'The Match' to feature Michael Phelps, Charles Barkley, other superstars amid move away from pro golfers

In a surprising move, 'The Match' has completely departed from pro golfers this year. The 2024 edition of the exhibition contest will feature icons from multiple sports and other fields such as Michael Phelps, Charles Barkley, Mark Wahlberg, Wayne Gretzky among others.

'The Match' will be celebrating it's 10-year anniversary this year and is set to host numerous celebrities at the Breakers West Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The two-night primetime special will be aired simultaneously on TNT and Max on November 21 and 22, 2024. It is being dubbed as 'The Match: Superstars.'

The first round of the taped event will have two matches of a two-man scramble that will pose as the quarter-finals. The finale night will have individual matches for both the semi-finals and the finals. The winner of the special edition will take home a staggering $1 million.

While no pro golfer will be seen teeing off, it doesn't mean their presence will be completely devoid. Ernie Johnson and Trevor Immelman will be back in the commentry box while Bubba Watson will make his debut as the on-course reporter. Watson will be joining sports commentator Kathryn Tappen.

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Who all will be playing at 'The Match' this year?

Charles Barkley at a LIV Golf practice round in 2022 (Source: Imagn)

'The Match' this year will be one of the most exciting editions in the history of the celebrity competitions. The line-up this year includes legends from entertainment, baseball, basketball, swimming, and ice hockey. This will also mark the first time that so many competitors will be part of the field for the exhibition contest.

Here is the list of the eight celebrities who will be seen in action in West Palm in November:

1. Ken Griffey Jr.
2. Michael Phelps
3. Charles Barkley
4. Mark Wahlberg
5. Bill Murray
6. Nate Bargatze
7. Wayne Gretzky
8. Blake Griffin

All the players will be given mics for the event. In the first round, Barkley and Griffey will go against Murray and Gretzky, while Wahlberg and Phelps will take on Bargatze and Griffin. Charles Barkley is a veteran of 'The Match' as this will be the ninth time he is participating in the contest either as a player or a broadcaster.

The last edition of the contest had featured Rory McIlroy, Lexi Thompson, Max Homa and Rose Zhang. The event was broadcasted this year in February with McIlroy winning the event after hitting closest to the pin during the one-shot chip-off.