Fifteen PGA Tour players versus 15 LIV players: Who wins each match?

As more and more players decide to leave the PGA Tour for the LIV Golf Series, it becomes interesting to look at the top players in each league.

Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas continue to represent the PGA Tour and a move from one of them seems incredibly unlikely. However, two big names are rumored to soon make the jump.

The latest Champion Golfer of the Year, Cameron Smith, and Hideki Matsuyama are thought to be the next high-profile players to sign on with the Saudi-backed circuit.

A Reddit user created a list of the top 15 players in each league and pitted them against each other. Our partners at The Caddie Network posted the table to Twitter and it sparked a heated conversation on who would come out victorious.

The best part may be Tiger Woods and Greg Norman as the captains.

Here are my predictions for all 15 hypothetical matchups:

Scottie Scheffler vs. Cameron Smith

Scottie Scheffler (left) and Cameron Smith strike similar poses as they wait their turns to putt on the 12th hole during the first round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. (Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

Scheffler world ranking: No. 1
Smith world ranking: No. 2

Winner: Scottie Scheffler. Although Smith has won the Players and Open this season, it’s hard to go against the guy who’s won the Masters, Arnold Palmer Invitational and, most importantly (because of the format), the WGC-Dell Match Play.

Score: 1-0 PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy vs. Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan smiles as he is congratulated by Rory McIlroy after chipping in for birdie on the 16th hole green during the second round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club on August 03, 2018, in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR)

McIlroy world ranking: No. 3
Matsuyama world ranking: No. 14

Winner: Rory McIlroy. No one on Earth is playing better golf than the Northern Irishman. He has eight straight top 20s, six of which are top 10s, five of which are top 5s and one of those is a win at the RBC Canadian Open. In Matsuyama’s last five starts, he has been DQ’d, missed the cut at the Scottish Open and finished outside the top 50 twice.

Score: 2-0 PGA Tour

Patrick Cantlay vs. Dustin Johnson

Patrick Cantlay of team United States (L) and Dustin Johnson of team United States walk across the course prior to the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 21, 2021, in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Cantlay world ranking: No. 4
Johnson world ranking: No. 16

Winner: This one is tough. Johnson is coming off a Ryder Cup appearance where he didn’t lose, going 5-0, but Cantlay’s worst finish in his last five starts is T-14. In a toss-up, I’ll give it to the 2020 Masters champion (who has also won the WGC-Dell Match Play).

Score: 2-1 PGA Tour

Jon Rahm vs. Abraham Ancer

Jon Rahm of Spain reacts after a putt during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 03, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Rahm world ranking: No. 5
Smith world ranking: No. 20

Winner: Let’s all say it together: Jon Rahm.

Score: 3-1 PGA Tour

Xander Schauffele vs. Brooks Koepka

Team USA’s Xander Schauffele watches as Team USA’s Brooks Koepka chugs a drink on the 17th hole during a Ryder Cup singles match at the Whistling Straits Golf Course Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Haven, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Schauffele world ranking: No. 6
Koepka world ranking: No. 22

Winner: On paper, this match-up is a good one. Four-time major champion going against one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour who has won twice over the last month. Well, I don’t think it’d be close. In 11 PGA Tour starts in 2022, Koepka missed five cuts and finished outside the top 50 twice. Since missing the weekend at the Masters, Schauffele has three wins and his worst finish in eight starts is T-18. Schauffele wins.

Score: 4-1 PGA Tour

Justin Thomas vs. Louis Oosthuizen

Justin Thomas reacts after missing a putt at the sixth hole during the first round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. (Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

Thomas world ranking: No. 7
Oosthuizen world ranking: No. 25

Winner: Ha. Let’s just move on.

