14-club challenge on the DP World Tour.

A timed shootout will follow, with one player on the tee, one on the fairway and two on the green as the teams take alternate shots and attempt to finish the hole in the fastest time.

McIlroy and Scheffler will finish the exhibition with a captain's challenge, with both hitting series of shots from various pre-set locations - the winner being the one with the lowest total proximity to the hole.

McIlroy said: “They give players the chance to showcase their skills across unique challenges and offer fans a new way to enjoy the game in the postseason.”

Scheffler added: “The Golf Channel Games will be a great mix of skill, strategy, and pressure. This will be a brand-new way for the players and the fans to experience the game of golf.

“Everyone knows how competitive we are, and I think the Golf Channel Games will be an innovative competition that will engage the viewers.”

The event lands just days before the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, which McIlroy has confirmed he’ll attend for the first time in years. 

The World No.2, who finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2014, believes this could finally be his year to lift the SPOTY trophy.

“If I don’t win it this time, then I never will,” McIlroy told The Telegraph at this week’s Abu Dhabi Championship, where he opened with a 4-under 68 using his new TaylorMade Qi4D driver.

With a major new broadcast event and SPOTY ambitions on the horizon, December is shaping up to be a defining month for McIlroy — both on and off the course.