Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ new TGL league is planning a drastic expansion, and could involve the signing of players from LIV Golf – putting them up against their rivals on the PGA Tour
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s new interactive golf league TGL is planning to make drastic changes – including making an unexpected gesture to players on the LIV Golf league.
Initially, TGL was seen as a league for PGA Tour players only – though it stopped short of being a rival to the Saudi Arabia-funded league. The divide was never clearer than when former Masters champion Jon Rahm withdrew his participation in TGL weeks before he signed his £450million deal with LIV.
The TGL officially began a week ago in Florida, and will continue on Tuesday night with Woods taking part in his first game in the interactive sim league. McIlroy will play for the first time in a week, against Woods’ Jupiter Links GC.
The TGL officially began a week ago in Florida, and will continue on Tuesday night with Woods taking part in his first game in the interactive sim league. McIlroy will play for the first time in a week, against Woods’ Jupiter Links GC.
Currently, the games are played at the SoFi Center in Florida, but officials have already visited new sites ahead of a possible expansion in the future. Sites in Las Vegas, Southern California and Scottsdale have all been touted, according to Sport Business Journal.
As well as that expansion, McCarley lifted the lid on plans to acquire players from LIV – going a possible route back for Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. The report indicates player involvement could be a factor in the ongoing merger negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund – backers of LIV.
Jon Rahm initially signed up to play in Rory McIlroy’s TGL – but quit before his move to LIV Golf ( Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“I know it’s interesting and I know everyone’s talking about it and I know it’s fun to kind of pontificate on what could or could not be, but we have a job to do. We’ve got to deliver a really compelling product,” McCarley said.
“Oh yeah. Yes, absolutely [LIV players could be signed],” McCarley added. “But the reality is, we have a good business in what we have right now.”
Talks are ongoing between the PIF and PGA Tour officials over a merger deal and what that could look like, but former Masters champion Patrick Reed recently told Mirror Sport he believes the sport needs both leagues.
Reed said: “Hopefully we can just start focusing on golf rather than PGA Tour vs LIV or DP World Tour vs LIV and more about the guys vs the guys. Obviously some guys didn’t like that some guys jumped and played on a different league, but at the same time I think it has really helped grow the game of golf and showed a different side of it, LIV is different, it is trying to show a different side of golf.
“We don’t need another league that is exactly like the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour. We are trying to bring the younger generation into golf. How do you do that? Add music, a team aspect, have it be faster, have it not last as long with a shotgun start, have the concerts. It shows a new side of golf and a newer age.
“I think golf needs both. Not one or the other golf needs both because the traditionalists will tend towards the PGA Tour, whereas the kids or younger generation who want a faster pace, there is a perfect spot to see that at LIV.”
