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June 26 (UPI) — Fenway Sports Group, the owners of the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool, and the Pittsburgh Penguins, have acquired a team in the Boston TGL golf league, which was founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. The purchase was announced on Monday.
In August, Woods and McIlroy introduced the tech-infused golf league, TGL, through their company TMRW Sports. The league is set to begin play in January.
The Los Angeles Golf Club was announced as the first team in the TGL on June 8. The club is owned by Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams. The Los Angeles and Boston teams will compete against four other teams to be announced.
“We are excited to embark on this new journey as one of the six inaugural TGL teams, representing a city with unparalleled love and passion for sports,” said Fenway Sports Group’s principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner in a news release. “Through this tech-focused iteration of the game, New England sports fans will soon have a team of world-class PGA Tour players to cheer for, redefining how the game is played in the modern era. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Tiger, Rory, and Mike for creating this innovative new league and allowing us to be a part of its inception.”
The name, logo, and team members of the Boston team will be announced later this year. Fenway Sports Group made an initial investment in TMRW Sports in October.
The TGL aims to offer a fresh take on golf, emphasizing technology, innovation, and fan engagement. In Palm Beach, Florida, a purpose-built venue will combine a data-rich virtual course with a state-of-the-art short game complex, providing a unique experience for fans both in the stands and watching from around the world.
The new league, set to begin in January 2024, will feature the world’s top players in a two-hour, team-based golf competition that integrates physical and virtual golf. The matches will be broadcast in primetime. The TGL Boston team will compete in five regular season matches against other TGL teams, followed by the semi-finals and finals.
Players committed to TGL include No. 2 Jon Rahm, No. 3 Rory McIlroy, No. 6 Xander Schauffele, No. 8 Matt Fitzpatrick, No. 9 Max Homa, No. 17 Justin Thomas, No. 20 Collin Morikawa, No. 31 Justin Rose, No. 35 Rickie Fowler, No. 39 Adam Scott, No. 42 Billy Horschel, and No. 1,094 Tiger Woods. TGL has partnered with the PGA Tour.
TGL was formed amid a two-year legal battle between the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV Golf Series, which recently announced its own entity. In that announcement, the golf partners stated that players who were suspended or left the PGA Tour to participate in LIV Golf could return for the 2024 season.
While there are currently no LIV Golf competitors on the TGL roster, they may become eligible to join if the PGA Tour finalizes the pathway for their return.
TGL events will be held on Monday nights at a custom-built venue, described as a “data-rich, virtual course complete with a tech-infused, short-game complex.”
Each team will consist of three PGA Tour players during the 15-event regular season, followed by the playoffs and championship match.