Score: 5-1 PGA Tour

Collin Morikawa vs. Bryson DeChambeau

Team USA player Collin Morikawa celebrates with Team USA player Bryson DeChambeau on the 18th green during day three singles rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Photo by: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Morikawa world ranking: No. 8
DeChambeau world ranking: No. 29

Winner: If both had their A games, I’d pick Morikawa. But the Cal product has struggled over the last few months, losing his go-to cut shot. DeChambeau missed some time with injury in 2022 but flashed some form at The Open. I’ll take the big man.

Score: 5-2 PGA Tour

Viktor Hovland vs. Paul Casey

Team Europe player Viktor Hovland and Team Europe player Paul Casey react on the third green during day one foursome matches for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Hovland world ranking: No. 9
Casey world ranking: No. 32

Winner: Folks, don’t overthink this one. Just take the guy that is better at golf. Young gun wins.

Score: 6-2 PGA Tour

Matt Fitzpatrick vs. Jason Kokrak

Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates winning the U.S. Open with caddie Billy Foster during the final round of the U.S. Open. (Photo: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports)

Fitzpatrick world ranking: No. 10
Kokrak world ranking: No. 36

Winner: I’ll take the major champion who’s one of the best putters in the world. Sorry, I’m not going all in on Kokrak (see what I did there?).

Score: 7-2 PGA Tour

Sam Burns vs. Talor Gooch

Sam Burns on the 12th hole during the second round of the 2022 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Burns world ranking: No. 11
Gooch world ranking: N. 41

Winner: This is a sneaky-good match-up, but I’ll take the guy with three wins this season. Burns it is.

Score: 8-2 PGA Tour

Jordan Spieth vs. Patrick Reed

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth, shown at the 2014 Ryder Cup

Spieth world ranking: No. 12
Reed world ranking: No. 42

Winner: Oh boy! The old powerhouse pairing is back, but this time facing off against each other. You could argue this match would get the most eyeballs of any of the previous battles. I’ll take Spieth over Captain America.

Score: 9-2 PGA Tour

Will Zalatoris vs. Sergio Garcia

Will Zalatoris tees off on the third hole during the first round of the 150th Open Championship golf tournament at St. Andrews Old Course. (Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)

Zalatoris world ranking: No. 13
Garcia world ranking: No. 69

Winner: When I first saw the graphic, I thought Garcia would win this one, mainly because of his match-play experience. But the more I thought about Willy Z and his performances at the biggest events of the year (top 10 in three majors including two runner-ups), I think the kid would win. Garcia’s last top 20 on the PGA Tour came in November of 2021.

Score: 10-2 PGA Tour

Tony Finau vs. Matthew Wolff

Team USA player Tony Finau reacts to the fans on the first tee during day one foursome matches for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. (Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

Finau world ranking: No. 17
Wolff world ranking: No. 79

Winner: Wolff has struggled with his game for years. Don’t believe me? Just look at his PGA Tour resume in 2022. Twelve starts, seven missed cuts, two finishes outside the top 60 and one top 30. I’ll take the big man.

Score: 11-2 PGA Tour

Max Homa vs. Lee Westwood

Caddie Joe Greiner and Max Homa hold the Championship Trophies after winning the 2022 Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. (Photo: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports)

Homa world ranking: No. 21
Westwood world ranking: No. 92

Winner: Westwood has the experience, Westwood has the Ryder Cup appearances, Westwood has been there and done that. And all of it doesn’t matter. Max is better at golf. He wins.

Score: 12-2 PGA Tour

Billy Horschel vs. Ian Poulter

Billy Horschel and partner, Ian Poulter tied for 3rd at the 2014 Franklin Templeton Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples.

Horschel world ranking: No. 15
Poulter world ranking: No. 103

Winner: Let’s just say this match would be fireworks, even if it’s not caused by good play. Poulter is an all-time great when it comes to match-play, while Horschel has a WGC-Dell Match Play win on his resume. I want to take the American, but I do think Poulter turns into a different player when it’s this format. I’ll go draw.

Score: 12-2-1 PGA Tour