News
The "Rider Cup" that pitted Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler against Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson looked really fun
One of the downfalls of pocketing appearance fees to play in a golf tournament is the awkward photo shoots it can lead to. Who can ever forget the time Phil Mickelson, Jason Dufner and others dressed up like they were extras in a J.R.R. Tolkien film?
But sometimes, it leads to a fun, even helpful promotion. Take Rory McIlroy squaring off against Charl Schwartzel in a cooking contest ahead of last year's Turkish Airlines Open. And at this week's Abu Dhabi Championship, McIlroy found himself having a good time again as part of a star-studded foursome.
Dubbed the "Rider Cup," McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Henrik Stenson competed in a one-hole showdown. The catch? All four moved around on GolfBoards and competed by seeing which team (Americans vs. Europeans, of course) could complete the hole fastest. We won't spoil who won, but just know that Henrik Stenson got a bit physical toward the end. Check it out:
On Wednesday, Spieth said he felt the Americans had "a lot of momentum" heading into this year's Ryder Cup. Perhaps, this is what he meant.