Tiger Woods makes decision on playing in own golf league to rival LIV
Tiger Woods has revealed he will be returning to golf in January as part of his new endeavor with Rory McIlroy when they launch The Golf League.
The golf legend said Tuesday that he is excited to be a part of the league as a member of the team based in Jupiter, Florida. "Having the opportunity to not only compete, but also own a team to represent Jupiter is an exciting chapter for me," Woods said.
As it stands, TGL is set to start its inaugural season on January 9, 2024, with six teams vying for the $21 million (£17.1m) prize fund. The winning team will get $9 million (£7.33m) while the rest is divided among the other five teams in the league.
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Alongside Jupiter Link GC, the other teams in the league are the Boston Common, which McIlroy is a member of; the Atlanta Drive; the Los Angeles Golf Club, which is fronted by a group led by Serena and Venus Williams with Alex Morgan and Michelle Wie West being limited partners; a New York-based team; and a team based in San Francisco, led by private equity executive Marc Lasry and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.
Although the league is set to begin in two months, team names, branding and who ultimately will be playing on those teams still need to be ironed out. Still, Woods believes the two-hour matches and the use of technology will draw in fans looking to get into golf but don't necessarily know where to start.
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"Generally, golf takes about five or six hours to play," Woods added. "In today's world, with all of our smartphones, it is hard for anybody to go five to six hours without looking at their phones. So the shorter the time, the better it is."
Tiger Woods has not played in a major competition since April 2023. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)The 47-year-old also revealed that the TGL will incorporate sports betting as part of its ecosystem to draw in more fans.
"It's exciting that this group of guys is coming together for a two-hour window and we're just going to basically hit balls, talk a lot of (trash) and people are going to be gambling on absolutely everything, each and every shot. Every shot there's going to be a wager," Woods said.
He also added that because of the format - with teams going head-to-head for nine holes - it will be easier for fans to get invested, as opposed to some of the other, more confusing formats currently available.
"Some of the stuff I've seen in LIV... I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on," he said. "Here it's very simple."
With Woods not having played in a tournament since April when he withdrew from The Masters, this is an encouraging sign for the golf legend.
And considering his return will coincide with the launching of his new golf league, there won't be a shortage of intrigue as the league attempts to disrupt the way golf has been played, with Woods and McIlroy leading the way.
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