Tag

Golf

Browsing

Golf fans are still getting used to TGL and all its quirks.

The indoor simulator league, created by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods with the help of golf executive Mike McCarley, has split opinion since its launch in January.

Besides the overarching debate around professional golf being played into a giant screen, one point of contention has been the project’s flagship rule: the Hammer.

Like most elements of TGL, the Hammer is designed to create maximum entertainment value – but on the first five nights, it did the complete opposite.

So officials have changed the rule mid-season.

Here’s how it previously worked: both teams shared one Hammer in the form of an orange cloth.

The team in possession of the Hammer could throw it at any point on any given hole.

If accepted by the other team, that hole was then worth two points instead of one.

If rejected, the team making that decision would automatically forfeit the hole and lose one point.

In both instances, the Hammer would then change hands, starting from the next hole.

But curiously, the Hammer went unused in two of the opening five weeks, and TGL struggled with a run of one-sided affairs.

Teams had already found a loophole which became known as ‘Hammer hoarding’.

It quickly became apparent that if the team with the Hammer had a comfortable lead, there was no incentive to use it.

The reward of double points on a favourable hole was not worth losing possession of the Hammer – which the opposing team could then use to catch up.

It also presented the risk of conceding double points after throwing the Hammer – and the jeopardy never really made sense for a team with a comfortable lead.

Officials announced a new version of the Hammer rule last week.

Now, each team will get three Hammers, which can be used at any point in the match.

The idea is that both sides will have access to the Hammer when they need it most – and they can develop their own strategies and tactics, rather than relying on other teams’ decisions.

Andrew Macaulay, TGL Chief Technical Officer, said: “With the change of possession if the leading team threw it, they’d make the hole worth two points, but then the trailing team had possession of the Hammer.

“It’s why in two out of our five matches, not a single Hammer was thrown in it.”

Macaulay added: “It’s like timeouts. Each team has three. There’s strategy to when you use them. When you used all three, you don’t have any left, you’re done.

“The Hammer is a hot topic, and it’s been an awesome thing. Fans want to see teams throw the Hammer, and we think this change will help increase fan excitement.”

This decision immediately paid off on Monday night as TGL hosted a historic triple-header with the following results…

  • The Bay Golf Club 5-4 Boston Common Golf
  • Atlanta Drive GC 6-5 Los Angeles Golf Club (after overtime)
  • Atlanta Drive GC 5-6 The Bay Golf Club

Speaking afterwards, Patrick Cantlay of Atlanta Drive GC said: “I think we had two matches that were really close, which is probably exactly what they wanted with the Hammer change. The new Hammer rules really do change it.

“There’s a lot more decisions to be made out there. I think we made a lot of good ones today, hit some good shots. We had a good day, just came up a little short in that second match.”

Tiger Woods

What is TGL?

Simply put, TGL is an indoor simulator golf league featuring the game’s top players.

It takes place at a super high-tech arena called the SoFi Centre in Florida with a live crowd of around 1,500 people.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were the ones who came up with it, with the help of a guy called Mike McCarley, as part of their TMWR Sports venture.

It’s got a bunch of big-name investors, like Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and Fenway Sports Group – who own Liverpool. ESPN and Sky Sports signed up to broadcast it.

How do they compete?

There’s six teams of four, all franchises based on US cities, and all featuring top PGA Tour players. No LIV Golfers.

There is one head-to-head match each week lasting just two hours for a primetime TV slot in the States.

There is also a 40-second shot clock and timeouts and referees to enforce the rules. All of the players are mic’d up to ensure maximum entertainment value.

How does it work?

For shots longer than 50 yards, players hit into this enormous screen, which is 53 foot tall and 64 foot wide.

That’s about 24 times the size of your normal golf simulator. They play off real grass, the rough and the fairways are reflected on the surface, and it even moves to reflect the slope.

The green complex has 600 motorised sensors underneath it and 360 degree rotation to simulate the exact real life scenario facing the players.

The bunkers have the same sand as Augusta National, and they’ve even thought about the direction of the grain around the greens.

Format

Each team picks three players, they play 15 holes. The first nine holes are ‘Trebles’ – three-on-three matchplay, with each player taking turns to hit the shots.

The final six holes are ‘Singles’ – one-on-one matchplay with each player playing 2 holes.

If it’s all square after 15, they go to overtime and play closest to the pin.

Teams get two points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss, and zero points for a regulation loss.

