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Collin Morikawa and Adam Scott become the latest PGA Tour stars to join Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL league, where the teams will compete on a virtual course in a technology-packed stadium as golf icon and number 1 in the world intensify their offer to rival LIV. route
PGA Tour stars Collin Morikawa and Adam Scott have become the latest players to sign up for Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new TGL golf league.
In August, Woods and McIlroy, along with co-founder Mike McCarley, announced the formation of TMRW Sports, a sports-entertainment company that is launching the TGL league to compete with Saudi Arabia’s controversial LIV Golf tour.
The new venture was revealed by McIlroy and McCarley at a press conference in August, with the pair describing it as a “tech-infused league” to be played in a new, custom-built stadium.
Six teams of three PGA players will compete on a virtual golf course over 15 Monday nights, each playing five games and one game per week as part of a head-to-head league format.
Collin Morikawa and Adam Scott have joined Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL golf league
Woods (R) and McIlroy (L) are expected to launch TGL, which has been described as a “tech-infused league”, in January 2024 as a direct rival to Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf series.
It has been marketed as a ‘Monday night golf’ and is expected to start in January 2024.
In addition to Woods and McIlroy, American Justin Thomas and Spaniard John Rahm have also been added to the TGL roster, with Morikawa and Scott now joining the foursome.
“Throughout my college and amateur golf career, I loved team play and the extra energy it brought to my game, especially in matches,” world number 8 Morikawa said in a statement. ‘That has only been raised with the opportunities I’ve had to represent the USA in the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup, and I also look forward to being part of a TGL team next year.
“Beyond that, I think TGL’s design to bring sports fans the best in the world in a weekly prime-time golf competition, from start to finish in just two hours, will appeal to a broader spectrum of casual golf fans and will introduce our sport to younger fans.
Six teams of three will play competitions on a virtual golf course over 15 Monday nights
American Justin Thomas is another PGA Tour player who signed up for the TGL golf league.
Spaniard Jon Rahm has also been confirmed as one of the players on TGL’s ever-growing roster.
Scott, from Australia, also said: “As professional golf continues to evolve, I am excited to play a part in its future for golfers and fans alike.
“Therefore, I am excited to compete within TGL and look forward to sharing the stage at the new Palm Beach venue with my teammates and competitors.”
Morikawa, 25, began his PGA career with 22 straight cuts, second only to Woods’ streak of 25, and has won two major championships.
Scott, 42, previously reigned as the world number 1 for a brief stint in 2014 and took a major title of his career, reaching the 2013 Masters.
Once the regular season is over, the TGL league will advance to the semifinals and then to a final where the winning team will be crowned.
Woods and McIlroy have publicly criticized LIV Golf, led by Greg Norman
The desire is for the arena to have a boisterous atmosphere, with a lot of noise expected from the fans.
Each match will last just two hours and 18 holes in a fast-paced format designed to increase participation and interest in the sport.
Woods and McIlroy have been the highest-profile critics of Saudi Arabia’s LIV Tour breakout, which is financed by the country’s Public Investment Fund and headlined by former world number 1 Greg Norman.
Several top players have left the PGA Tour and defected to LIV over the past year, including Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson.