Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s vision to bring the game of golf from the greens to the screen gave birth to TGL! But even before the new tech league could begin, it has been constantly fraught with numerous challenges. From Jon Rahm’s withdrawal to the collapse of the So-Fi Stadium Dome, which pushed the inaugural season to January 2025, the TGL has been facing hurdle after hurdle. However, amidst all the worries and chaos, there’s finally some good news for the simulator league!
One of the league’s main draws is its team format. 24 PGA Tour players, divided into 6 teams of 4 members each, will compete in the TGL. The teams are named after six different cities – Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Los Angeles GC, New York GC, TGL San Francisco, and lastly, Tiger Woods’ team, Jupiter Links GC. And Woods provided a rather positive update about the league and his team, which is now complete!
The 15-time major champion’s team is named after the Treasure Coast of Florida, Jupiter, renowned for its lighthouse, beautiful beaches, and best-in-class golf. And until now, only Woods was on the team’s roster. But that’ll all change come Monday. Woods confirmed it himself.
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He posted an 11-second video with 4 chairs on the Florida beach, with the legend’s name on the leftmost chair. As for the other three chairs? They had blank spaces, which won’t remain blank on Monday, April 22. The caption read, “Find out who’s going to be filling these chairs on Monday @TGL.”
Find out who’s going to be filling these chairs on Monday @TGL pic.twitter.com/FpyxoeL8Qo
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 19, 2024
With the announcement on Monday, Jupiter Links GC will become the fourth team to confirm its roster. The three teams to have (almost) finalized their rosters are: –
- Atlanta Drive GC: Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel, and Lucas Glover
- Boston Common Golf: Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, and the fourth player is to be announced
- Los Angeles GC: Collin Morikawa, Sahith Theegala, Justin Rose, and Tommy Fleetwood
Also confirmed alongside Woods and these 11 players are Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tom Kim, Cameron Young, Max Homa, Min Woo Lee, Shane Lowry, Wyndham Clark, and Kevin Kisner. Considering their teams haven’t been confirmed yet, Woods’ teaser post left fans wondering who among them (and others on the PGA Tour) would be joining the 15-time major champion – a team that will try and lead Jupiter Links GC to victory. Many even chimed in with their guesses. Some with sarcasm, and some with sheer excitement!
From an impossibility to a Woods family reunion: the perfect fit for Tiger Woods’ TGL team, per golf fans
From Valero Texas Open winner Akshay Bhatia to already-teamed-up Rory McIlroy, fans suspected all the possible permutations and combinations that can work for the Jupiter Links Golf Club. To begin with, the golf community had rather unique guesses as to who would complete the team at Jupiter Links Golf Club. While one of them suggested “Bhatia, [Will] Zalatoris, [Sam] Burns.”
They say nothing bonds two people like shared hardship. After going through back problems similar to Tiger Woods, Will Zalatoris revealed it was the 15-time major champion who helped him recover. And as they both returned to the Masters this year, they practiced together. As for Sam Burns, he’s no stranger to teaming up with Woods, even capping off his 2023 season with the icon as his playing partner in Round 4 at the Hero World Challenge. Add Akshay Bhatia to that lineup, and it sure is an enticing one.
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Instead of choosing pro golfers, a user predicted golf YouTubers joining the fray. “Is it @RickShielsPGA, @PeterFinchGolf, and @GuyCharnock???!!” Another brought up an impossibility. Rory McIlroy has already committed to Boston Common Golf. Despite that, one suggested he would tag along with Tiger Woods on the team, alongside Seamus Power and Shane Lowry. They wrote, “Rory, Shane & Seamus Power.”
Despite Thomas, Cantlay, Morikawa, and many more joining the TGL ranks, some famous names were missing, including the likes of Bryson DeChambeau (who is not eligible since he plays for LIV) and Scottie Scheffler (who’s not yet on the TGL roster). As a result, one fan, perhaps just wishing that the sole-PGA Tour players rule would change, suggested that DeChambeau be on the team too, along with none other than Woods’ son and Rickie Fowler. “Dechambeau, Fowler, Charlie.”
Speaking of Charlie Woods, another fan guessed an impending Woods family reunion on the (simulated) greens. “Your mum, Alex, Charlie and you,” they wrote. Although guesses flooded the comments, there were digs at the golf legend, too, arguably pertaining to his last few performances.
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Given the numerous injuries Tiger Woods has sustained and the virtual nature of the TGL, many seem to think it’s the golf great’s move toward retirement. Hence, suggesting that it was time that he got off the field and took some rest, one fan wrote, “Are those retirement chairs? You’re the goat but cooked.”
Are you excited about the brand-new way of playing golf? And who do you think will be joining Woods? Let us know in the comments section below!