So remember how Rickie Fowler recently said that TGL, the innovative new golf league, isn’t “real golf”? With less than a month remaining for the tech-infused league to officially take off at SoFi Stadium (Florida), the six-time PGA Tour winner gave his unsolicited yet insider’s opinion on having to adjust to the idea: “In a way, we don’t fully know what to expect until it gets going. It’s not real golf, but it’s not hitting balls in your bedroom simulator; it’s somewhere kind of in-between.” Was there real damage done to dampen the well-orchestrated hype after all this time? It certainly looks like it considering Rory Mcllroy had to front some defense out there.

Mcllroy didn’t just play those concerns down, he did some solid damage control when he opened his case: “The playing surfaces are very realistic because they are real,” the four-time major champion explained. “We’re playing off real Bermuda grass for the fairways, real Bermuda rough, if you do hit into the rough.” One aspect that he did clarify was that the greens inside the stadium are artificial, more specifically once you get within 40 yards of the green. He also added, “But I still feel like the ball reacts very realistically on the green… We made the decision to go with artificial for the green because we want to make it interesting.”

At such a time, on contrary to Fowler, we have Billy Horschel, an 8-time PGA Tour pro, who has now taken the stage to air his first impressions of TGL. In the latest YouTube video by Fore Play Podcast, Horschel recalled his initial reaction to TGL’s futuristic setup. “When I was here a couple of weeks ago, you’re sort of trying to wrap your head around playing high-tech simulator… They know it’s going to be real grass. We hit it off but then the greens and within 50 yards sort of artificial and everything. But I don’t think I spent any time trying to comprehend what it was going to be like playing indoors,” Horschel said. What he said next, however, really put things into perspective.

He admitted walking into the arena only to be immediately blown away by the sheer scale of the thing! “I was speechless… the size of it, the screen and everything but what I thought about right away was, ‘Man, I feel like I’m an Atlanta Falcons player ready about the play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I’m walking into the arena and the warm-up for the game. When you’re coming out of the tunnel, you got the fans all excited and hyped. You got Boston Red Sox player walking out into the Finway Park. You got Steph Curry walking out into that arena… That’s the feeling, I had.”

For Horschel, TGL’s grandeur is a key part of its appeal. He loved the energy of the place, the way the lights and music seemed to amp up the excitement. “You see this five-story screen, you see the video boards around you, you see your name, you see all the lights and everything going crazy… it’s pretty cool,” he exclaimed.

“It’s similar to what these other athletes and sports feel like when you’re walking into this arena,” he said. It’s a fascinating perspective, and it’s clear that Horschel is excited to see where TGL goes from here.

Billy Horschel on what sets TGL apart

As the PGA Tour season gears up, all eyes are on TGL, the new golf league set to debut in 2025. With 24 top players, including Billy Horschel, competing in a unique team format, TGL promises to shake things up. The league’s innovative setup features a giant screen, simulated lies, and actual greens, adding a fresh twist to the traditional tournament format. Horschel, part of Atlanta Drive GC alongside Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay, is excited to bring a new level of entertainment to the game.

But Horschel acknowledges that TGL’s approach might not appeal to all traditional golf fans. Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, he emphasized that TGL is all about embracing the entertainment side of golf. “We need to be vulnerable, show more of ourselves, and not be afraid to poke fun at each other,” he said. While some viewers might not appreciate the banter, Horschel believes it’s what fans want to see – a more relaxed, buddy-like atmosphere that’s reminiscent of playing with friends at the local club. So, what do you think about TGL? Let us know in the comment section below!