TGL: Detroit's Motor City Golf Club Named Expansion City For 2027 Season

After a successful inaugural season, TGL already has its sights set on expansion.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports League (TGL) announced on Tuesday that it will be expanding to a seventh city, with Detroit's Motor City Golf Club (MCGC) joining the league ahead of the 2027 season.

Motor City Golf Club will be co-owned by Steve Hamp and Sheila Ford Hamp, the longtime primary owners of the Detroit Lions, while Michael Hamp, Peter Hamp, and Kevin Kelleher will lead the franchise. Rob Walton, owner of the Denver Broncos, and Jordan Rose, founder of the largest woman-founded law firm in Arizona history, are also listed as part of the ownership group.

“This is a great moment for Detroit sports and a proud moment for me personally,” said Michael Hamp, co-owner of Middle West Partners and Motor City Golf Club’s new team governor. "My grandfather, William Clay Ford Sr., was an avid golfer, and I believe bringing a new format of the game he loved would make him really proud. I'm incredibly grateful for our partners at MCGC – it's an honor to build this team together. Detroit’s fans are the most loyal in sports, and we’re excited to represent our city in TGL and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud to support."

During its inaugural season, TGL featured franchises representing six cities: Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Jupiter, Florida. Each team consists of a four-man roster, with three players competing in each match at the custom-designed Sofi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 

In the 2025 TGL Championship, Atlanta Drive GC defeated New York Golf Club to capture the league's maiden title. Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay, Lucas Glover, and Billy Horschel were the four players on Atlanta's championship roster.

With Detroit amid a massive sports comeback, as the Lions have won back-to-back NFC North titles, the Pistons won an NBA Playoff game for the first time since 2008, and the Tigers are on track for their first AL Central title since 2014, it's a fitting time for TGL to expand to the Motor City.

“Detroit is a fantastic sports town. The city has a championship legacy, and Detroit fans are passionate about their teams, and they’ll let you know it,” said TGL CEO and founder Mike McCarley. “The ownership group for Motor City Golf Club will utilize their deep ties to the community and extensive expertise as NFL team owners to forge a TGL team that embodies Detroit’s culture for sports and the region’s love of golf. TGL’s inaugural season generated extensive interest in its expansion process, and we’re proud to welcome Motor City Golf Club and its ownership group as we build on the league’s continued momentum in the years to come.”

It's still unknown if TGL will add any expansion franchises before the beginning of the 2026 season. Back in April, the Associated Press reported that a group was planning to put together a $77 million bid for a TGL franchise in Dallas, Texas. Chicago has also had rumors of an expansion franchise in recent months.

PLAYER PROJECTIONS FOR MOTOR CITY GC

With Detroit now officially receiving the seventh franchise in TGL history, let's talk about who could be named to the roster for the 2027 season.

Tony Finau

Finau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club in 2022 and has made three appearances at the tournament since it debuted on the PGA Tour in 2019. He's been the star of the field in Detroit's Tour event multiple times, and fans were even surprised with Tony Finau bobbleheads at the 2023 tournament edition. As one of the most well-known players not currently on a TGL roster, I'd say this is fairly likely. It's also worth mentioning that Finau signed a one-match contract to play for Los Angeles Golf Club this past season when both Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood were unavailable.

Akshay Bhatia

Bhatia should have won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2024 but struggled mightily down the stretch on Sunday, eventually missing a short putt on the 72nd hole that would have forced a playoff. But Bhatia is one of the brightest up-and-coming stars on the PGA Tour who isn't already signed to a TGL franchise. This would be a smart decision for Motor City GC.

Cameron Davis

Davis isn't a household name or even among the more popular players on the PGA Tour. However, both of his wins on the circuit have come at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. With three top-20 results in his past seven major championship starts, I could see Davis getting one of the final two spots on this team.

Viktor Hovland

Hovland hasn't tee'd it up at the Rocket Mortgage Classic since 2020 and surprisingly doesn't have any Mo-Town ties, considering he's from Oslo, Norway. But Hovland is one of the biggest names on the PGA Tour, not currently involved with TGL, and would be beloved by the Motor City fanbase.

Sam Burns

Like Jordan Spieth, Sam Burns bypassed TGL's inaugural season in favor of spending time with his family, as they both just added a newborn to their families over the past couple of years. Burns hasn't played in Detroit since 2020, but he's a bright personality who would welcome the spotlight and back-and-forth banter.

Nick Taylor/Corey Conners/Taylor Pendrith Team Canada Wagon?

With essentially zero recognizable PGA Tour players from Detroit or the state of Michigan, perhaps Motor City GC attempts to pair together a couple of Canadians on this roster. Taylor and Conners are the more well-known Canadians on Tour, but Pendrith has played in Detroit each of the past three years and has two top-14 finishes. 

Outside chance this happens, but it would be unique!