There will be Play-Offs in March with semi-finals and a final to determine the league’s overall winner – with a $21million purse to be divided among players.

Teams

Atlanta Drive GC
• Patrick Cantlay
• Lucas Glover
• Billy Horschel
• Justin Thomas

Boston Common Golf
• Keegan Bradley
• Hideki Matsuyama
• Rory McIlroy
• Adam Scott

The Bay Golf Club
• Ludvig Aberg
• Wyndham Clark
• Shane Lowry
• Min Woo Lee

Jupiter Links Golf Club
• Max Homa
• Tom Kim
• Kevin Kisner
• Tiger Woods

Los Angeles Golf Club
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Collin Morikawa
• Justin Rose
• Sahith Theegala

New York Golf Club
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Rickie Fowler
• Xander Schauffele
• Cameron Young

Tiger Woods cracked a smile. After about a minute or so in his first public appearance since his mother’s death, on national TV, he’d been asked about car rides, after all.

Yes, he’d talk about this. Before Tiger Woods was Tiger Woods, he was Tiger Woods, junior golfer in a passenger seat, and Tida Woods was at the wheel. Dad, he said, worked. So mom taxied him up and down So Cal.

At this point, he lit up a bit.

Tida was also a statistician. Meticulous, too.

“She would drive out there,” Woods said, “and keep score, walk every hole and how many putts I hit, how many fairways I hit, how many greens I hit.”

“Tracked it all?” announcer Jim Nantz asked.

“She tracked it all,” Woods said. “Gosh, all those days led us to the point where — and she was — oh, man, she was hard on me about school, about getting good grades and doing well in school. To be honest with you, if I didn’t get any homework done, I wasn’t allowed to go play. Not with my friends, just go play in general. It was important that I got good grades, and school came first before any sport I was playing.

“She meant everything to me. Losing her has been a very hard and difficult process to go through.”

Ahead of the visit in the CBS booth that overlooked the 18th green at Torrey Pines, you’d maybe wondered how this would go. Tida Woods died 12 days ago, he announced over his social media channels, and after originally committing to play in this week’s Genesis Invitational, the tournament he hosts, he soon withdrew, before reappearing Sunday. What would we hear, then, during his TV time? What would we see? How long would he talk?

About a half-hour. And a story about numbers, from a man who works in yards, started things. Like mother, like son.

“Yeah, it’s been a tough process to go through,” Woods said, “but I’ve had amazing family support. All the players have reached out that were playing here this week. The amount of texts and the emails and nice messages of support I got has really helped and has really meant a lot to me.”

Below are other items from his time on the broadcast.

The pro Tiger Woods’ dad told young Tiger to watch 

Woods said his first visit to a PGA Tour tournament came at Torrey, for the “Andy Williams” (Williams was once the host of the now-named Farmers Insurance Open) — and it led to a question of whom he followed. His answer?

“There’s one guy that my dad said you’ve got to watch him hit a golf ball,” Woods said. “It was a 1-iron, it was on the last hole, it was Andy Bean. This was the first time I ever came to a Tour event and then the second event I ever went to was at Riv.”

A deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia PIF? ‘We’re in a very positive place’

Woods said “we’re in a very positive place” in talking about the negotiations on a funding deal between the Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. The PIF also funds LIV Golf, and a potential agreement could bring together players on both tours.

Tiger Woods

Earlier in the week, following a meeting with President Donald Trump, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said that negotiations on the deal were progressing.

“I think we’re in a very positive place right now,” Woods said. “We had a meeting with the president. Unfortunately, I had some other circumstances that came up, but Jay and Adam [Scott, a fellow pro], they did great during the meeting, and we have another subsequent meeting coming up.

“I think that things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It’s been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years ,and the fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen.”

Said Nantz: “I know there’s so many things that have to be figured out, but it could be this year or it could be very soon this year, sounds like.”

Said Woods: “Yes. Yes and yes.”

Scottie Scheffler game? ‘Mundane’

While watching Scottie Scheffler, the pro who put together a Woodsian year in 2024, Woods offered this:

“Yeah, Scottie, the way he plays, it’s very mundane. He’s got a lot of footwork, but he knows how to score.”

Ludvig Aberg’s game? ‘Not a whole lot can go wrong’

While watching Ludvig Aberg, the eventual winner of the Genesis, Woods offered this:

“Yeah, Ludvig’s swing really not a whole lot can go wrong with it. Occasionally he might speed up a little bit and kind of get stuck under it, but other than that, I mean, he hits this tight little draw. Beautiful game. And on top of that, super nice guy.”

His own game? 

After being asked by Nantz about his own goals for this year, Woods offered this:

“My goal is to play more and I haven’t played. I got to work on that. This process was unexpected. I’ll get back after it and look forward to playing some big events.”

The other sites that were considered for the Genesis? A few 

The Genesis, typically played at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, was moved to Torrey in San Diego due to L.A.’s wildfires. Woods said other sites were considered.

“It was looking like we could go back up to Monterey or we could go to Las Vegas or we could go to Phoenix or Palm Springs or we could come here,” Woods said. “I wanted to keep the event at an iconic venue. Riviera’s iconic. It was iconic to me when I first played there, it was the first tournament on the PGA Tour I ever played.

“And I think this golf course is iconic.”

Tiger Woods, TV analyst?

His time in the broadcast booth ended with an exchange among Nantz, Woods and analyst Trevor Immelman.

Said Nantz of Woods: “I’ll tell you what, he’s a pretty good analyst, too.”

Said Immelman: “Ah, ah, ah, careful.”

Said Nantz: “I’m sorry. That wasn’t …”

Said Immelman: “I mean, I like him, but come on.”

Said Woods: “I’ll stick to my day job.”

‘She meant everything to me’: Tiger Woods speaks publicly for first time since mother’s passing

Tiger Woods spoke publicly for the first time since his mother’s passing, spending time with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman in the CBS broadcast booth during the final round of The Genesis Invitational on Sunday.

Woods called his mother, Kultida, his “rock.” Woods was expected to make his season debut at this week’s Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts. He withdrew earlier this week, citing his mom’s death. Kultida Woods passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4. She was 80 years old.

“It’s been a tough process to go through but I’ve had amazing family support,” Woods told Nantz and Immelman. “All the players have reached out that were playing here this week. The amount of texts and emails and nice messages of support I got has really helped. It’s really meant a lot to me.

“She meant everything to me and losing her has been a very hard and difficult process to go through.”

Woods shared memories of Kultida driving him around to golf tournaments all across Southern California and making sure Woods prioritized his academics.

Tiger Woods 

“If I didn’t get any homework done, I wasn’t allowed to play,” Woods said. “… School came first before any sport I was playing.”

The seventh hole pin flag on the Torrey Pines South Course was replaced with a white flag during the four rounds of competition at The Genesis Invitational, honoring Kultida. The flag has no logos or numbers. The gesture is meant to honor Kultida’s heritage. White symbolizes purity, wisdom and longevity in Buddhism. The number seven is also integral in Buddhist culture, tied to seven factors of enlightenment.

Additionally, players wore custom red pins during The Genesis Invitational’s final round in Kultida’s memory. Woods sported the tribute pin as he arrived at Torrey Pines for Sunday’s final round.

Tiger Woods, who planned to play in The Genesis Invitational this week but withdrew to process the passing of his mother Kultida, will be returning to action at the TGL match between his Jupiter Links Golf Club and New York Golf Club at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Although he initially had planned to make his first official PGA TOUR start since July at Torrey Pines (the course is a fill-in host for The Genesis Invitational in the wake of the devastating fires that swept through Los Angeles), Woods, the tournament host, announced Monday that it was too soon after the death of his mother at age 80.

“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” Woods said in a statement. “I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.

“Thanks to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey later in the week and appreciate the continued kindness since my Mom’s passing.”

Tiger Woods

Woods’ last TOUR start was at The Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, where he missed the cut. He had a tough 2024 season, beset by back pain until he went in for a microdiscectomy, believed to have been his sixth, in September. He returned to action at the family-friendly PNC Championship in December, and with son Charlie lost a thrilling playoff to Bernhard Langer and son Jason. Woods has played twice this year for Jupiter Links Golf Club in the new tech-infused TGL golf league, which he founded along with Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley.

Jake Knapp replaced the 82-time PGA TOUR winner in the field at The Genesis Invitational, and is making the most of it with rounds of 71-71. At 2-under he was six behind solo leader Davis Thompson going into the weekend.

Woods’ TGL team, Jupiter Links, has one win and one loss. Woods and teammates Kevin Kisner and Tom Kim will be playing against New York Golf Club’s Cameron Young, Rickie Fowler and Matt Fitzpatrick. Kim, Fowler and Fitzpatrick all made the cut at The Genesis Invitational.

