Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has taken part in numerous major events throughout his young life, from three Super Bowl starts to delivering the ceremonial "Rider's Up" call at the Kentucky Derby, and that list will grow yet again on Thursday when he competes in "The Match" golf tournament for the second-consecutive year.
Mahomes and teammate Travis Kelce will take on Golden State Warriors' superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in the event, which is a 12-hole, scramble golf competition at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas benefitting the "No Kid Hungry" campaign.
"It was an easy call for me," said Kelce when asked about his excitement for the event. "This is one of the coolest experiences you can have in sports – to be able to jump into a different sport and still be on TV, raise some money and have a great time. It was a no-brainer for me."
Kelce will join Mahomes at the "The Match" as the reigning NFL and Super Bowl MVP seeks to avenge his defeat in last year's event. Mahomes, who was paired with Buffalo Bills' quarterback Josh Allen last year, fell to the duo of New York Jets' quarterback Aaron Rodgers and then Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback Tom Brady. Regardless of the result, however, the competition made for a fun evening of television and clearly left an impact on Mahomes.
"It was one of my favorite events that I've ever done. Obviously, you put the Super Bowls and my kids being born above it, but it definitely was a lot of fun, and that's why I'm back this year," Mahomes said. "I will say that the first tee box of last year was the most nervous that I've ever been at a sporting event. Those fans are lining that fairway, and you just don't know. I hit a lot of fairways, but sometimes those things get a little loose."
The event also represents another opportunity for Mahomes and Kelce to show off their trademark chemistry as one of the best duos in the history of sports, both on and off the field. It's something that Curry – one of the top players in the history of the NBA – has admired from afar.
"They know who they are, they have great chemistry and they're great leaders," Curry said. "[I have] an appreciation for [their] greatness in the sense of knowing what it takes to [achieve what they have]. I don't know what it takes in football, but just in terms of their competitive spirit, you can see it and it's authentic."
Mahomes and Kelce will look to turn that chemistry into a victory on Thursday, but either way, there's little doubt that the historic duo will enjoy themselves competing in something other than football.
"I think it's because we love sports," said Mahomes when asked about his relationship with Kelce. "Whatever it is, we want to go out there and compete. It has to do with the way we both grew up as well. I feel like his family is part of my family now, and I think it's the same for him. Those things helped build that bond and that friendship that we have. Obviously, you see it on the football field, and now you're about to see how great it is on the golf course as well."
"The Match" will begin at 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 29 on TNT.
