- Collin Morikawa was the first member confirmed for the Los Angeles Golf Club
- Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ golf competition starts on January 9
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Collin Morikawa compared joining Los Angeles Golf Club to being a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
The 26-year-old received a call from Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams’ husband and co-owner of the Los Angeles Golf Club – the LA-based franchise of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL golf competition business.
Ohanian FaceTimed the two-time major winner to extend an invitation to join his franchise, which Morikawa enthusiastically accepted.
The reaction was perhaps too enthusiastic when the American compared the call-up to landing the call-up to the Ryder Cup – considered by many to be one of the greatest honors in golf.
‘I just got chills through my body. I don’t think I’ve ever answered a call like that,” Morikawa said. “I mean, I got my Ryder Cup call-up this year, but this is… I think this is close to the top.”
Collin Morikawa got a call from co-owner Alexis Ohanian to join Los Angeles Golf Club
The two-time major winner likened the call-up to landing the call-up to the Ryder Cup
Morikawa was part of Zach Johnson’s Team USA for the Ryder Cup in Rome in September, marking his second time competing in the event.
However, the US performance at Marco Simone was a disaster as they were routed by Europe 16.5-11.5, amid rumors of internal factions and hate mongering.
And Morikawa’s response to TGL’s call could reflect the negativity surrounding Team USA and the Ryder Cup.
Earlier this week, Justin Thomas became the first player to be assigned to one of the league’s six teams when it was announced that he will play for Atlanta Drive GC.
“Atlanta and the state of Georgia have been home to some of the biggest sporting events in the country, and I am excited to represent fans there as part of TGL and Atlanta Drive GC,” Thomas, 30, said in a statement.
“To partner with an owner like Arthur Blank and his incredible variety of businesses as they expand their golf portfolio feels like a good fit to me.
“I promise our team will compete hard to win championships and have fun along the way. We will represent Atlanta in the best way possible while helping grow the game everywhere through this unique TGL format.”
Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer, bought the TGL franchise this summer.
However, Woods and McIlroy’s venture suffered a blow on Thursday when world number 3 Jon Rahm withdrew.
The reigning Masters champion said in a Twitter post: ‘I regret to confirm that I will not be competing in the inaugural TGL season.
“While I still think it’s a great opportunity, at this point it requires a level of commitment that I can’t provide. Good luck to everyone involved (sic) and may the best team win!’.
Masters champion Jon Rahm has withdrawn from the Golf League of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy
The news is a blow to McIlroy and Woods as the competition kicks off in just two months
Rahm has been excluded from all promotions for the company, which launches in January 2024. Play kicks off on January 9, with the ESPN networks showing the action across 15 regular season games, plus the semifinals and finals.
Fellow majors winners Woods, McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Keegan Bradley and Shane Lowry are also among the 24 players who will compete in the competition.
On Thursday it was announced that McIlroy, Bradley, Scott and Tyrell Hatton would make the team for Boston Common.
The full rosters for the other franchises representing Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco have yet to be announced, and neither has the ownership group for the sixth TGL franchise.