After years of anticipation, golf legend Tiger Woods finally made his debut in the high-tech team golf league TGL on Tuesday night. But his Jupiter Links Golf Club team, which also featured Kevin Kisner and Max Homa, suffered a lopsided 12-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Golf Club team anchored by rising star Collin Morikawa.
Woods Receives Electric Welcome
The crowd at the SoFi Center at Palm Beach State College erupted as Tiger emerged from the tunnel as the sixth and final player, fittingly accompanied by the song “Eye of the Tiger”. His mere presence electrified the arena, even if his play didn’t quite match the hype on this night.
LA Jumps Out to Early Lead
Morikawa’s Los Angeles squad, which also included Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala, seized control right from the start. They quickly built a 5-0 advantage in the unique match play format, which featured nine holes of alternate shot triples play and six holes of singles matches.
“It’s about time, Tiger,” quipped tennis icon Serena Williams on the ESPN broadcast. Williams is both a longtime friend of Woods and a part-owner of the Los Angeles Golf Club, leaving her with divided rooting interests.
– Serena Williams
Flashes of Vintage Tiger
While it wasn’t Tiger’s night on the scoreboard, there were still some vintage Woods moments that drew roars from the crowd. He drained a clutch 8-foot par putt on the fifth hole to salvage a crucial tie and keep Jupiter within striking distance, at least temporarily.
But Tiger also showed some rust, notably sending a 101-yard wedge shot splashing into the water on the second hole of the match. His son Charlie, watching from the stands, couldn’t help but laugh at the rare miscue from his famous father.
A New Era for Golf
While the final score was a letdown for Tiger and his Jupiter teammates, the electric atmosphere and star-studded crowd spoke to the massive potential of the nascent TGL. Co-founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy, the league aims to bring a fresh, fast-paced, and tech-forward approach to the centuries-old sport.
“It is a reality now,” a smiling Woods said after the match, marveling at how he and McIlroy’s long-running vision had finally come to life.
– Tiger Woods
From the glitzy player introductions to the dazzling light shows to the booming music, TGL felt more like an NBA game or rock concert than a traditional golf tournament. The high-tech video boards and real-time shot tracking added to the immersive experience.
“It’s so wild,” marveled Serena Williams. “It’s something that you see a little bit in tennis. We see it all the time in basketball, right? We don’t really see it so much in golf. Actually, we never see that in golf. It’s so good to kind of see their personalities and see them shine as golfers. … It’s so cool to see a new aspect.”
– Serena Williams
Just the Beginning for Tiger and TGL
While Tiger would have certainly preferred a victorious debut, his mere presence on the TGL stage marked an important milestone for the startup league. With 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 major championships to his name, Woods remains golf’s biggest draw and the key to TGL’s success.
Tuesday’s opener was just the start of TGL’s inaugural season, which will unfold over the next several weeks with matches every Tuesday night. Tiger and his Jupiter Links GC will have plenty of opportunities to rebound from their rough start.
No one has ever doubted Tiger’s resilience and competitive fire. Expect him to be even more motivated to lead his squad to a bounce-back performance next week. With Woods and McIlroy at the helm, TGL appears poised to bring an exciting new dimension to the game of golf for years to come.
