Tiger Woods’s TGL has been shooting fiercely these days. Despite initial criticism, its debut on January 7, 2025, drew a stunning 3.3M viewers. Many predicted a sharp decline in viewership, with one skeptic joking, “0 viewers by season 3.” However, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy proved them wrong. The tech-infused league shocked critics by attracting over 4M new viewers in round two.
During a post-match interview, Billy Horschel dropped a bombshell, saying, “We’re having a great competition… obviously, the last two weeks have been blown out, and this one isn’t.” He continued, “Jeff, the producer, has asked us nicely to keep it close, and we’re trying to accommodate him as much as we can.” This candid admission raised eyebrows, casting doubt on TGL’s legitimacy. Perhaps Horschel wasn’t supposed to spill the beans, and Tiger Woods’ team might have even called him out for it. Because he was quick to call it a joke later.
As Horschel’s words went viral, sparking controversy over the competition’s authenticity, he quickly backpedaled. “Anyone ever heard of sarcasm or a joke?!” he exclaimed. “Sorry if I suck at it… I think we (both teams) clearly showed we wanted to win every hole possible.”
Fans reacted as the TGL player tried to undo his mistake
As the 8-time PGA Tour winner’s shocking admission spread like wildfire, it caught the attention of even more golf enthusiasts. One fan expressed skepticism, writing, “Hmm. Hard to know what’s true, though,” questioning the authenticity of the Sofi Center match where Atlanta won, and New York sank to the bottom of the season-long standings with a dismal 0-2 record.
Another fan echoed similar concerns, saying, “It’s funny, but the problem is that TGL involves legal betting, and any doubts about its legitimacy will bury the game.” The stakes are high, as TGL’s reputation is closely tied to its betting odds. According to a report, on January 21, betting odds for the Tomorrow Golf League offered a lucrative opportunity, with Atlanta Drive GC favored to defeat New York Golf Club, boasting -145 legal sports betting odds to hand New York their second loss of the season.
A social media user also chimed in with a concerning issue. He said, “In general, what an individual first says is the most truthful. And after he’s made aware, by people who control the money, that his words are unacceptable…he issues a ‘clarification.’.” This fan’s comment resonated, especially given Phil Mickelson‘s past allegations against the PGA Tour. Mickelson had previously accused the PGA Tour of “illegal blackmail” against struggling pros, demanding $25,000 from them.
A different golf enthusiast offered a more pragmatic perspective, saying, “Not one of your big fans, but it’s a show, so why not keep it close? Got to keep them watching; it’s entertainment.” This comment highlighted the notion that TGL, as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ brain𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, is more about entertainment than pure competition. Interestingly, Rickie Fowler shared a similar sentiment last year, saying, “It’s not real golf, but it’s not, you know, hitting balls in your bedroom simulator or office simulator. It’s somewhere kind of in between.”
Amid all the concerning reactions, one social media user took a drastic turn, injecting some humor into the conversation. With a tongue-in-cheek remark, they wrote, “He said, ‘You already tipped your hand. Appreciate your honesty.’ Just add in all the players’ wives and girlfriends sitting at a table nearby, trash-talking each other and throwing drinks. Make it the Real Housewives of the PGA Tour.”
