7 takeaways from live golf's return at Seminole

For the first time since the opening round of the Players Championship on March 12, there was live golf on television Sunday afternoon.

The TaylorMade Driving Relief skins game featuring Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson versus Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff was a welcome return to the sport after a lengthy hiatus, and it ended up raising millions of dollars for COVID-19 relief.

Here are seven takeaways from a fun afternoon at the legendary Seminole Golf Club.

Rory remains king

He may have gone almost seven weeks without touching a club, but the No. 1 golfer in the world showed he's still king of the sport. McIlroy opened the proceedings with a boastful chirp at Wolff and carried a struggling Johnson the entire day. He saved his best for last, however, stuffing a wedge inside Wolff's on the extra hole to earn the closest-to-the-pin prize and win the event. McIlroy was the driving force behind getting the match at Seminole and fueled the banter all day. Not only is the 31-year-old the top player on the planet, but outside of Tiger Woods, he's also the most influential.

Rickie, Wolff make a fun duo

Team Fowler-Wolff entered the match as the clear underdog, but the two golfers acquitted themselves quite well throughout. While the 21-year-old Wolff supplied the flair with his colorful shoes and absurdly long drives, the steady Fowler got red-hot to win some serious money in the middle of the round. Between Wolff's $450,000 bonus for winning long drive on No. 2 and No. 14 - with bombs over 350 yards on each hole - and team earnings of $1.1 million, it was a strong day for the former Oklahoma State Cowboys.

DJ hasn't been playing much golf

Johnson is undoubtedly one of the most talented golfers in the world, but the layoff appears to have hit him harder than his three Sunday companions. Johnson rinsed three balls in the water and struggled with his driver all day. He was out of the hole before reaching the green numerous times, relying on McIlroy to score for the team. But while his game didn't shine, Johnson's pace-of-play was a sight to behold. Well known as one of the fastest players on Tour, the 35-year-old took it to another level at Seminole, often hitting less than 10 seconds after the previous player finished.

Guests slowed the broadcast flow

Just when the broadcast was starting to hit its stride on the front nine, actor Bill Murray joined Mike Tirico for a painfully awkward video-call appearance. A noticeably poor connection presented challenges immediately, and Murray's material certainly didn't help. U.S. President Donald Trump phoned in later in the round, but the timing was awkward as the players navigated a pivotal par 5. The broadcast nearly stopped entirely during his appearance, with video feeds showing an overhead shot of Seminole for most of the call. The best parts of the telecast were when on-course reporters painted the picture and players' mics were left active for long stretches.

We need more elite golf matches

Golf Channel is littered with re-runs of "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf" featuring past matches between top players from all over the world, but those events stopped in 2003. Sunday's broadcast demonstrated the need for such a series to return. There may not be anything like a major PGA Tour event, but there's something to be said for top players competing in match-play events at elite golf courses. Given the infrastructure involved in staging a Tour event, a place like Seminole could never host a tournament. This format would take the game to some incredible places fans don't usually get to see. Having the players wear microphones also offers an entertaining perspective the public is rarely privy to.

New standards are set

Sunday's match featured aspects of what golf will look like under social-distancing guidelines. The players stayed well away from each other on the course and resisted the urge to high-five during play. At no time did there appear to be too many people in one area, despite a camera crew and officials walking alongside the foursome. Everyone was well aware they were under a microscope and worked to set a new standard for how golf should be played while the world combats the COVID-19 pandemic.

Live golf is better than no golf

Was the charity skins game perfect? Far from it. The broadcast was shaky, the interviews were slightly awkward, and the players sometimes struggled to find their rhythm. But if you're a golf fan, it's tough to argue it wasn't fun to finally watch an event without already knowing who wins, especially an event featuring some top-level participants.

If nothing else, Sunday's charity match was a reminder that things will get better with time. A competition like this would have been impossible a month ago. It was a necessary step that golf needed to take in order for the PGA Tour to safely resume in less than four weeks.