Tiger Woods & Rory McIlroy make it “impossible” to join LIV Golf with TGL contracts

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods during The Masters 2023 [Image via Getty]

The world of golf is gearing up for something new as TGL, an initiative by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is set to commence on January 7. Backed by the PGA Tour, this league is an indoor tournament and will feature some veteran golfers like Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark.

Ahead of the first match, there is a lot of buzz surrounding TGL, and a recent report has added to the same. As per Tom Kershaw of The Times, contracts given by TMRW Golf League make it effectively impossible for TGL golfers to be a part of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

While this is the only information that’s mentioned for now, it might not come as something too surprising. In 2024, it was announced that Tyrrell Hatton was set to be a part of TGL. However, Hatton was dropped from the league after he decided to join LIV Golf.

The British golfer revealed that the TGL contract mentioned a golfer can’t play in the TMRW Golf League if they play in LIV Golf. Hatton further revealed that he told McIlroy that he would be joining LIV, which meant he would not play in the Irishman’s league. Hatton was then replaced by Hideki Matsuyama.

A look at the teams, owners, and golfers in the inaugural season of TGL

As mentioned above: TGL is an indoor event, and a specially constructed simulator will be used for the same. While a total of six teams will be competing in this league, only four teams will make it to the playoffs, and one out of these four will eventually become the inaugural champion.

Here is a look at the six teams and their owners for the inaugural season of the TMRW Golf League:

Atlanta Drive GC (Owner: Arthur M. Black)
Boston Common Golf (Owner: the Fenway Sports Group)
Jupiter Links Golf Club (Owner: Tiger Woods and David Blitzer)
Los Angeles Golf Club (Owner: Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams)
New York Golf Club (Owner: Steven A. Cohen, Cohen Private Ventures)
The Bay Golf Club (Owner: Marc Lasry, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, John Stones, Alex Albon, Leonardo Fioravanti, and Kanoa Igarashi)

Here is a look at the golfers and the teams they are set to represent: