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Perhaps the biggest concern for TGL bosses has been whether the audience will find the protagonists compelling enough to maintain consistent viewership.
The new tech-infused simulator league was boosted on Monday night by a close match between teams involving the two-co-owners and headline acts, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
Woods’ Jupiter Links trio defeated McIlroy’s Boston Common team in overtime at the 1,500 capacity So-Fi Center in Florida, providing drama between the sport’s two biggest names on primetime TV.
Yet TGL organisers know it will not be Rory vs Tiger every week and that, for the idea to prove a success, fans must be entertained by the other stars, as well as the innovative concept itself.
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Early TV ratings have been positive, but some observers have questioned whether the biggest characters on the rival LIV Golf circuit would provide further intrigue for fans.
“Oh yeah. Yes, absolutely,” Mike McCarley, the co-owner of TMRW Sports, said recently when asked if he had LIV players in mind for the future.
“But the reality is, we have a good business in what we have right now. I know it’s interesting and I know everyone’s talking about it and I know it’s fun to kind of pontificate on what could or could not be, but we have a job to do.”
Of course, with TGL created in partnership with the PGA Tour, LIV stars cannot play as they are indefinitely banned from the US circuit while the game remains fractured.
That was why Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, both pencilled in to take part, pulled out of TGL when their moves to the breakaway LIV leagues were confirmed.
There is little doubt, however, that some LIV players could elevated the entertainment.
Namely Bryson DeChambeau.
The US Open champion, who has become player, part entertainer these days with his massive YouTube fanbase, would surely be the first name McClarley would consider if a unification deal was reached.
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DeChambeau, playing in India for the first time this week at the Asian Tour’s International Series event at DLF Golf Club, was asked in his press conference about the possibility of playing in the simulator league.
“That would be interesting,” he said. “I think TGL has an interesting opportunity. I’m all about anything to grow the game, so if it’s helping grow the game, fantastic. I don’t know all the numbers behind it.
“Would it be fun? Yeah, it could be fun. I don’t know if they’d pick me though, I have no idea. I’ve got a (LIV) team over here, the Crushers GC, come on. The Crushers would be a part of that!”
DeChambeau also said his own rise in popularity has largely come down to his work off the course as a content creator.
“It’s genuinely appreciated that people are starting to see who I am,” he said. “And I think a lot of it has to be attributed to going to LIV Golf and being able to produce a lot of YouTube content.
“My team back at home, my team that I work with everyone that’s involved around me, everybody that’s around me, whether it’s my agent, manager, caddy, you name it, everyone has had a big impact in my life.
And look, you mess up, but you learn from those mistakes. I think that’s a beautiful part about life. And I do believe everyone should have an opportunity to have a second chance if, you know, they, if it’s not too bad, right?
“But I do think it’s really important not just to face value but to try to understand who they actually are. I think it is important. And it’s great to have YouTube as a place for me to show who I am.”
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