??? @commongolf pic.twitter.com/Osv9CVoTF2

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) November 6, 2023

It ain’t always easy being green, however, and the Twitter gallery quickly made their feelings about the new digs heard …

This is too American ? Golf is golf. Not baseball. What’s the gear all about. Don’t like it already

— Dooney (@CalvinDooney) November 6, 2023

Sorry Rory, I can't affiliate with anything boston related

— New York MIDgers (@NewYorkMlDgers) November 6, 2023

Keeping the Boston theme going.. ??? pic.twitter.com/m2v72HHGIT

— LadGolf (@lad_golf) November 6, 2023

Had to put a green light in the locker because you won't ever win a Green Jacket. Another Rory/Tiger money scam copying LIV Golf team play.

— David Baillie (@BBaillie17) November 6, 2023

For now we’ll let the haters hate and withhold our judgement for January, but one thing is already certain:

These sure beat the locker rooms at the old Gahden.

Main image: Rory McIlroy Twitter

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Just days after introducing its 15-hole match-play format and points-based scoring system, TGL announced on Monday that it will institute a 40-second shot clock that will be enforced by a referee, though teams will have the opportunity to call a timeout before incurring a one-stroke penalty.

According to Mike McCarley, CEO of TMRW Sports and TGL, the format and technology used for the new indoor league allows it to incorporate elements that are familiar to fans from other sports in ways that would not translate on a traditional golf course. “Instituting a shot clock and timeouts will help make matches entertaining, fast-paced, and exciting for sports fans,” McCarley said in a press release. “These elements also add another level of strategy for the players in how they approach team decisions similar to other sports.”

While a time limit for executing a shot exists on most professional tours and elite amateur competitions, it is rarely enforced. For TGL, the referee, in coordination with a booth official, controls when the shot clock starts and when a team is assessed a penalty.

Each team will have four timeouts at their disposal in a match but can only use two per session, and they cannot call timeouts back-to-back without hitting a shot. TGL announced on Wednesday that its 15-match season will feature a nine-hole alternate shot session among three players followed by six holes of singles split into three two-hole matches. A team collect a point for each hole they win. Ties are broken with an overtime session consisting of a closest-to-the-pin contest.

The season standings also will reflect a points system similar to professional ice hockey. The top four teams among the six teams in the league advance to the playoffs. The six teams, representing different cities, are composed of four PGA Tour players each. Other than the Boston team, which features McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, Tyrell Hatton and Adam Scott, rosters for the league are still to be filled out. Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa also have committed to teams from Atlanta and Los Angeles, respectively.

Main image: Justin K Aller

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Three down, three to go. TGL, the new tech golf league created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced on Monday that its third of six teams will be based in Atlanta and owned by Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL side Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United.

The first season of what is being billed as a tech-forward, prime-time, team golf league launches in January 2024. It was previously announced that Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams and Venus Williams will lead Los Angeles Golf Club while Fenway Sports Group will lead the TGL Boston team.

“We are thrilled to partner with TMRW Sports and be a founding owner in TGL,” Blank said in a release. “I see this as an investment to grow the game, deliver an innovative product to avid fans while exposing golf to new, younger audiences, and another way for us to compete for championships for Atlanta. We will put our best foot forward in effort to achieve all three goals and to help TGL achieve success in any way we can.”

Blank is co-founder of The Home Depot, owner of PGA Tour Superstore and his sports and entertainment division also owns Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to his Falcons and United, as well as other major concerts and sporting events.

“He has been a stalwart supporter of golf at every level and has been engaged throughout much of TMRW Sports’ journey to develop TGL,” said Mike McCarley, CEO of TMRW Sports and TGL. “His expertise in building not only great sports teams, but also strong organisations with his successful business enterprises, is the type of leadership we appreciate and welcome to TGL.”

The league will be staged at an arena on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Florida. Aside from Woods and McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, and Billy Horschel have all committed to compete.

Atlanta’s team name, brand, staff and players will be unveiled later this year.

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