Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s innovative league, TGL, would be facing yet another threat! This time through the hands of McIlroy’s Ryder Cup compatriot, Tyrrell Hatton. After Adrian Meronk reportedly got ready to jump the ship, the Englishman just became the latest defector.
The Telegraph reported that Hatton had signed a deal with LIV Golf, though the inductee has not confirmed the news! The deal between the two is set to be nudged forward with the courtesy of Jon Rahm. The reports say sometime around this week, Hatton will be a LIV golfer. The sudden jump would impact TGL immensely.
TGL to get hit by Tyrrell Hatton’s defection
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Last month, Jon Rahm signed a reported $566 million deal with LIV Golf, causing mayhem in the golf world. As days passed, many pros were rumored to join the league, and one name was Tyrrell Hatton. At first, Hatton denied the rumors, but now the 6-time DP World Tour winner has reportedly signed a $60 million deal with the Saudi League.
Before defection, Rahm withdrew from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL. Following this, Hatton might do the same. While the league has been unable to fill Rahm’s spot yet, Hatton’s replacement would be more tiring.
The English golfer was a confirmed team member of Boston Common Golf, that is Nothern Irishman’s team. The other two players of the team are Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley. With TGL being delayed to 2025 after the venue got damaged, this is another hit to its future. Woods and McIlroy would now be searching for two players to commit to their tech-based golf league.
🫡Representing Boston… @TyrrellHatton @Keegan_Bradley @AdamScott @TGL https://t.co/OEf9nMDQHE
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) November 2, 2023
One point to note is that Hatton has still not withdrawn from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am coming next week, and last week at the Dubai Desert Classic, Hatton said, “I’m quite happy playing at the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.” However, the reports beg to differ from his statements. What are the implications of the reality that Hatton will have to endure in the future?
Hatton’s $54 million deal: Pros and cons
Per reports, Tyrrell Hatton will join “Legion XIII,” Jon Rahm’s team. His new deal with LIV Golf will be announced this Wednesday, and he will withdraw from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am before that. The deal is assumed to be well around €50 million (approximately $60 million).
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Read More: Mayakoba Calls, but LIV Golf Still Raises More Questions Than It Answers
The deal would double Hatton’s career money in a day, which is $21 million and more. Moreover, there will never be a risk of missing a cut despite finishing at the bottom, and who is not aware of LIV Golf’s hefty prize purses? Although there are two huge afflictions, Hatton’s career might suffer.
Joining his compatriot Rahm, Hatton may not be allowed to play in the 2025 Ryder Cup. Though they have not given up their DP World Tour membership, if past patterns are followed, they will suffer the same fines and bans as past defectors did. Additionally, he would also eventually lose out on OWGR points.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
This will make his 2025 major participation a hassle, as he has never won a major, unlike Rahm. Only the merger with PIF may bring some relief out of the misery that the lucrative LIV Golf deal poses.
Watch This Story | “Rarely Got to Spend”: Jon Rahm Evokes His Emotional Side While Justifying His LIV Golf Move