LA JOLLA, Calif. — Genesis Invitational officials are honoring the late Kultida Woods in a touching way.

This week, the par-4 7th hole will feature an all-white flagstick without logos, scripting, or other indicators, a direct tribute to Woods’ mother, who was from Thailand and practiced the Buddhist faith. The color white and the number seven are both significant aspects of the Buddhist religion. White represents purity, enlightenment, and knowledge. The two white stripes within the Thai flag symbolize Buddhism as well.

There are seven stages of awakening and seven fundamental elements in Buddhism, but the significance of this number does not end there. According to Buddhist mythology, the Buddha himself took seven steps immediately after his birth, and following one’s death, the soul takes seven days to cross over into the next life.

It is impressive that tournament officials recognized these aspects of the Buddhist faith and applied them to this week’s tournament in a subtle yet thoughtful way.

Tiger Woods

The par-4 7th hole at Torrey Pines is significant as it relates to Woods and his career too. Woods captured the U.S. Open title on the 7th green in 2008, defeating Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff on the Monday after the final round ended. The two players remained tied after 18 holes, so USGA officials sent them to the 7th hole to determine the winner. Mediate missed the fairway, hitting his tee ball in the left bunker. He then failed to save par. Woods, meanwhile, found the short grass off the tee, hit a 9-iron to 20 feet short of the pin, and then two-putted for par and his third U.S. Open victory. Many consider this victory the most impressive of Woods’ career, as he won the golf tournament on one leg.

Seventeen years later, this hole carries even more significance, recognizing his beloved mother, who was by his side every step of the way.

Kultida Woods is being memorialized this week by the Genesis Invitational, the tournament her son, Tiger Woods, hosts, and there is symbolism in the move.

Nine days after her death was announced, the PGA Tour said Thursday a white flag will be used on Torrey Pines’ seventh hole over the tournament’s four days, and both the color and the number honor Kultida Woods’ Buddhist faith. According to a Tour release, the color white symbolizes purity, wisdom and longevity, while the number seven is tied to seven factors of enlightenment.

Woods’ death was announced publicly last Tuesday in a social media release. Tiger Woods had initially entered the Genesis Invitational, then withdrew on Monday, three days before the tournament’s start.

Tiger Woods has pulled out this week’s Genesis Invitational, as he is “still processing” his mother’s death, Kultida.

Tiger Woods has pulled out this week’s Genesis Invitational, as he is “still processing” his mother’s death, Kultida.

The 15-time major champion has admitted he is “not ready” to return to golf.

Kultida’s death was confirmed on February 4.

Three days later, the organisers of the Genesis Invitational announced Woods’ participation in the event at Torrey Pines.

“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” Woods wrote on social media.

“I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.

“Thanks to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey later in the week and appreciate the continued kindness since my mom’s passing.”

Woods has not featured a PGA Tour event since last year’s Open at Royal Troon in July.

The American has not played regularly since being involved in a car accident in February 2021 and underwent more surgery on his lower back in September.

Does Bernhard Langer know something about Tiger Woods that others don’t? The battle between the Langers & Woods in December 2024 was one of the most exciting rounds of golf last year. Fans were spellbound at watching the GOAT playing so well after years of health struggles. Young Charlie Woods also brought his magic to the course with some excellent strokeplay. At the other end, Bernhard Langer and his son; Jason also fought valiantly with the Woods till the very last minute before overtaking them to win the 2024 PNC Championship.

As great as it was to see them play on the field, one thing was evident, Tiger Woods will never perform at the same level again. Despite showing glimpses of his former self, Mr. T has evidently aged. Not just in terms of skill, but his body has also shown limitations. Hence, it won’t come as a surprise when Woods definitely hangs up his boots and bids adieu to professional golf. At least on the competitive professional level. But fans might still see him play in the PGA Tour Champions. And according to Bernhard Langer, it might be much sooner than we can imagine.

Age is still a criterion that Tiger Woods doesn’t meet to join the Seniors Tour. But the GOAT is only a few months away from surpassing that. As shared by NUCLR GOLF, “🚨👀🐅 Bernhard Langer says we can expect to see Tiger Woods making appearances on The Champions Tour. Langer played with Woods at the PNC and made the comments at the Chubb Classic”. It seems that Woods has already discussed the possibility of joining the Champions Tour with Langer.

The tweet also included comments from Bernhard Langer about the situation. He said, “I’m convinced he will play several events. Depends how many. I’m going to gradually get older and older here, and I may not be at the very top of my game when he comes out, but he always moves the needle”. We’re definitely getting closer to the day when Tiger Woods will make his debut on the Champions Tour. At least Langer believes so.

