Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy may have struggled for form in the inaugural season of TGL, but this did not stop the co-founders from taking home some prize money for their efforts.
Both Woods and McIlroy helped get the simulator league off the ground alongside Mike McCarley, and after a year-delay, the league’s maiden campaign came to an exciting end this week. It was Atlanta Drive who were crowned TGL’s first-ever champions, as they defeated New York Golf Club in the final.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy banked TGL prize money (Image: Photo by Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images)
Atlanta and New York were the two lower seeds to make it to the playoffs, with the two franchises finishing third and fourth, respectively, behind The Bay Golf Club and Los Angeles Golf Club.
Only two teams finished outside the playoffs, with this fate f alling the way of both Woods and McIlroy. Woods’ Jupiter Links franchise finished fifth in the league standings and found themselves on the wrong side of the semi-final cut line.
Woods an co won once at the SoFi Center in their five matches, coming against McIlroy and his Boston Common teammates who finished bottom in the regular season standings. It was a tough maiden year for the Northern Irishman and his team, who failed to win a single match.
Their only point in their five matches came in their defeat to Jupiter, thanks to their efforts to take the match into overtime. Despite the underwhelming campaign, both Boston and Jupiter earned a share of the $17.5 million TGL prize pot for season one.
The Boston franchise was handed $1.5 million, with McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott, and Hideki Matsuyama taking $375,000 each. In the place above, Jupiter earned $1.75 million, as Woods, Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner and Max Homa took home a $437,500 cut each.
Atlanta Drive GC won the title ( Image: Cliff Hawkins/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
In fourth, The Bay split $2 million across their team, whilst Los Angeles banked $2.25 million. Despite losing out on Tuesday, the New York setup was paid out $4.5 million, whilst Atlanta Drive walked away with the TGL trophy and the $9 million jackpot.
The winning moment was secured by Billy Horschel, whose passion for the event was clear as he paraded around the green in celebration before throwing his cap. Speaking of the impact the league has had, Horschel said afterwards: “I never ever imagined we’d be playing golf in an arena with a big simulator and people and music and chanting.
“Yeah, it’s been really cool and has sort of exceeded all of our expectations.” Further hyping up the team aspect, the PGA Tour star added: “It is just really cool to be a part of something with these guys. Team competitions are special. I’ve only been a part of one, the Presidents Cup in ’22.
“You hear the stories. You hear how fun it is. Obviously, it’s more exciting when you win a team competition, there’s no doubt, but spending time with these guys, obviously I know them very well, but just being in something that is competitive, you feel energy, you feel the nerves, it just brings you closer together.”
