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It wasn’t the best performance by new Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, but it was certainly an entertaining one. He and Phil Mickelson fell to Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning by one stroke in “The Match II” which raised $20 million dollars for COVID-19 relief. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson even stopped by and offered 100,000 meals for each shot on hole sixteen that got within twelve feet of the pin, which Brady, Mickelson, and Manning all achieved leading to a 300,000 meal donation.
Brady struggled most of the day, but had what could be considered the best shot of the match as well;
TOM BRADY. WOW.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2020
Watch #CapitalOnesTheMatch now on TNT pic.twitter.com/k4Au3SOpSU
Woods and Manning went up three after the sixth hole and maintained that lead until Brady’s eagle on eleven. The duo then cut the lead to one after winning hole fourteen but just couldn’t close things out.
This wasn’t just a fun event of four of the greatest players in their sport getting together for a round of golf, but the help it provided - both financially as well as in the form of entertainment for a sports-starved country. This was a nice sign that things are on the right track to provide some sort of normalcy in the near future. Along with news that the NBA, NHL, and MLB are all closing in on agreements to resume their seasons, this event was a nice escape.
Here are a few of the highlights from The Match II;
Peyton Manning came to play today.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 24, 2020
That's a birdie for the 2-time Super Bowl champ.#CapitalOnesTheMatch pic.twitter.com/8G2DVPFM6E
"That'll be in the fairway...on seven"
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2020
Tiger showing TB12 no mercy
Watch #CapitalOnesTheMatch now on TNT pic.twitter.com/YNMXpOCPCH
Brady sinks the eagle.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2020
Phil and Tom starting the comeback?
(➡️@audi) pic.twitter.com/VO4pw771tr
I've never related to a professional athlete more than I do to Tom Brady right now
— Bucs Nation (@Bucs_Nation) May 24, 2020
Everyone tweeting about @TomBrady struggling right now should be aware he will likely take Twitter notes like Michael Jordan on a good day and use this fire to win multiple Senior Tour championships.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) May 24, 2020
Tom Brady is going to hold the NFL hostage this season after Twitter is going after him for a round of golf #TheMatch
— Windy City Gridiron (@WCGridiron) May 24, 2020
All in all, it was a fun afternoon/evening of entertaining golf and a rematch next year - hopefully with better weather - would be more than welcome by many of those that watched today.
But, as Tom Brady said after shanking a tee shot where Charles Barkley promised a $50,000 donation if Brady could just put it in the fairway - “When does football season start? I’m ready.”