Scottie Scheffler could not be ignored in the 2024 season. After all, the world no. 1 was the only golfer to win seven times on the PGA Tour, including bagging another green jacket and the PLAYERS Championship. Not only that, but he also won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics and stunned the masses. Scheffler would be expected to follow a similar form in the 2025 season as well, but being one of the best players of the era, the 27-year-old has missed out on Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TGL.

It is disappointing, as many other top players like Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, McIlroy & Woods himself, Collin Morikawa, and others are part of the innovative league. It would have been exciting to see Scheffler in the simulator event against some of the best from the PGA Tour. But why did he not choose TGL?

1. Tiger Woods didn’t make any Texas team

There are six teams in TGL, Atlanta Drive GC, Boston Common Golf, Jupiter Links Golf Club, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club, and the Bay Golf Club. If you would have noticed, there is no team called the Texas Longhorns or even one from New Jersey, where Scheffler was born. It could be one reason for the world no. 1 to miss TGL but in the six teams, not everyone belongs to the city they represent in the innovative league.

It is understood that either Scheffler was not offered a contract, which is not that believable. Or that he rejected the given offer. Whatever the case might be, it may also relate to where TGL is being played and where Scheffler lives.

2. Did TGL mainly recruit Florida-residing golfers?

As Tiger Woods’s home, TGL’s venue is at the Palm Beach SoFi center on the Palm Beach State College’s campus. Following the Florida trend, Woods and McIlroy sent contracts to half of the golfers who reside in Florida. Out of the 24 golfers, 13 pros are from Florida. It includes Woods, McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover, Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Cameron Young, and Ludvig Aberg.

However, if being from Florida was one clause for the distance between other states, then Scheffler’s best buddy on the PGA Tour, Tom Kim wouldn’t been signed either. The South Korean pro also resides in Texas but is part of the Jupiter Links Golf Club team. But for Scheffler, traveling so often might be an issue.

3. Scottie Scheffler’s priority has changed

In the 2024 season, while Scottie Scheffler clinched much success on the greens, he also became a father to Bennett Scheffler. When his son was not born and Scheffler was teeing up Augusta National, the 27-year-old made it clear that any moment he was informed about his wife undergoing labor, he would leave the event without thinking about the consequences. It highlights how he puts his family first and then golf.

And then, after winning the green jacket for the second time, the Olympic gold medalist said, “My priorities will change here very soon. My son or daughter will now be the main priority, along with my wife, so golf will now be probably fourth in line.” The other notable point is that, unlike many pros, Scheffler usually plays one to two fewer events. Like at the ZOZO Championship, Schauffele and Morikawa teed up, but the world no. 1 chose to enjoy his off-season.

Even in the regular PGA Tour season, the world no. 1 missed out on the events like Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship. He played only 19 events this season, while others like McIlroy and Schauffele played more than 20 events. Undoubtedly, Scheffler wants to have a schedule that is not that stressful, and with TGL starting in January, his schedule would’ve been packed, pushing him to spend more time away from his family.

These are possibly the reasons why we would not see Scottie Scheffler in TGL, but he isn’t the only top player missing the innovative league. Players like Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland, Brian Harman, and others also missed Woods and McIlroy’s brainchild league.