Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy announced they’d be forming a new golf league called the TGL in August 2022. The new golf league will be 18-hole match play style on virtual courses with a special short game area on Monday and Tuesday night’s starting in January 2024. As a big golf fan and a huge Tiger Woods fan, I was excited when this was announced, but a little skeptical of the format and how the teams would break down. Tiger and the TGL announced 6 cities would get teams of 4 golfers with only 5 being known so far, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, New York and San Francisco.
Boston Common Golf owned by Fenway Sports Group announced their team today and Boston is lucky to have some of the biggest names in the sports.
Boston Common Golf :
BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 13th tee during round one of the 122nd U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club on June 16, 2022 in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy:
Rory headlines the Boston team as one of if not the biggest name in golf right now, McIlroy is a former world #1 who’s spent more than 100 weeks at #1 throughout his career. Rory is a 4-time major champion, winning all 3 majors except the Masters and the PGA Championship twice. Rory burst onto the scene and many thought he’d challenge Tiger and Jack Nicklaus major records as he was only the 3rd golfer ever to win 4 majors by the age of 25 joining Jack and Tiger.
McIlroy is 34 now and still searching for his 5th major win, his last win being in 2014, but it’s not as if McIlroy’s golf game has diminished some would argue this past year was some of the best golf of his career. Rory has won 5 times in the last 2 years and has 23 top 10 finishes in that span. McIlroy had the lowest non-Tiger scoring average on the PGA Tour in 2022 at 68.60 the lowest scoring average since 1945. So Although he hasn’t been able to get that 5th major, Rory is still at the top of his game and could win his 5th major as a member of a Boston sports team, another title winner in Boston.
Rory is the biggest name in the league other than Tiger, he is a huge get for the league and should have Boston golf fans excited about their new team. McIlory’s international roots hailing from Northern Ireland gives him one of the biggest fan bases in the sport and now in a sport hotbed of Boston he’ll find himself quickly beloved if the league is a success.
CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT – JUNE 25: Keegan Bradley of the United States reacts on the 12th green during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 25, 2023 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Keegan Bradley:
Boston golf fans will know this next name was a no brainer to be on the Boston team. Local guy and PGA Tour major champion Keegan Bradley is the hometown fan favorite on the Boston team, Felger and Mazz fans know Bradley well as he called into the station to discuss the Ryder Cup. Bradley isn’t just a local name that got on the team for his roots, Bradley is a PGA Championship winner and found his form last season winning the only golf tournament in New England the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Bradley is a 6-time tour winner and one of only 6 golfers to win in their major debut, he was also the 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. At 37 he’s had his ups and downs but found his form again last season winning the Zozo Championship in October of 2022 and the previously mentioned Travelers in June this summer. Boston fans will no doubt be all in on having a local guy on the team and I’m excited to see Bradley back in a team format after not being named to this summers Ryder Cup team.
Tyrrell Hatton of England signs autographs for patrons after a practice round prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 04, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia.
Tyrell Hatton:
Hatton might be an unfamiliar name to some local golf fans but Ryder Cup fans will know his name and his well documented temper issues that could make him a fan favorite in Boston. He has 6 professional wins including 1 on the PGA Tour the 2020 Arnold Palmer invitational. Hatton was also a big factor in Europe’s Ryder cup win this summer.
Hatton is known for his temper and smaller stature, at 5’9″ the Englishman is one of the best short game players in the world and should be the team’s go to guy in the pitching events. Boston fans love passionate athletes and Hatton is one of the most passionate in the world known for his on course tirades and F-Bomb laced outbursts I have a feeling fans that don’t know him will quickly become fans.