And if he does, there is no doubt he will “move the needle” and make the Champions Tour immensely popular. It’s only a matter of time before he is qualified to join the Tour. Speaking of the 82X PGAT winner’s eligibility, NUCLR GOLF also mentioned, “Woods turns 50 this December and will be eligible to compete.” That means, 2026 might be the year fans might see Tiger Woods winning titles again.

Tiger Woods

 

 

Many other golfers have also spoken of Tiger Woods’s eventual shift to the Seniors Tour. Let’s see what they had to say.

Tiger Woods to dominate the Champions Tour

There is no question about Tiger Woods being a favorite among most golfers and fans around the world. So watching him go back to his winning ways will only please them. Even if it is in the Seniors Tour. Mark Calcavecchia recently spoke up about the possibility of watching Woods on the Champions Tour. He even predicted that the GOAT is equipped to break the 48-win record on the Tour. In fact, the 64-year-old also said that Woods might do it with 48 consecutive wins in the Seniors Tour.

Rocco Mediate had also spoken up about having Tiger Woods in the PGA Tour Seniors. He said, “I like it noisy. I like more people”, as he discussed the kind of impact the 15x major winner will have in the league. Hence, Mediate “can’t wait” to have his U.S. Open rival join the Champions Tour and bring an array of fans along with him to make it more exciting.

Do you also think that more fans will start watching the PGA Tour Champions once Tiger Woods makes the move? Let us know in the comments section.

Meeting Tiger Woods is a big deal, and everyone’s experience is unique. Some people get a quick handshake and a photo, while others get to have a more in-depth conversation about golf, life, and everything in between. Either way, meeting Woods leaves a lasting impression. Just ask Blades Brown, who still can’t believe his luck.  “The handler that Woods has, she was like, ‘Hey, you need a picture with Tiger?’ And I was like, ‘Do I wanna get a picture with Tiger? Tiger Woods? Of course, I wanna get a picture with Tiger Woods”, he said recalling the time he was hanging out, and then suddenly he was being offered a chance to meet Woods.

He describes the experience of sneaking past security guards to get to Woods as being part of a “secret operation,” and it’s clear that the excitement of the moment has stayed with him. As Brown recounts his encounter with Woods, it’s easy to get caught up in his enthusiasm. He’s like a kid in a candy store, reliving the thrill of meeting his hero. Whether he’s talking about the handler’s offer of a photo or the surreal experience of meeting Woods himself, Brown’s enthusiasm is undeniable.

As Brown looks back on the encounter, one thing that really stands out is shaking Woods’s hand. “I cannot tell you anything about what I told Woods or what he said to me, but I do remember one thing – his hand felt like two 14-ounce ribeyes. That’s the only way I can describe his hand. That’s so weird… the only thing I remember about meeting Woods was his hands.” It’s a quirky detail, but it shows just how memorable the experience was for Brown. Even now, he’s still grinning from ear to ear as he talks about meeting Woods, and it’s clear that the experience will stay with him for a long time.

He’s still talking about it, still reliving the experience, and still grinning from ear to ear. But as much as Brown is enjoying his time as a pro in golf he is also cautious about the steps he takes next.

Tiger Woods

Where is Blades Brown headed next?

The golf world is abuzz with excitement about rising stars Charlie Woods and Blades Brown. Charlie Woods recently made headlines with his first-ever hole-in-one at the 2024 PNC Championship, while Blades Brown has been impressing fans with his incredible performances, including a record-breaking 8-under 64 at The American Express. But what’s next for Blades Brown? He’s been weighing his options, and it’s clear that he’s got a tough decision to make. Should he follow the traditional path and attend college, or should he dive straight into the PGA Tour? It’s a decision that could make or break his career and one that he’s clearly given a lot of thought.

So, what’s the verdict? Blades Brown has decided to forgo college and dive straight into the PGA Tour. It wasn’t an easy decision, he admits. “It was such a difficult decision,” he said on the GOLF’s Subpar podcast. “Some people say college is the best part of their lives, right?” But despite the uncertainty, Brown is eager to take the leap and see where his talents take him. He’s clearly got the skills and the drive to succeed, and it’ll be exciting to see how he fares on the PGA Tour. As he embarks on this new journey, all eyes will be on Blades Brown to see what’s next for this rising golf star.