Tiger Woods encourages the fans at SoFi Center during a golf match between Jupiter Links Golf Club and Los Angeles Golf Club in the TGL, the interactive golf league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy on Tuesday at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

TGL should extend an olive branch to LIV Golf

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Jan 15, 2025 6:53 PM ET

TGL has some promising components from its $50M set to its viewer-friendly pace of play, but the noncompetitive blowouts have detracted from what could be an entertaining product.

There is, however, another entity that could help with TGL's lack of star power: LIV Golf.

Picture this. Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas band together to go head-to-head against Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson. Now that's entertainment.

Golf fans have fantasized about a Ryder Cup-esque competition between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but there weren't any formats for such an event. Well, now there is.

The rival leagues only come together for major championships, but there's no guarantee players from each side will face off on Sunday for the title. We saw a duel between McIlroy and DeChambeau at last year's U.S. Open, and it ended up being one of the most thrilling major finishes in recent memory.

Golf fans need more competitive events between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, and TGL would be the perfect host.

The second @TGL match brought the laughs

The best moments from yesterday's match-up ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WkLo1Q7QVk
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 15, 2025

TGL has been bogged down by its lack of talent through two matches. In the league-opening match, The Bay Golf Club cruised past New York Golf Club, 9-2, because world No. 78 Rickie Fowler and world No. 44 Matt Fitzpatrick struggled to keep pace. It was essentially over before the halftime break, as was the second match when Los Angeles Golf Club boat raced Jupiter Golf Links, 12-1.

Is anyone shocked that 49-year-old Woods and Kevin Kisner, who missed the cut 17 times in 23 starts last year, couldn't keep up with top-tier pros?

If TGL wants to legitimize itself as a competitive alternative to pro golf, extending an olive branch to LIV Golf would be its best way to hit that mark. The league would be able to show the most talented golfers in the world, and the rivalry between the two leagues would attract more viewers from both sides.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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